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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

Drivetrain Transmission problems...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Cory Berg
  • Start date Start date Mar 29, 2013

Cory Berg

Active Member
Sep 25, 2012
108
3
29
San Jose, CA
Mar 29, 2013
#1
  • Mar 29, 2013
  • #1
So yesterday I changed the transmission fluid because the previous owner was running straight gear oil. I filled it up with Dexron III like the manual says and now it grinds 3rd and 4th when down shifting. Any ideas?
 

MikeH686

Mine is only two inches though.
10 Year Member
Oct 11, 2011
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Waldorf, MD
Mar 30, 2013
#2
  • Mar 30, 2013
  • #2
I believe some early years t5 actually called for gear oil because of the synchros they used
 

TOOLOW91

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?
20+ Year Stangneter
Nov 29, 1999
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S.I.NY
Mar 30, 2013
#3
  • Mar 30, 2013
  • #3
Depends on what year t5 you are running as mentioned above and also how did you fill it ? is it possibly undefined ?


Sent from my iPhone using my fingers
 
V

v8only

Active Member
Jul 3, 2003
2,378
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49
Mar 31, 2013
#4
  • Mar 31, 2013
  • #4
All t5 trans call for atf..your syncros are shot..I've seen gear oil destroy many t5 trans...expect the worst hope for the best on your rebuild

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
 

pissedoff92

Member
Aug 14, 2011
288
7
18
western new york
Mar 31, 2013
#5
  • Mar 31, 2013
  • #5
Been there done that. My tranny had gear lube in it from the PO and when I switched to ATF it was all bad after that...
 

02 281 GT

Agreed...My wife has great Boobs
15 Year Member
Feb 3, 2009
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Cabot, AR
Apr 1, 2013
#6
  • Apr 1, 2013
  • #6
The tranny on my '86 gave out before I realized the PO had used gear oil in it. The smell was unmistakable when I swapped in a new one.
 

ratio411

Founding Member
Apr 21, 2002
3,870
73
109
Pensacola FL
Apr 2, 2013
#7
  • Apr 2, 2013
  • #7
If you are not in a postition to replace the tranny and need to try something, you could drain the tranny really well and refill with Honda ATF. It is just a band-aid, but does work on worn synchros. I had a T56 that was using stock Dexron, and started grinding into gear, I heard about the Honda ATF trick, and did it. It stopped all the grinding so long as I wasn't powershifting. It ran like that for 30k miles when I owned it, and then the next owner never had issue with it for as long as I kept in touch. For all I know, it still might be on the original tranny right now.
 

Cory Berg

Active Member
Sep 25, 2012
108
3
29
San Jose, CA
Apr 4, 2013
#8
  • Apr 4, 2013
  • #8
Thanks Ratio, I'm not really in a position to replace it. But, I have good news because the grinding has stopped. It only happened during the second and third drive. Now it's a little stiff but no grind. Should I start planning a rebuild? And if so, is the general rebuild kit all I need? The car is just a daily with maybe some occasional autocross and track days.
 
V

v8only

Active Member
Jul 3, 2003
2,378
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49
Apr 4, 2013
#9
  • Apr 4, 2013
  • #9
Grinding doesn't just go away..it's a sign that syncros and internal parts are in their way out..u may b ok now but plan for the future.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
 

gearheadboy

15 Year Member
Jan 15, 2003
1,425
177
84
Greencastle Pa
Apr 4, 2013
#10
  • Apr 4, 2013
  • #10
v8only said:
All t5 trans call for atf..your syncros are shot..I've seen gear oil destroy many t5 trans...expect the worst hope for the best on your rebuild

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
All NWC (non world class pre-85) T-5 use 70WT Gear Oil or Redline MTL.
ALL WC (world class after 1985) T-5 use ATF.
My transmission builder "Hanlon Motorsports" recommends NON synthetic after a rebuild. Why? Because the new fiber blocker rings need to grab a little to spin the next gear up to speed so it will mesh in quickly. A synthetic has too many slip additives and may cause a rake when shifting. On the other hand as ratio411 said, a slippery fluid like the Honda stuff may cause the gears to slide together without a grind if you have a T5 which has the OEM blocker rings.
As for the noise going away, after the Dextron got slung around good it may very well have gotten better. Keep us posted Cory.
 
V

v8only

Active Member
Jul 3, 2003
2,378
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49
Apr 4, 2013
#11
  • Apr 4, 2013
  • #11
Sure I've spoken with Bob Jacob.hanlon on many occasions ...learned off his t5 how to video and have been building t5s for over 5 years now..

I agree with the synthetic assessment...I always run regular atf too

I've always run atf even on the older units..there is actually some debate on atf vs gear oil on the nwc units..due to the brass bushings and syncros the nwc units seem to b able to take either fluid

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
 

Cory Berg

Active Member
Sep 25, 2012
108
3
29
San Jose, CA
Apr 6, 2013
#12
  • Apr 6, 2013
  • #12
When I changed it, the oil had a pretty intense bronzy glitter to it. Is that to be expected anyways because of the brass synchros?
Thanks gearhead, I will keep posted if anything else happens. Right now everything seems ok. *fingers crossed* As for a rebuild, I'll put it in the plans but it may not be for two to three months.
 
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