What do I put in my transmission

[2.9._ranger]

I have a 89 ranger with a m5r1 and it leaned over while I was trying to put it back on and a bunch of oil leaked out the shifter hole, it just looked like brand new oil but I don't know what type so what should I put in there?

 

[RonD]

M5R1 uses Mercon V ATF, yes automatic transmission fluid in a manual transmission
2.8 quarts when bone dry, so just over 2 quarts on drain and re-fills usually

If the fluid that leaked out was not red then its very old, drain it all out

 

[2.9._ranger]

M5R1 uses Mercon V ATF, yes automatic transmission fluid in a manual transmission
2.8 quarts when bone dry, so just over 2 quarts on drain and re-fills usually

If the fluid that leaked out was not red then its very old, drain it all out

Yea it wasn't red it just looked like brand new engine oil, after draining it will I need to do anything special to clean it out before putting new fluid?

 

[Blmpkn]

Yea it wasn't red it just looked like brand new engine oil, I water draining it will I need to do anything special to clean it out before putting new fluid?

It may have been filled with syncromesh, I just filled my truck up with pennzoil and it was kinda honey-colored like fresh motor oil. I wasn't able to find any mercon.

 

[4x4junkie]

The M5OD-R1 uses "Dex/Merc" ATF (previously sold as Mercon, which is what your owners manual will say to use).
I've seen more than a few cases of Mercon V causing problems with stickshift transmissions (I don't care what Ford insists about it's compatibility). It is for this reason you can still find Dex/Merc fluid at any auto parts store.

 

[Josh B]

Here's one I found at a local oil supply

Added the back label

 

[Shran]

Does it really have an M5R1, was that swapped in? It would have had an FM-146 if 4x4 or FM-132 if 2wd from the factory and those did not take ATF.

 

[2.9._ranger]

Does it really have an M5R1, was that swapped in? It would have had an FM-146 if 4x4 or FM-132 if 2wd from the factory and those did not take ATF.

I believe it's the m5r1 but the transmission is covered in oil from a valve cover leak the previous owner didn't fix so I can't look for codes but once I clean it would you know where any way to identify it would be?

 

[Shran]

I believe it's the m5r1 but the transmission is covered in oil from a valve cover leak the previous owner didn't fix so I can't look for codes but once I clean it would you know where any way to identify it would be?

Look at the bottom of the transmission... if it has a rectangular removable oil pan, it is NOT an M5R1. If there is no pan at all, it is an M5R1.

The only Ranger in 1989 that had an M5R1 from the factory also had a 4 cylinder engine, 2.9 powered trucks would have had Mitsubishi transmissions.

If you do indeed have an M5R1, the correct fluid is Dex/Mercon II/III ATF. The Mitsubishi transmissions will use Pennzoil or Valvoline MTF/Synchromesh type fluid. O'Reilly has it, about $10/quart. There are other fluids that will work in those but that is the best one I have found.

 

[2.9._ranger]

Look at the bottom of the transmission... if it has a rectangular removable oil pan, it is NOT an M5R1. If there is no pan at all, it is an M5R1.

The only Ranger in 1989 that had an M5R1 from the factory also had a 4 cylinder engine, 2.9 powered trucks would have had Mitsubishi transmissions.

If you do indeed have an M5R1, the correct fluid is Dex/Mercon II/III ATF. The Mitsubishi transmissions will use Pennzoil or Valvoline MTF/Synchromesh type fluid. O'Reilly has it, about $10/quart. There are other fluids that will work in those but that is the best one I have found.

It does not have a removable pan on the bottom so it should be the m5r1

 

[RonD]

2WD Rangers got the M5R1s starting in 1988, 4cyl or 2.9l

 

[Josh B]

Is that Pennzoil I posted suitable for these transmissions? It's what I got it for and that price sticker is what I paid.
I think there are places who sell oil, at discounts better than walmart, that most people don't know about. I'm just hoping I deciphered that label well enough