Mopar manual transmission fluid equivalent
- Thread starter rol1964
- Start date
I dunno where you saw me recommending Pennzoil Synchromesh. Maybe you are thinking about a couple recent posts when I was talking about having just bought Pennzoil 10W-30 conventional engine oil.
I have been consistently recommending against Synchromesh from both Pennzoil and GM, which is the same exact gear lube. I still, and have for many years, recommend Redline MTL for both the NV3550 and NSG370. MTL is a synthetic GL-4 75W-80 as specified for those two transmissions. It flows well even in very cold climates.
I dunno where you saw me recommending Pennzoil Synchromesh. Maybe you are thinking about a couple recent posts when I was talking about having just bought Pennzoil 10W-30 conventional engine oil.
I have been consistently recommending against Synchromesh from both Pennzoil and GM, which is the same exact gear lube. I still, and have for many years, recommend Redline MTL for both the NV3550 and NSG370. MTL is a synthetic GL-4 75W-80 as specified for those two transmissions. It flows well even in very cold climates.
Magical unicorn snot! Just works
Pantera99
TJ Enthusiast
I dunno where you saw me recommending Pennzoil Synchromesh. Maybe you are thinking about a couple recent posts when I was talking about having just bought Pennzoil 10W-30 conventional engine oil.
I have been consistently recommending against Synchromesh from both Pennzoil and GM, which is the same exact gear lube. I still, and have for many years, recommend Redline MTL for both the NV3550 and NSG370. MTL is a synthetic GL-4 75W-80 as specified for those two transmissions. It flows well even in very cold climates.
Thanks Jerry, have read much of your advice over the years, long time lurker & I finally joined, thank you! Will try MTL, I have not been a fan of synchromesh but thats all I could find locally. NV3550 I believe and she shifts well, sometimes 3rd is a little temperamental, need to ease her in at the right time. And I read some really bad reviews of the royal purple synchromax or whatever they call it.
Yes your 2002 came with an NV3550 transmission and Redline MTL would be a good choice for it. I've never been a fan of Synchromesh from Pennzoil or GM in our manual transmissions. It technically meets the specs but...
A little off topic, but if non-synthetic oil is recommended for the diffs, why is synthetic recommended for the manual transmissions? They are all just gears, right? Perhaps because of the transmission syncros?
fortuso
Member
Recently changed the trans fluid on our new to us 04. Used Royal Purple Synchromax (I am NOT a RP fanboi, used it on reccomendation)
Since the change the rattling in 1st as you take off is greatly reduced if not gone and it slips right into reverse with no issues. Impressive change just from fluid swap
Since the change the rattling in 1st as you take off is greatly reduced if not gone and it slips right into reverse with no issues. Impressive change just from fluid swap
Ok, let me put this into perspective from a Canadian standpoint.
I put MTL in my tranny. Was one of the folks who put the Mopar stuff back in because it didn't shift well...which by the way you can just walk up to the counter at the dealer and buy.
The eye opener for you is if you think MTL is pricey, 2 quarts of the Mopar stuff will run you $100. But then again, can probably just run any old stuff as the NSG370s are super easy and dirt cheap to rebuild
Funny timing. I just was told by 2 tranny shops in town they will not touch a NSG-370. they claimed no parts available for rebuilding them. Kinda makes a guy nervous for what to do if it blows up. Local shop ended up putting synchromesh in it for the service 2 years ago and man either it, the transfer, or the rear end sounds like its about to blow :-(
One, rebuild it yourself. Or send it out of town. Several forum members have sourced rebuilt units.
Two, replace it with an AX-15 five speed from earlier models. Novak and Advanced Adapters both sell the transmissions new, and the necessary bell housing.
Three, replace it with an automatic.
Four, go nuclear and LS swap it.
Nothing to be nervous about...many of us have blazed the trail...you just have decide which fork in the road you want to take...and when.
Drive it until it blows up and quit worrying about it. Takes all the fun out of Jeeping
-Mac
I will definitely just run it till it blows up or until the problem becomes obvious enough to fix, and work on picking up a second one to have rebuilt in the mean time. I actually like the 6spd, despite so many who hate it. An auto swap wouldn't be bad either but isn't the 42RLE in the same boat in terms of low availability?
Fluids all were changed a couple years ago. Only put 3K on it since then, but thats when the JT was the daily. Now this will be. And by daily it's still not much. Office is 2 miles away and I only go there maybe once a month. Town is 60 miles each way and I usually only make that trip 2-6 times a month. So still very little miles. Trans fluid looked fine, it was clean. But they did use synchromesh as per their fluid compatibility chart. I actually think the problem is the rear end. They forgot to fill it when doing the services 2 years ago so it blew up. I think they put a set of used gears in it cause nobody at that time (covid) apparently had new gears. Even rands ring and pinyon didn't have anything. I'll have the other shop open it up and check everything when I have them re-do the suspension. It would be nice to start stockpiling parts - spare transmissions being one of them. Hmm...maybe a wise move would be to start buying some of these 'totaled' Jeeps and have them as a parts donor.
The exact reason I swapped an auto 42rle in. NSG370 is a crappy transmission, especially in an ‘05. I did it now rather than later so parts were easier to find. I have not missed it one time.
Yeah but the 42rle has its own issues doesn't it? Aside from the shifting issues that can be fixed with wrangler fix PCM. I have the 42rle in my LJ, so I'm familiar with it's shifting with a OEM computer. I also have read here quite a bit about trying to properly gear considering how tall the OD is, there seems to be a wide range of opinions on the gearing. I have never really had any major issues with the 6spd except for it popping out of first here and there which I think is pretty normal. I would not be opposed to a auto swap, it would make things easier on my left hip that's for sure.
The 42rle has no real issues that can't be resolved by the normal mods you would do to any rig you are building. It needs to be re-geared like every other rig. The PCM's in 05-06 can go bad, but they are readily available through Wrangler Fix and with a tune for the late models. They are rebuildable and there are good options for getting a reman. And you don't have to shift anymore as you get older and get tired of doing that. That was one of the secondary reasons I swapped. It cost me about $3500 before selling off about $1600 worth of NSG370 parts, so I'm into an auto swap for $400 less than an NSG370 reman (~$2350), and those remans are highly questionable. I think one guy on here has a good experience with a reman. When I called AA they would not recommend anyone for a rebuild of an NSG370. The AX-15 is a good option since they are still making them new and you can get an adapter for the bellhousing from AA, but it would have destroyed my crawl ratio, and that is important with a manual if you need to go slow over obstacles like you do in rocks. Even regearing to 513 would have still netted a higher crawl ratio than what I had with my NSG370 with 456 gears (that aspect really sucked). If you're not worried about wheeling in those conditions it's a good option. Otherwise, an auto just has so much more control and you can load up the torque converter and use the brakes to control your wheel speed. I did the swap in 21 days not including the time I spent re-looming the engine harness in preparation for the swap. I'm no mechanic. I was just meticulous and prayed a lot.
I did have problems with 2nd and R in the NSG370. It has no lockout, so one mistake when trying to go into 6th and falling into reverse and your transmission is done. You will struggle to get it in R almost every time. I really thought I might get stranded one day. I don't have to worry about that anymore with the 42rle.
That sounds way cheaper, kinda strange. Was the 42RLE produced in larger numbers? I do like the 6spd. For me, it's a lot of fun. But at the same time yes with my issues, having an auto would be a lot easier. 21 days is pretty significant though I would have to farm this kind of work out, I just dont have the location to do such a swap even though I have the tools and ability. But I know a very good quality shop that would. I'm sure theres probably a bunch of threads here on this topic but do you have any in particular you suggest reading?
42rle was made from 2003-2006. Offhand, these guys have done the swap.
@jjvw, @rasband, @Mike_H, and @Jamison C.
Here’s my story:
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/05-flame-red-tj-build.3998/post-1486711
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