t-5 fluid

[873Stang]

what is recommended

house brand dex/merc
mobil 1 fully syn atf
hurst hot shot

and should i add some lucas automatic trans in it

its brand new trans

 

[HISSIN50]

Does the vendor have a recommendation? I'd use whatever they want you to use if there is a warranty consideration.

Otherwise, I would break it in with regular (conventional) Mercon.

Good luck.

 

[Darkwriter77]

I was plenty happy with the feel after I pumped in some Hurst Hot Shift fluid. Nothing dramatic, but it was a happy medium between the el-cheap-o store brand crap and the Über-expensive Mobil 1 stuff. I just wanted something that would hold up to the heat and such a little better than the ghetto-cheap fluid probably would.

As long as it's Mercon/Dexron-III compatible, go with whatever. The synthetic won't hurt, and probably won't degrade as quickly over time as the regular stuff. I'm quite sure you'd even be fine with pouring in Mercon V fluid, although I don't see that you'd really be gaining any sort of advantage with it, other than it being a synthetic blend fluid...

 

[jimdrechsler]

if i wanted to add oil to mine if it needs it or change it, can someone give detailed instructions as to how to do it? ive never done it before.

i think i would jack the car up under the subframe connector behind the front wheel. then, take screw out where tranny is under where the shifter would be. then stick my finger in to see if i can feel it? add is necessary? as you can see i need some advice if anyone has some! thanks!

jim

ps shifting has been tougher lately. already played with clutch adjustment. i want to see if this has to do with it.

thanks

p.s. what is the part i need called to pump the fluid in? or could i use a small dixie cup and bend it so it flows right in??

 

[bullitt5244]

I just chenged mine because i had to put a tailshaft seal in it and i used mercon 6
its a new fluid (i work at a GM dealer) and it is what we have in bulk and i would
have to say it works just fine.

 

[Deleted member 87397]

if i wanted to add oil to mine if it needs it or change it, can someone give detailed instructions as to how to do it? ive never done it before.

i think i would jack the car up under the subframe connector behind the front wheel. then, take screw out where tranny is under where the shifter would be. then stick my finger in to see if i can feel it? add is necessary? as you can see i need some advice if anyone has some! thanks!

jim

ps shifting has been tougher lately. already played with clutch adjustment. i want to see if this has to do with it.

thanks

p.s. what is the part i need called to pump the fluid in? or could i use a small dixie cup and bend it so it flows right in??

If you jack the car up make sure it's level so you have an accurate reading. As far as adding more, you can use a fluid pump from the auto store or the cup if it will work. When I filled my TKO up recently I had my shift boot and stuff off so I just ran some nylon tubing from Home Depot from the interior down inside the fill hole and poured it until it was full.

To the original poster: I ran Redline D4 in my T-5 when I had it and it was great.

 

[jimdrechsler]

If you jack the car up make sure it's level so you have an accurate reading. As far as adding more, you can use a fluid pump from the auto store or the cup if it will work. When I filled my TKO up recently I had my shift boot and stuff off so I just ran some nylon tubing from Home Depot from the interior down inside the fill hole and poured it until it was full.

To the original poster: I ran Redline D4 in my T-5 when I had it and it was great.

thanks fastfox-- should i be able to fell the oil when i put my finger in there? if not, should i just top it off?

thanks,
jim

 

[5spd GT]

When the fluid starts running out of the 3/8" drain plug, then it is full.

It should take 2.7 quarts of Mercon III ATF fluid.

You can fill it through the shifter area down into the tranny.

 

[Stangar]

You will need one of those "cheap" hand pumps. Pump it in until it starts coming out. "Dixie cup" will NOT work.

Use Mobil 1 ATF. I've changed mine every 75,000 or so miles over the years and now have 331,000 miles on the original tranny of my '89 GT. Good Luck!

 

[85Vertible]

I use Royal Purple ATF.. Huge difference in my old 85 T5

 

[ALMOSTFINISHED]

I use amsoil synthetic and its a big difference compared to the gm stuff I had in it before hand. Shifts smoother too

 

[jimdrechsler]

im fn dumb. after jacking up the driver side and not seeing it, I decided to jack up the passenger side and i think i see it. Is it the square indented piece in there? If it is, I don't have the right 3/8 to get it out. I only have a regular socket set to fit like the oil drain plug. Man, I need one of you guys as a neighbor of mine!

How would you drain it completely from under there anyway?
I think I will go to the store and buy the right tool. what is it i need exactly? also, i will buy that pump thing to pump it in there. i noticed some of the fluid (red) under the transmission looking under there. Hopefully if i fill it up it will help with shifting!

 

[Darkwriter77]

Doesn't need a special socket ... or ANY socket, at all. Just poke the 3/8" ratchet's square bit right into that plug's hole, and crank 'er counter-clockwise. It pokes in a lot easier if you've got a pushbutton-release ratchet.

Be sure to have the drain pan ready, don't lose the plug, and definitely wipe whatever fluid you get splashed onto the exhaust (you'll be smelling that crap burning off for a week, if you don't).

Re-plug it when it slows up, do the same with the top plug, and keep the thing handy for when you go pumping fluid back in there - when it starts to dribble out, thread that plug in there ASAP, and wipe up the drooling run-down fluid (again, unless you don't mind the smell of hot/burning tranny fluid for a week).

 

[bloopbloob]

maybe someone can verify this for me. i heard there are 2 similar plugs on a t5. one to fill the fluid, but another one that looks similar has something to do with the reverse gear, and if u take the wrong one out, u can screw up the tranny. it was just some dude who works at an oil change place.... any thuth to this???

 

[5spd GT]

bloopbloop - I'm not aware of anything like that, maybe on some other cars...but I'm not aware of any on the t5

Yeah, just use a 3/8" ratchet end and act like it is a bolt

 

[jimdrechsler]

Doesn't need a special socket ... or ANY socket, at all. Just poke the 3/8" ratchet's square bit right into that plug's hole, and crank 'er counter-clockwise. It pokes in a lot easier if you've got a pushbutton-release ratchet.

Be sure to have the drain pan ready, don't lose the plug, and definitely wipe whatever fluid you get splashed onto the exhaust (you'll be smelling that crap burning off for a week, if you don't).

Re-plug it when it slows up, do the same with the top plug, and keep the thing handy for when you go pumping fluid back in there - when it starts to dribble out, thread that plug in there ASAP, and wipe up the drooling run-down fluid (again, unless you don't mind the smell of hot/burning tranny fluid for a week).

SO THERE ARE 2 PLUGS I NEED TO OPEN?

 

[FoxChasis]

maybe someone can verify this for me. i heard there are 2 similar plugs on a t5. one to fill the fluid, but another one that looks similar has something to do with the reverse gear, and if u take the wrong one out, u can screw up the tranny. it was just some dude who works at an oil change place.... any thuth to this???

That is absolutely true, except for the part of them being similar.

The two plugs that look the same are on the passenger side. The bottom plug is to drain, the top plug is to fill/check fluid level.

There is indeed a Torx head bolt on the driver side that, if loosened and backed-out of the case far enough, WILL neccesitate a teardown of the transmission. It will not simply screw back in and make everything OK. If you hear a "clunk" you're done for. That bolt is the pivot pin for the fifth and reverse gear shift lever. Once that bolt is backed out far enough, it allows the shift lever to drop out of alignment and may also drop the retaining ring. In other words, DON'T TOUCH THE TORX HEAD BOLT ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION CASE.

 

[93gtmustang]

OK.
I just broke in my T-5z with regular Dexron III. 500 miles
Just put in Royal Puple MAX ATF (Dexron III compatible)
It's like 9.95 a qt. Expensive, but it does shift easier.
This is how I changed my fluid.

1-Jack the car level, front and back. Make sure the car is level and safe to go under!!! ( I always put a couple of mounted tires laying flat on their sides under the car just in case .)
2-On the passenger side you will see 2-square plugs on the side of the transmission. One uppper, one lower. All you need is a 3/8" drive on your socket set. You'll probably need an extension.
Put an oil waste pan under the transmission.
Slightly loosen the top plug first to relieve the pressure.
Then the bottom plug and let it drain.
(I bought a fill tube at Advanced Auto that you can screw a quart botttle of fluid on to and also turn off and on the flow. It has a 2- 3 ft tube on it. I went to the hardware store and bought 8 ft of tube.)
3-Snake the tubing down through the front of the engine bay passenger side area and into the top plug of your transmission.
4-Put the bottom plug back in after the fluid has totally drained.
5-Add your selected transmission fluid until it pours out the top plug in which you are filling through.
6-Put in the top plug
7- Take it for a short drive and check for any leaks.
Good Luck. Be safe when working uder your car.
I hope this helps.

 

[5spd GT]

That is absolutely true, except for the part of them being similar.

The two plugs that look the same are on the passenger side. The bottom plug is to drain, the top plug is to fill/check fluid level.

There is indeed a Torx head bolt on the driver side that, if loosened and backed-out of the case far enough, WILL neccesitate a teardown of the transmission. It will not simply screw back in and make everything OK. If you hear a "clunk" you're done for. That bolt is the pivot pin for the fifth and reverse gear shift lever. Once that bolt is backed out far enough, it allows the shift lever to drop out of alignment and may also drop the retaining ring. In other words, DON'T TOUCH THE TORX HEAD BOLT ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION CASE.

I forgot about that torx bolt on the driver side

 

[jimdrechsler]

thanks for all replies after i hi-jacked this post! I will have to look again. I think I will loosen the top one and add some if needed with the pump.
are the two plugs directly above eachother?
Thanks again.

Jim