Tremec Trans

[Silver281GT]

Hi,

have a 2003 mustang gt with a tremec T3650 trans. several peopel ahve told me that synthetic oils are not good for thsi transmission, so aside from the standard Mercon V atf and now GM synchromesh, nothing has been in it.

I'm wondering if the rumors are true regarding Red Line D4 atf and the tremec T3650. Is there any possible way that running Red Line D4 ATF will hurt any components in my tranny?

what's the deal?

 

[unDummy]

Redline or any synth ATF shouldn't hurt anything. Problem is that most synth ATFs now are friction modified for smooth autotranny/TC operation. This HFM might not be best for synchro operations.

Try one of these MTFs.

SpecialtyFormulation Synchroglide or MTFglide
RoyalPurple Synchromax
Torco MTF
Redline MTL
Amsoil MTF
Neo MTF
BG Syncroshift II

 

[Pablo]

http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=16;t=002795

 

[bdcardinal]

a lot of people i know with mustangs use Mobil 1 ATF, or Amsoil ATF. i use Mobil 1 ATF in my T45, just because its mroe readily available for me.

 

[Silver281GT]

this is what tremec said:

Matt,

Thank you for your interest in the TREMEC brand product. I receive daily questions and comments on aftermarket transmission fluids. For every person that tells me that Product X is the best fluid to run in my transmissions, I get the same number of individuals that tell me Product X is the worst fluid you can put into my transmissions. I can only give you our recommendations for my product line. For the TR3650 the recommended fluid is DEXRON III / MERCON Spec ATF, (Texaco). Alternative fluids can be G.M. Synchromesh, G.M. part number 12345349, (semi-synthetic), or Mobil 1 ATF, (full synthetic). If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.


Also there are some rumors about "super" oils like REd Line or Amsoil destroying with the sychros... and thoughts? more specifically, teh additive packages mess with the carbon fiber sychro coatings.

 

[dailydriver]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Silver281GT:
this is what tremec said: I can only give you our recommendations for my product line. For the TR3650 the recommended fluid is DEXRON III / MERCON Spec ATF, (Texaco). Alternative fluids can be G.M. Synchromesh, G.M. part number 12345349, (semi-synthetic), or Mobil 1 ATF, (full synthetic).

---

A possible reason for this could be that Tremec has only tested those three fluids in their transmissions and they cannot/will not test any others.

BTW; I always thought that the GM/Pennzoil Synchromesh was definitely not even a "semi-synthetic"?

 

[Silver281GT]

yeah, I agree with ya dailydriver. I spoke with good ole dave at red line and he stated that D4 ATF is 100% safe.

also got an email from tremec again, and they said that they would stay away from red line b/c of blocker adhesive problems with synthetic oils...

wish someone could give me a definitive answer.

 

[chucky2]

Silver281GT- Check out the link Pablo posted, and my first post in it.

In it there's a link to a blocker ring thread I started over at LS1Tech.com for running synthetics in 98-00 F-Body T-56's (which have the paper - not carbon - blockers).

My feeling after much thought is: No one official - like GM or Tremec - is going to spend $$$ testing out alternate lubes, and that means from a legal standpoint, all anyone will ever get from them is the lubes they test/sell.

As far as evidence from end users, it is clear that many run synthetic lubes with no problems, while others have run a synthetic and have had their trans develop problems. The ones that developed problems....well, to me it's unclear in some cases if the lube is what sparked the eventual breakdown, or, if it was something else. Of course, the synthetic lube is blamed...but with all the problems the F-body guys have with their T-56's, one has to seriously wonder whether or not the synthetic lube was really the cause of the problem or not.

In short: Your never going to get an official ironclad answer on this...the best your going to do is research like crazy, evaluate all the feedback you get, and make a gut call.

Chuck

 

[Silver281GT]

quote:

---

Originally posted by chucky2:
Silver281GT- Check out the link Pablo posted, and my first post in it.

In it there's a link to a blocker ring thread I started over at LS1Tech.com for running synthetics in 98-00 F-Body T-56's (which have the paper - not carbon - blockers).

My feeling after much thought is: No one official - like GM or Tremec - is going to spend $$$ testing out alternate lubes, and that means from a legal standpoint, all anyone will ever get from them is the lubes they test/sell.

As far as evidence from end users, it is clear that many run synthetic lubes with no problems, while others have run a synthetic and have had their trans develop problems. The ones that developed problems....well, to me it's unclear in some cases if the lube is what sparked the eventual breakdown, or, if it was something else. Of course, the synthetic lube is blamed...but with all the problems the F-body guys have with their T-56's, one has to seriously wonder whether or not the synthetic lube was really the cause of the problem or not.

In short: Your never going to get an official ironclad answer on this...the best your going to do is research like crazy, evaluate all the feedback you get, and make a gut call.

Chuck

---

yeah, heard directly from Tremec about their blocker problem and the adhesive that holds them on being affected by the synthetic's additive package.

Hard to say...but Dave at redline assured me that D4 is safe for tremec trannies.

Hard call. What did you decide to put in your tranny?

 

[chucky2]

Silver281GT- I don't have a F-body, or even a T-56. I got into this when I was still with my ex-girlfriend...her brother drives a 98 Z28 w/ a T-56. He bought some synthetic (no idea if it's really synthetic or "synthetic") B&M Trickshift, and we put it in his trans; I can say it was a pretty blue color.

Then I wondered, is this safe? So I looked into it - I didn't want his trans nuking on him - and found a cautionary post here on BITOG from MolaKule about TrickShift, but it was in response to use in an automatic trans, not a manual.

So, long story short, I did a lot of research on LS1.com and LS1Tech.com, as well as here....read all the good feedback, read all the bad feedback, and the same thing kept coming up: "It's (synthetic) going to eat your blockers/synchros/trans up, use Dextron III."

Or, posts to that effect.

So, I started a thread on LS1.com and LS1Tech.com specifically about blocker ring failure, and you can read what transpired there on LS1Tech.com - unfortunately, LS1.com reset their forums or something, so it appears my old thread is gone there; too bad, it had some good debate in it.

Then, there's the large and highly viewed Which T56 Fluid? thread over at LS1Tech.com I linked to, where many people are running synthetic with no problems...yet, others do say they develop problems.

In short: All this led me to conclude that everyone's T-56 is different...you need to weigh the risks vs. the benefits, and decide for yourself on what to run. That's all it really boils down to...

Chuck

 

[chucky2]

As a quick follow-up, I can say that if it was me, I'd change out to first dino Dexron III - since it's inagruably safe - and put in the recommended amount of Auto-RX, run that for the recommended amount of time, flush w/ the same dino Dexron III for another couple of thousand miles, and then swap to one of MolaKule's lubes...

If one didn't want to go w/ an SF lube, then I'd say Redline MTL if you lived in a not freezing climate, or, as an even safer alternative, GM Synchromesh, PN# 12345349.

I can say I don't remember anyone having a problem with GM's Synchromesh, other than it being thicker - and this more prone to grindage when cold if not careful - than Dexron III ATF. Once warmed up though, the perception of shifting when running the GM Synchromesh is usally along the lines of "buttery smooth" or words to that effect.

Still, I'd try one of MolaKule's lubes first though, just because I'm sure the basestock is better, as would be the add levels.

Chuck

 

[Silver281GT]

Chucky2--

Thanks very much for your thoughts regarding this matter. Aside from the factory fill, which was Mercon V, I have tried Red Line D4 ATF. I removd Red Line from my tranny within 500 miles when I heard of teh potential for problems and switched to GM Synchromesh.

I haven't had any problems in my T3650 with the GM Synchromesh.

Track season is comming up, and my car has been undergoing some power/drivetrain mods, and I was wondering if I need more fluid protection for my tranny.

Since my conversation with Dave, at Red Line, I have been wondering about D4 again and, as you mentioned, MTL.

All this debate makes me wish for a clear cut answer to this debate...I want what is best for my tranny, esp. when I am running it hard on the 1/4 mile.

I'll check into molecule's fluids on his site...

again, thanks (from a ford driver...lol)

 

[Dominic]

I'll be posting in about a week what I think about MTFGlide vs. Mobil1 ATF and Redline Hightemp ATF. I'll be putting it in my T5 tranny to try to solve some shifting issues I've been having.

 

[chucky2]

Silver281GT- I'd say, and this is just a computer Geek with little mechanical knowledge, who drives an '03 Ranger FX4 Level II (automatic no less), that if your running at the track, to either stick with the Synchromesh, or switch to the MTL or - IMHO based on spec's - use one of MolaKule's lubes...

I think the D4 would be fine, just, especially now that it's warming up, and you obviously need all the protection you can get, there's better alternatives for you than the D4.

Dominic- Can't wait to hear your results!

Chuck