Is the Ford Manual transmission fluid from the factory the same thing as the Mobil 1 ATF Dexron III?

I was thinking of changing to the Mobil 1 ATF but I thoug I remember reading here that it is the same thing thats already in the transmission.

 

I'm not sure who the supplier is for the motocraft transmission fluid is.

If you change your transmission fluid on or before the scheduled interval you should be more than OK.

 

I just spoke to Tremec. The man told me that Ford does indeed put Mobil 1 Synthetic in at the Factory. He also said in colder climates they recommend that a NON synthetic blend of ATF Dexron III is recommended. He said the Texaco brand was the tested one that they used.

 

I don't know about the mustang, but on every other vechicle I have ever owned with a manual, the transmission doesn't use a dexron "Transmission Fluid", but rather a synthetic gear oil.

If the mustang is indeed different, I find that very interesting.

 

Yep, it takes ATF dexron III.

 

I'll be damned, you are right. I just checked the manual, and the automatic takes MotorCraft Mercron V ATF, and the manual uses MotorCraft Mercron ATF.

 

I have the Mustang shop manual, but I can't find, for the life of me, the recommended change interval for the maual tranny fluid! Help, anyone?

 

So, is Synthetic Gear Oil a NO NO??????

 

Interesting conflict of recommendations. I talked to a TREMEC engineer here in the states several weeks ago. The results of that dialog is posted elsewhere in the form. What I was told by TREMEC is NOT to use Mobil I ATF in these transmissions. The reason being it is slicker than Mercon / Dextron III and as a result the syncro blocker rings do not engage as well (not that they are terrific the way they are when they leave the factory). This was validated by tests that they had done. I was also advised by TREMEC that when using other than Mercon / Dextron III oils (synthetic, mineral or both) there is risk that other additives in these other products may be harmful to some of the materials in the transmission ... the main part being susceptable is the composite bearing on the inside of the blocker ring.

There is nothing wrong with synthetics ... it just has to be the right formulation, Castrol has a full synthethic (not a blend with mineral oil) that has the full Dextron III / Mercon rating. Mobil I ATF does too, so what can I say?

Also for the last decade or so, its been very common to see ATF as the standard fill for manual transmissions ... maybe not all, but definetely more than you might think.

 

Not to change the subject of this thread, but a point of interest... the first car I ever saw with ATF in the manual trans was the 1979 Buick Skyhawk w/ 5 speed. (The 4 speed used regular 90wt)

 

The reason for ATF is the paper lined sychros. Using gear oil on paperlined sychros is not good. Auto tranny's have been using paper linings so it makes sense that a manual tranny that has paperlined sychros will use ATF.
Brass and bronze sychro'd tranny's use gear oil.

 

So what is the best synthetic ATF to use in the TR-3650 on 05-up S197s?

 

Yeah, I'd really like to know what lube might improve shifting in the Tremec tranny, without harming it. I hear that people are using Royal Purple Synchromax in the 5-speed manual- does anybody have any reviews on that stuff? I'm looking for some kind improvement, here.

Thanks.

 

Tremec says to use the Dexron III / Mercon ATF made by Texaco.

I would prefer to use a fully synthetic ATF. If Ford uses M1 ATF from the factory in the TR-3650, I may just keep it as is and not touch it. I use M1 ATF in my 4R70W w/ great results.

 

Bump.

Still looking to hear from anyone running Royal Purple in the MANUAL TRANSMISSION- are you using the ATF or the Synchromax? Royal Purple is telling me to run the Synchromax..

THANKS!!!

 

I am running synchromax and it works great no problems. I first changed to Rayal Purple ATF and it sucked then swaped to Synchromax and life was good again.

 

I'm also curious.

 

First one I hade with ATF in the manual was a 1960 mercedes 220b.

 

The Synchromax works great!

 

I'm pretty sure it does not have an interval to be replaced. I guess it's good for life, it is synthetic and all. If your worried about it, maybe consider changing it around 100K miles. The rear axle fluid does not need to be changed either, according to the owners manual, since it is synthetic. I'll probably change that at 100K too, just for peace of mind.