Ford Ranger stick shift.......

[WMSmotorhead]

Ok, so my crew is changing a clutch in a 99 Ranger... and doing a fine job at it.

I asked my parts place what the fill was for it, they said 80-90 gear lube... so I picked up some to top it off.

The stuff that was in the trans was maroon in color... 80-90 is usually amber... Any idea what they had in there?

 

[Lead Shoes]

When in doubt, change it out.

 

[WMSmotorhead]

We did... I was wondering if it was something fancy like Royal Purple.. All their stuff I've seen in purple in color and fancy synthetic. I'm used to good ol honey gear lube.

 

[Lead Shoes]

Doesn't redline have red gear lube?

if so it could have just been old redline in there

 

[Big_Kat]

my mystik gear oil is red in color 80w-90

 

[warrior]

If it is a mazda 5-speed it probably takes ATF. M5OD trans will take ATF. Gear oil will destroy the sincs. Look it up. Amzoil.com says its ATF. I used mobil 1 ATF in mine, but any synthetic ATF will probably work fine. Just don't put gear oil in it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[WMSmotorhead]

Well, whatever was in there, It's Coastal 80-90 now... God bless Warren... 12$ a gallon.

I fix lots of cars for people who can barely afford it... so we use lots of budget oils... All must meet spec though.

 

[warrior]

Take it out...Not good...WOW!!!

 

[warrior]

OMG!!!

 

[warrior]

Its not gear oil...its ATF...OMG!!

 

[robshelton]

Looks like it takes Mercon ATF, so I'd get in there and change it ASAP!!
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/ManualTransmission.html
Or download your owners manual here:
https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenance/owners_manuals/default.asp

 

[troyb43]

Originally Posted By: WMSmotorhead
Ok, so my crew is changing a clutch in a 99 Ranger... and doing a fine job at it.

I asked my parts place what the fill was for it, they said 80-90 gear lube... so I picked up some to top it off.

The stuff that was in the trans was maroon in color... 80-90 is usually amber... Any idea what they had in there?


They have used ATF for years, as my 97 did. Not sure what may happen, but the 80-90 is way heavier than the ATF, which is about a light 20 weight

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: WMSmotorhead
Well, whatever was in there, It's Coastal 80-90 now... God bless Warren... 12$ a gallon.

I fix lots of cars for people who can barely afford it... so we use lots of budget oils... All must meet spec though.


Gear oil does not meet the spec in this application. Like warrior said, get it out ASAP! Your parts place may have just toasted the transmission in that truck.

80W90 is absolutely NOT okay to use in an M5OD! Using gear oil in a M5OD is one of the very few things that can kill it.

Get Mercon, Dex/Merc, Mercon V, or any universal ATF in there and do not drive the truck until that is done.

 

[Radman]

I had a Ford Ranger with a Mazda 5 spd. It took ATF instead of gear lube. I used to change it every Summer because I wasn't sure how robust a lubricant ATF is.

 

[exranger06]

You can't assume that every manual transmission uses gear oil. In fact I'd say MOST manuals nowadays DON'T use gear oil anymore.

 

[mpvue]

Originally Posted By: WMSmotorhead
Ok, so my crew is changing a clutch in a 99 Ranger... and doing a fine job at it.

I asked my parts place what the fill was for it, they said 80-90 gear lube... so I picked up some to top it off.

The stuff that was in the trans was maroon in color... 80-90 is usually amber... Any idea what they had in there?

wow. you're a 'professional' and you ask the PARTS GUY what oil goes in the trans???
let's see, you could check the owner's manual, the internet, a ford dealer, but you ask the PARTS GUY?

so glad you're not my mechanic...

 

[Spazdog]

I don't remember if 30,000 miles is the actual factory recommended interval or just what our transmission builder recommended, but the Mazda M5OD does use ATF.

 

[EricF]

the Ranger 5spd's have used ATF forever.. your 99 would use mercon 5...

sounds like someone working on the truck is too Old Skool

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
I don't remember if 30,000 miles is the actual factory recommended interval or just what our transmission builder recommended, but the Mazda M5OD does use ATF.


Ford doesn't have an actual interval for the M5OD. It's basically lifetime fill, but 30,000 miles is a very good "rule of thumb" change interval to keep the trans in good shape and shifting smoothly...as smooth as an M5OD gets anyway. The factory fill on my old Ranger was pretty dark at around 55K miles. The next time I drained it about 30K miles later it looked about like it did when I poured it in. The main thing with this transmission is to keep it topped up. There are three rubber shift rail plugs at the top of the trans that can dry out and shrink over time, causing a difficult to trace leak. They are easy to replace, but can spell disaster if enough fluid leaks out. Some people use freeze plugs as a permanent fix.

 

[mechtech2]

Originally Posted By: warrior
If it is a mazda 5-speed it probably takes ATF. M5OD trans will take ATF. Gear oil will destroy the sincs. Look it up. Amzoil.com says its ATF. I used mobil 1 ATF in mine, but any synthetic ATF will probably work fine. Just don't put gear oil in it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


ATF is probably what is in there.
But it is nonsense to avoid real manual trans lubes -they are much better than ATF..
Redline and Amsoil make great versions. Pennzoil synchromesh is a dino, but is very good.