M50D-R1 whine

[jokerl90]

I have a 92 ranger, 2.3L, 5-speed with 218000 miles on it. The transmission has started to whine in some gears. Want to try to get an idea about repair or replace.
1st gear- whines
2nd gear-whines
3rd gear-whines but you have to listen for it
4th and 5th- no whine
No noise when coasting,down shifting and letting the motor slow the truck.
No grinding or noise in neutral
I do know it has been run low on ATF ( my bad) and may have been topped off with gear oil at some point. The last time I added fluid, I drained the trans and a black liquid came out with the hint of a gear oil smell. The drain plug had a "metallic mush" on it. No big chunks or slivers.

 

[brendank]

I have a 92 ranger, 2.3L, 5-speed with 218000 miles on it. The transmission has started to whine in some gears. Want to try to get an idea about repair or replace.
1st gear- whines
2nd gear-whines
3rd gear-whines but you have to listen for it
4th and 5th- no whine
No noise when coasting,down shifting and letting the motor slow the truck.
No grinding or noise in neutral
I do know it has been run low on ATF ( my bad) and may have been topped off with gear oil at some point. The last time I added fluid, I drained the trans and a black liquid came out with the hint of a gear oil smell. The drain plug had a "metallic mush" on it. No big chunks or slivers.

The drain plug will always have that on it. As long as the whine isn't too bad, it likely has some life left in it as is. If I were you, I'd put in new ATF, run it for 500 miles or so, and then put in new ATF again. It will still be noisy, but the chances are that it won't grenade on you. I would run it like that, and replace it only if it fails.

 

[jokerl90]

Ok, thanks for the advise!

 

[CopyKat]

Sounds like the same problem I had.

Prolly the input shaft to output shaft pilot bearing.

Don't let it get too bad, you'll wear the gears funny and you'll have to get all new gears.