TR3650 Trans. Fluid

[KatoS197]

I tried to see if anyone had recommendations for replacement fluid in the transmission via El Searcho Button-O. However, the threads kept going towards talks of ATF.

So....anyone got any testimonials?

I bought this car with 90K miles on it. Has 115K on it now and I'm thinking it's never been changed.

Thanks for the input guys.

 

[KatoS197]

Also seems like there's some back and forth over how much it should be refilled to. Anyone got any insight on that? Some say 3.2, others say 3.4.​

 

[NickD87]

pennzoil synchromesh seems to be the updated recommendation from tremec now, I switched mine this summer (at like 25k miles) and it definitely helped with smoother shifts

 

[eighty6gt]

3/4" below the fill hole is what I've been doing.

I ran OEM, Royal Purple synchromax (not supposed to do that,) and now have GM synchromesh in there. There is no good way to find out if you need friction modified or NON friction modified synchromesh. I would go with non, since it is not as slippery and will help the synchronizers work better (in theory.)

Next summer I'm going to run cheap non synthetic Dexron III.

I have never noticed a difference in performance between lubricants.

 

[KatoS197]

pennzoil synchromesh seems to be the updated recommendation from tremec now, I switched mine this summer (at like 25k miles) and it definitely helped with smoother shifts

Good deal. My 1st and Reverse are stubborn as hell and my 2nd - 3rd has been getting noticeably harder. Hopefully I'll have an MGW or Barton swapped in soon, but fluid would be a good first thing to do, I think.

3/4" below the fill hole is what I've been doing.

I ran OEM, Royal Purple synchromax (not supposed to do that,) and now have GM synchromesh in there. There is no good way to find out if you need friction modified or NON friction modified synchromesh. I would go with non, since it is not as slippery and will help the synchronizers work better (in theory.)

Next summer I'm going to run cheap non synthetic Dexron III.

I have never noticed a difference in performance between lubricants.

Thanks for the tips on the the different types. That's so weird. The dealer I work for keeps the Royal Purple Synchro in stock.

I'll go with GM Synchro. That is one thing that kept coming up in my search in a different forum.

 

[NickD87]

Yep 3/4 below full and non synth sycromesh either gm or penzoil (same thing)
Synthetic is apparently bad for the carbon fiber synchros
There is a lot if good and bad info on other forums ad people have poured all types of stuff in 3650s since the 2v days

 

[sdleo29]

Big fan of Syncromesh here, made a HUGE difference in shifts , night and day.

 

[SNKPWR]

My trans guy always said just run store brand atf fwiw

 

[joe_momma]

Interesting. Over on another forum they all recommend the Mobil 1 Full Syn ATF. I swapped that in last year, didn't make any difference in shifting. $40 wasted. If I do another swap, it will be the synchromesh.

 

[Devcon 7]

Go to walmart and buy supertech Dex/Merc III and nothing else. I've tried everything in t3650's, t45's, and t5's. Dex/Merc III is the only thing that wont destroy the syncro's. Syncromesh works great in a t56 tho

 

[KatoS197]

It just kind of makes me scratch my head that there's not a clear-cut way to go about the fluid.

I mean...if so many people run ATF and it's fine or they prefer it, then why not just brand it as Trans. Fluid? Not specifically "Automatic"?

 

[KatoS197]

Just got off the phone with FRPP and they back the Mercon V (synthetic) and were very adament about anything non-synthetic would eventually create issues with the material found on the inside of the blocker rings.

 

[eighty6gt]

Hmmmm.

 

[KatoS197]

From Wikipedia -

Recommended Oil and Fill Capacity[edit]

TREMEC engineers have recommended Texaco-Havoline Dexron III/Mercon Non-Synthetic ATF. There has been a significant amount of confusion regarding the proper capacity and proper type of ATF for the TR-3650 which may have a correlation with a rather large number of complaints about notchy shifting, shift "nibbling", noisy synchros, and grinding gears. The 2007 Mustang GT owner's manual specified the use of 3.0 L of non-synthetic Mercon ATF in the 3650, while the 2008 Mustang GT owner's manual now specifies the use of 3.0 L of Mercon-V ATF in the 3650. Dexron III/Mercon Non-Synthetic ATF seems to work best for pre-2005 Mustang GTs. NB: Tremec service manual also specifies Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF ( Tremec specification ET-M-99 ) in addition to Dexron III.

Note that Tremec engineers have also recommended GM Synchromesh as the transmission fluid.

Note Mal Wood Automotive, an official authorised Tremec distributor in Australia, have consistently recommended use of Castrol Transmax Z[2] for use in the Australia Ford vehicles.[3]

 

[429244]

Prior to my rebuild, I used Mercon V with great success. I have since rebuilt the transmission (not failure related) and have switched to Syncromesh on the advice of the parts supplier http://pro-forceperformance.com/tr3650_history.htm (read the link for info on fluid). If only global warming were the truth and not fiction, I could report on the performance of the syncromesh. Sadly, I will have to wait until May or June to know for sure.

 

[05gtowner]

I use Mercon V and change it every 20K.

 

[KatoS197]

Prior to my rebuild, I used Mercon V with great success. I have since rebuilt the transmission (not failure related) and have switched to Syncromesh on the advice of the parts supplier http://pro-forceperformance.com/tr3650_history.htm (read the link for info on fluid). If only global warming were the truth and not fiction, I could report on the performance of the syncromesh. Sadly, I will have to wait until May or June to know for sure.

I'll be interested to know the difference you experience.

Well I think Mercon V is what I'll go with this time.

Every 20K, huh? I just check the owner's manual looking for some type of interval, and couldn't find one. Anyone else know a good recommended interval for fluid change?

 

[Department Of Boost]

Donnie Walsh of D&D told me to run Redline D4.

I do.

 

[Onelildude]

I've had Royal Purple Max ATF in mine for the last 50k miles and I haven't had any problems and she still shifts smooth on the OEM clutch with MGW shifter. It's time (in my mind) to change it again and i'm going with the same stuff again

 

[429244]

I'll be interested to know the difference you experience.

Well I think Mercon V is what I'll go with this time.

Every 20K, huh? I just check the owner's manual looking for some type of interval, and couldn't find one. Anyone else know a good recommended interval for fluid change?

The owner's manual doesn't have an interval because Ford doesn't recommend an interval for change. It's wrong but they are the engineers.