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what do you guys use for fluid in the m5od trans? how much


fordman8991

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2007
Messages
50
City
st. paul, MN
Vehicle Year
1989
Transmission
Automatic
what it says. whats the fluid capacity on the m50d manual trans? i'll look in the haynes manual but i can never find capacities in there. and what brand do you guys use for fluid. something that shifts nice and smooth and holds up in these minnesota winters lol
 
1989?

Dextron III/Mercon ATF (2.5-2.75 qts) (I've been using Castrol myself)

Do NOT confuse "Mercon" with "Mercon V" fluid though, it's not the same (will shift like crap on your '89).
 
1989?

Dextron III/Mercon ATF (2.5-2.75 qts) (I've been using Castrol myself)

Do NOT confuse "Mercon" with "Mercon V" fluid though, it's not the same (will shift like crap on your '89).

Got it. i picked up some maxlife mercon. grabbed 5 quarts. figured between the transmission and T case i'd use about 4
 
i use 80-90 in tranny and atf in t-case

That is NOT the correct fluid to use in the M5OD. If you have a Mitsubishi or Toyo-Koygo trans in your Ranger, then that's the correct fluid to use, but M5ODs use Dex III/Mercon ATF. The T-cases also use ATF, regardless of transmission.
 
I ran my 89's M5OD1 with straight 40 weight motor oil for two years and never had a problem. switched to that after running it low (had a leak in the shifter rails up top) and it developed a whine due to that. The 40 weight oil cured that.
 
i switched to pennzoil syncromesh fluid a couple of months ago, ive had some difficulties with 2nd and figured if it finishes it off, so be it and i'll upgrade with a M5OD-HD (or R2, whatever the newest one behind the ohc 4.0 is called) so far no troubles after 2,000 miles. and my 2nd gear problem isnt quite as bad as it was (still doesnt llike to go "in" on occasion) as far as the cold, i always let the motor run for about 5-10 min before i leave to spin the gears around before i head out. 3 qts will do it, i always get 4, put it in a clean 1 gallon containor, use a boat primer bulb with 3/8" fuel line to 'pump' it into the trans, save the extra in case i need to top-off the trans when i change engine oil.
________
the volcano vaporizer
 
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i switched to pennzoil syncromesh fluid a couple of months ago, ive had some difficulties with 2nd and figured if it finishes it off, so be it and i'll upgrade with a M5OD-HD (or R2, whatever the newest one behind the ohc 4.0 is called) so far no troubles after 2,000 miles. and my 2nd gear problem isnt quite as bad as it was (still doesnt llike to go "in" on occasion) as far as the cold, i always let the motor run for about 5-10 min before i leave to spin the gears around before i head out. 3 qts will do it, i always get 4, put it in a clean 1 gallon containor, use a boat primer bulb with 3/8" fuel line to 'pump' it into the trans, save the extra in case i need to top-off the trans when i change engine oil.

um the M5OD-HD isnt actually any stronger than a regular R1. all it has is a different set of gear ratios for 1st-3rd gears.

the R2 was the version that was used in the fullsize trucks, behind the 300CI straight 6, 302 and 351.

i like your way of filling your tranny though.
 
i thouhgt he was talking about the 5 speeds yah dont use 80-90

He is talking about a 5 speed manual, a M5OD is a 5 speed manual that takes atf. A FM146 or TK-5 tranny will take 75-90W, you must have one of the latters, being that you use 75-90w, there was more than one manual tranny used in rbv's.
 
Synthetic

Well I just replaced my tranny fluid last night after me putting on 20000mi's. IM not sure when it was replaced last, but damn was it dirty! When I pulled the plug there was this HUGE glob of whatnot and pieces of steel on it. So I refilled it with Mobile 1 synthetic. I understand it might be a bit mutch for a 184k tranny but I figured, what the hell. Anyway Ill let you all know how the tranny runs after a few thousand.

Nick
 
1989?

Dextron III/Mercon ATF (2.5-2.75 qts) (I've been using Castrol myself)

Do NOT confuse "Mercon" with "Mercon V" fluid though, it's not the same (will shift like crap on your '89).

I'm sorry to bring up an old thread but I was hoping to change my transmission oil within the next month (truck has 65k miles don't know when/if it was last done). Am I supposed to use ATF in my 5 speed manual transmission? Why not Mercon V, isn't it just a full synthetic version of Mercon? What is the best fluid I can put in my Transmission? thanks. I have a 2003 4.0 4x4 5sp manual with 4.10 open diff btw.
 
um the M5OD-HD isnt actually any stronger than a regular R1. all it has is a different set of gear ratios for 1st-3rd gears.

the R2 was the version that was used in the fullsize trucks, behind the 300CI straight 6, 302 and 351.

i like your way of filling your tranny though.


The HD version has a revised 1-2 gear synchro which is supposed to be stronger. The gear ratio's only change between engine sizes, 4.0's get one set, everything else gets the lower 1-3rd set.

-andrew
 
The HD version has a revised 1-2 gear synchro which is supposed to be stronger. The gear ratio's only change between engine sizes, 4.0's get one set, everything else gets the lower 1-3rd set.

-andrew

Any idea about the fluid?
 

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