"Sloshing" transmission noise

[camelgrassjuice]

Hey all, I just got my ranger and I recently have noticed that the transmission makes an odd noise in 1st, 2nd, 4th , and reverse gears. It sounds like fluid sloshing around and is more noticeable in 2nd gear.

-The sound goes away when I come to a stop
-It starts when I move, to the rhythm of the speed of the truck, not the engine speed
-No other noises/odd behaviors of the transmission
-Clutch in, clutch out, it does not change the noise
-No slipping out of gears, or grinding noises
-Freeze plugs in place, no signs of leaks

The truck is a 2.3L with a manual trans (M50D) with 90k miles on it

My last ranger (89 2.9L) had the same problem in all gears and was much more pronounced. I didn't bother looking into it at the time, as it was a salvage title.

Thanks in advance!

 

[zacharry]

it is comman that they make that noise when the trans is in nutral and the clutch is out. you may check your gear oil in the trans.

 

[camelgrassjuice]

Fluid is full. The noise seems to go away when the transmission is warmed up.

 

[fastpakr]

A fluid 'sloshing' noise is -not- common. If it's matched with vehicle speed I'd be more likely to look at other possible sources of the noise like u-joints, etc.

 

[zacharry]

mine has always made that noise when the clutch is out and it is in nutral, it has made that noise for 220,852 miles and has never given me a problem, a couple of my friends have the same truck with 260,000 or better with the same noise and has never given them a problem. i have herd that the transmissions have to small of imput shaft baring and that could be the problem. if it was an automatic that would be the problem but i dont think its a problem, just keep your gear oil in it and maybe check your drive line to axle bolts, they somtimes tend to go loose.

 

[zacharry]

the gear oil is also thicker when it is cold, you may consider that. hope that helps.

 

[pcollins]

Good god, I hope you guys don't have gear oil in your M5ODs'. And I'm not being sarcastic either.

 

[fastpakr]

No kidding.

To the OP:
A) The noise is NOT normal, and your description of the situation when it occurs is different from zacharry.
B) If you have gear oil in there, get it out. No 2002 transmission should have anything but ATF in it.

 

[camelgrassjuice]

ATF should be the only thing in there. I haven't changed the fluid in it, and neither has the last owner. When I checked, the fluid appeared to be a little dirty but not brand new.

Also, does all ATF smell the same? Are they all red in color? I know that it smells like crap but I didn't notice any repulsive odor to it when I checked

Oh, and the sound comes and goes depending on what gear I am in, so I'm not thinking the noise is suspension related

 

[zacharry]

first things first guys, you have to look at the question more closely, the words clutch in and clutch out, should tell you that it is the 5 speed manual trans. so no there shouldent be ATF in there. i posted that the manual trans, with the clutch out in nutral it makes a circulating or sloshing noise. whether or not that is a problem im not sure, i will state that the truck that i have has always done this and there is over 200,000 on it. so i dont think that it is a very pressing issue. now if you have an automatic trans. then you may have somthing to worry about.

 

[fix_or_repair_daily]

so no there shouldent be ATF in there.

Wrong. M50D transmissions DO use ATF as lube.

 

[fastpakr]

This guy is beginning to damage my calm.

 

[camelgrassjuice]

So...Any ideas? I'm feeling this thread is getting side tracked.

The manual transmission does use ATF, as stated by ford. I do know that

 

[fastpakr]

Sorry, I wish I knew what to suggest. Hopefully somebody (AllanD or RBoyer come to mind) sees this and has a better suggestion. I think what Zacharry is describing is an issue with the pilot bearing, but not really sure. Not what it sounds like you have to me.

 

[Captain Ledd]

first things first guys, you have to look at the question more closely, the words clutch in and clutch out, should tell you that it is the 5 speed manual trans. so no there shouldent be ATF in there.

M5OD's take ATF fluid. They will barely shift if filled with gear oil and will do damage to the bearings due to the much closer tolerances and smaller lubrication holes. Gear oil is too thick to get to where it needs to go.

Now since that point is even further driven in.

To the original question: I don't think it's fluid related, unless it's low, I say that because it may be damage done to the gear box like a bearing or gear tooth surface damage. I don't think it's gear tooth surface damage since it does it in all the gears (or maybe all the gear teeth are damaged?). Does it look like it's been leaking from the top of the transmission?

Check for play or damage by pulling the rear driveshaft and looking at the bearing at the end of the tailhousing. Don't worry, the fluid level shouldn't be high enough that fluid will come out. It takes a 12mm-12point socket to remove the axle flange bolts. It should slide out and right back on. If you can wiggle the output shaft around a bit (with the shaft off) that may mean there's some damage in the transmission itself.

Other possible options are that it's rear axle related and it's just coming into the cab through the transmission. The pinion flange should be very secure in the axle housing.

My friends transmission (a manual) on his j-10 made a very strange noise, turned out it was u-joints. Switched those out for new ones and the noise went away. Though it was more of an actual whine. Mine are 210,000 miles old and still don't seem to have any issues *knocks on wood*