88 Ranger 2.9L 5spd Mitsubishi w/ RED trans fluid

[BillRod]

Hi All

88 Ranger 4x4, Ext Cab, 2.9L 5spd Mitsubishi trans,
(I assume it's the Mitsubishi because is has the square steel oil pan with the drain plug in the middle.)

Owned it 6 months, trans is kinda whiny in town accelerating in low gears.
Quiet on the highway in 4th or 5th.
Because of the noise I want to change the fluid.

I just drove it 50 miles on the highway to warm it up then I pulled the fill plug and some thin Red oil came out, looks just like mercon tranny fluid.

Looking through the transmission ID section on this board, "http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/ManualTransmission.html"
It states that that Mercon tranny fluid should be used in the Mazda and 80-90 gear oil should be used in the Mitsubishi trans.


First off... I am reading everything correct and this trans should use gear oil?

How bad is this?
Everything I've read states "Using the wrong oil could cause Transmission problems..."

Anyone ever dealt with this?

Can I just drain the mercon and replace it with the gear oil?

Any other thoughts?

Thanks
Bill

 

[snoopdoggie]

You should have gear oil in it. Chance of it having been damaged depends on how long it had the Mercon looking fluid in it. Most likely it hasn't been hurt by road use. After all, mercon works fine in the mazda.