Changing mercon for motor oil?

[Jolly Roger]

I have a 93' ranger 4cyl 2wd 5sp. I eather have 165k or 265k not sure witch. Shifts ok.
A guy told me to drain out the mercon and replace it with 30 weight motor oil. It will run and shift better?
I changed the fluid twice in the last 3 years. Not complaning about the shift. Just wonder if any one else has heard of this or tryed it. Thanks.

 

[CHKNFKR]

stick with mercon. it's got friction modifiers and all kinds of other additives specifically engineered for use in transmissions.

 

[4x4junkie]

A couple here have run 0W-30 synthetic motor oil in their M5ODs and were happy with it. I'd be hesitant to run anything besides that or Mercon.

 

[adsm08]

If you want to run motor oil in your trans go buy a 1950 SFPD Chrysler with the TorqueFlight.

I wouldn't put it in an M5OD though.

 

[explodan]

if you really mant it to shift real nice try using royal purple syncromax fluid. my truck has 220000 miles on it and it shifts almost like new

 

[Jolly Roger]

Just herd of some one trying something. Wanted to know if it was a trick or not. Im pritty sure u cant beat an old school trans with a 80's give or take on up. A guy has to becarefull what he puts in to one on a 93'. Aspecaly in a pinch on the trail or out in the middle of no were. Plus you cant compare a tried and true trans that can be rebuilt even with a hand full of sand rubbed in and out preform what runs on late moddels.

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

i HAVE done it. and will never do it again.

i used 30wt and it robbed tons of power, shifted horrible especially when cold. and when i drained the oil to change back to mercon the fluid was tainted with shiny brass flakes from the messed up synchros

 

[Tonka]

Friday I changed my 89's trans fluid. I knew it was low cuz it was making a "whirring" sound most people wouldn't notice, but it never did it before, coming from the trans when idling in N with foot off the clutch.

At first it was really dark gray color coming out, then as it slowed to a trickle I could see it was tan color like regular motor oil. It wasn't that low, I got about 2 quarts out. (Or maybe that IS low)

The synchros have always felt a little stiff when shifting but I just figured my grandpa bent something. He was deaf and he beat the **** out of it. He'd lug it, grind it, scream it, take corners at 45 mph, etc.

Anyway the shavings that were stuck to the magnet on the drain plug were silvery color, it was more of a sludge that looks like anti-seize compound.

Whatever though. I re-filled it with Mercon V. I fired it up and took my foot off the clutch in neutral and it's quiet as a mouse now. No gear noise at all. Still shifts the same though.

 

[Jolly Roger]

Thanks for the imput guys. I might try some royal purple next. Ive been meening to change my diff fluid. I wana see if i can get any mps out of it.