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Author Topic: Transmission Fluid ?  (Read 8578 times)

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Offline JT_Y88

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Transmission Fluid ?
« on: April 11, 2009, 12:31:29 PM »
Hello, 
4-speed
My borg warner t-10 is sounding a little loud this year.  I think I need to swap out my tranny fluid.  I have never done this before?  I assume there is a drain that I can pull, then fill her up with new fluid.  Is it that simple?  any recomendations on what type of fluid to add?
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Offline ponchonutty

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Re: Transmission Fluid ?
« Reply #1 on: April 11, 2009, 12:43:16 PM »
I too am planning to do the same thing and was wondering what lube people on here are running these days.
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1980 TA (1st car)
1989 Formula
1976 400 4sp
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Offline John007

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Re: Transmission Fluid ?
« Reply #2 on: April 11, 2009, 12:57:31 PM »
It's not that simple!!!! But you can do it.....................Take a look here.................http://www.78ta.com/resto/transmission.htm
.........................Later.................................
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Offline ponchonutty

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Re: Transmission Fluid ?
« Reply #3 on: April 11, 2009, 01:23:26 PM »
Thanks john but I don't think ATF fluid is used in a T-10 tranny.
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Rich enough to own a TA, too poor to keep'm all ;)
1980 TA (1st car)
1989 Formula
1976 400 4sp
1976 400 auto
1978 WS6/W72 4sp
1970 455 4sp Formula clone
1980 Indy Pace TA

Offline JT_Y88

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Re: Transmission Fluid ?
« Reply #4 on: April 11, 2009, 01:28:51 PM »
oh wow....I thought it would be like adding differential fluid....sounds like a job for my mechanic.
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Offline Joker (§ir£Ğragon)

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Re: Transmission Fluid ?
« Reply #5 on: April 11, 2009, 01:52:33 PM »
Quote from: JT_Y88 on April 11, 2009, 01:28:51 PM
oh wow....I thought it would be like adding differential fluid....sounds like a job for my mechanic.

Actually it is like doing the diff. That link that John posted is for automatics. There is a drain plug and a fill plug. you fill it up to the level of the plug and use the same type of gear oil that you would in your diff.
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Larry

Offline John007

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Re: Transmission Fluid ?
« Reply #6 on: April 11, 2009, 02:38:10 PM »
Dump!!!!! Sorry about that guys,, I was thinking it was an auto trans........Thank you larry for clearing that up............I think the fluid is the same dough............later.................
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Offline ponchonutty

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Re: Transmission Fluid ?
« Reply #7 on: April 11, 2009, 05:28:46 PM »
So 80/90w gear oil?  Is anyone running synthetic stuff in their manual tranny?
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Rich enough to own a TA, too poor to keep'm all ;)
1980 TA (1st car)
1989 Formula
1976 400 4sp
1976 400 auto
1978 WS6/W72 4sp
1970 455 4sp Formula clone
1980 Indy Pace TA

Offline Rick

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Re: Transmission Fluid ?
« Reply #8 on: April 11, 2009, 10:31:51 PM »
Quote from: ponchonutty on April 11, 2009, 01:23:26 PM
Thanks john but I don't think ATF fluid is used in a T-10 tranny.

Yeah -- well...

I thought the same thing about ALL manual transmissions because of my experience with old-school 4 speeds.  I routinely check for leaks underneath when I change oil, and I am suspicious of any drips under where the vehicle sets overnight.

I had an 86 Blazer with a 5 speed transmission.  By the time the truck got 50,000 miles on it the rear main seal was leaking a bit.  Oil loss was stable at about 1 quart every 3,000 miles, which was the oil change interval.  I had a small drip under the rear of the engine, but it did NOT smell like gear oil.  So all was good, right?  I was busy with my corporate job and this was the daily driver so I didn't fuss much with it.

Well, as it so develops, GM used ATF for the oil in the 5 speed.  Yep, ATF in a manual transmission.  Turns out that the front seal on the transmission was leaking too, but the ATF was getting mixed in with the 10W-30 from the rear main seal and I didn't catch that.  When I finally got around to checking the gear oil in the transmission case, there wasn't much in there.  Maybe a tea cup worth came out when I took out the plug.

I was physically sick when I found it.  Somehow, miraculously, while the gears were worn from lack of lubrication, I got 119,000 out of the vehicle before the transmission gave up.

So -- ATF DOES get used in manual transmissions.  Not the ones on these TAs, but it does get used.  Always consult your service manual for proper lubrication usage. ;)
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Offline Joker (§ir£Ğragon)

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Re: Transmission Fluid ?
« Reply #9 on: April 11, 2009, 10:38:53 PM »
Quote from: Rick on April 11, 2009, 10:31:51 PM
Always consult your service manual for proper lubrication usage. ;)

Very good advice.


Hondas use it too.
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Larry

Offline ponchonutty

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Re: Transmission Fluid ?
« Reply #10 on: April 12, 2009, 09:01:22 AM »
Well, yes I know that newer cars use ATF in the trannys.  My srt4 I think uses it(can't really remember) but these older cars normally always used some blend of gear oil.  I just wanted to see what others were using in there 4sp cars
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Rich enough to own a TA, too poor to keep'm all ;)
1980 TA (1st car)
1989 Formula
1976 400 4sp
1976 400 auto
1978 WS6/W72 4sp
1970 455 4sp Formula clone
1980 Indy Pace TA

Offline Helter80

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Re: Transmission Fluid ?
« Reply #11 on: April 12, 2009, 10:29:09 AM »
i dont mean to hi-jack the thread, but does anyone know the fluid capacity on a TH350? not the full, but basically when i go to change the fluid and filter, how many quarts will i need? i never changed the fluid on my car since i've had it   :o
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Offline John007

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Re: Transmission Fluid ?
« Reply #12 on: April 12, 2009, 04:17:05 PM »
Quote from: Helter80 on April 12, 2009, 10:29:09 AM
i dont mean to hi-jack the thread, but does anyone know the fluid capacity on a TH350? not the full, but basically when i go to change the fluid and filter, how many quarts will i need? i never changed the fluid on my car since i've had it   :o
I'll say about 4 quarts............I but 3 quart in, to get a reading on the dipstick then ended up adding about 3/4 of quart after taking it for a short drive............Hitman says about 3-1/2  so that's pretty close, You have to let it heat up to get the correct reading.......
http://www.78ta.com/resto/transmission.htm
.........Later..............................
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Offline JT_Y88

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Re: Transmission Fluid ?
« Reply #13 on: April 12, 2009, 06:40:51 PM »
guys at carquest looked up the indicated transmision gear oil, for a 78 4 speed.  came back to say SAE 80/90 gear oil.
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Offline JT_Y88

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Re: Transmission Fluid ?
« Reply #14 on: April 12, 2009, 08:22:12 PM »
are these the right fill and drain spots for a borg warner?

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