Is there anything I should do first? Like a flush of any sort and if so what is the best product? I am at 50,000 miles now.

Thanks!

 

nope, no flush needed for anything. where you putting the oil? engine, trans, rear, power steering? they also have a great coolant additive. All of it is great stuff.

 

Engine for now.... Probably the rear and transmission too but I heard that Pennzoil Sychromesh was better for the trans???

 

Just remember to avoid the trans overfill issue.

 

I will have to look into that as this is the first I have heard of it.

 

Some found that filling completely full gave them the difficult shifting issue from 2nd to 3rd... sometimes grinding, especially in colder weather. My Owners manual (08) shows filling 1/2" below the fill hole. Check yours to be sure. Apparently too much oil in the Tremac 3650 aggravates the issue.

Note: There are two different manual transmissions used in this
vehicle and they have different fluid levels. For vehicles equipped with a
V6 engine the correct manual transmission fill level is at the lower edge
of the filler hole. For vehicles equipped with a V8 engine the correct
manual transmission fill level is 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) below the edge of the

filler hole.

 

well everyone has their opinions, in my opinion royal purple works best for my vehicle in everything including the trans. try both if you like, do one during this service and switch to the other next service and form your own opinion of the product. its your ride and you have to put whats best for your vehicle.

 

for the rear end, no matter what you go with i'd still like to use the friction modifier for the diff. even though you shouldnt have to with the royal purple, i still do for that added safety. i have been using royal purple in everything for my car since 10,000 miles, never had one issue. Trans shifts like butter and rest of vehicle operates great. Atleast thats my opinion for my experience.

 

Well.... learn somethin' new every day... Gonna have to check mine...

 

Will go with RP next oil change...

 

Do you happen to know the part number for the Ford transmission fluid that is used in the TR3650?

 

Name: Motorcraft MERCON V ATF


Part/Spec#: XT-5-QM / MERCON V

 

Thanks! That's what I had concluded that Ford used but why does Tremec recommend Mercon III? What's the fill spec? Pretty sure it's 3.2 qts but have seen people suggest only 3.0 qts. I appreciate this a lot. This could be the solution to all of my problems...

Edit: I just looked XT-5-QM on Motorcraft's website and it say's it's been recalled!? Also is that part number for a case of 12? Is there a different one for a qt?

 

Yes 3.2qts (with a footnote to the fill instructions). The part # was in the owner's manual. You can download them in pdf from a Ford site (don't have it bookmarked). That's where I'm getting the Mercon V and the fill instructions.

Are you having grinding shifting 2-3? There's also a TSB if you're still under warranty.

 

I still run motorcraft 5w20 as recommended in the engine- BUT...

I hurt my second gear at the dragstrip, powershifting at 6k, burned the synchronizer or something, was getting lockouts all the time in normal driving, and would not shift into second at over 4k at all...put up with it nearly a year, was looking at getting a newtakeoff tranny, but someone suggested the RP oil- what the heck right...
Well, immediately after changing the oil, it felt like a different shifter or something- 'falls' into third gear now, big difference- better yet in a couple days time the second problem completely disappeared- it shifts at the rev limiter just fine, better than ever. I'm sold on it.

only reason for not trying the motor oil- well I dont really have one...just the factory recommends that watery oil, I'm kinda afraid to change. I have *read* a couple reports that synthetic tends to leak easier for some reason- creeps thru smaller gaps or something...

 

No, I'm having a problem with it locking out mostly second and some times third. Than, every once and a while the shifter once you come to a stop and try to shift into neutral will just get stuck and you have to forcefully put it into neutral and I mean forcefully! The odd thing is that when the car is driven for the first time in the day it drives pretty good. Than once it's shut off, sits, and than is driven it's horrible and is a crap shoot. There is Amsoil ATF in there right now and I'm pretty sure there is 3.2 qts.

 

Hey man, they'll fix that under warranty. Looks this up and go to your Dealer (this is actually the 2nd TSB on this so it isn't extremely unusual). They replace synchro's & blocking rings.

TSB 09-9-6

As for the 3.2 qts, I'm sure that's for an empty trans. When changing fluid it is hard to empty completely. Just check so 1/2" below the bottom of the fill hole. Reach your finger in or follow their fancy method.

 

I've seen that TSB but I don't have any grinding oddly enough. I'm not sure but I've got an email into a good service manager at a local dealer and I'll see what he says. I hope they can do something.

 

I remember reading some of the lockout thing. It might be a shifter adjustment but as I remember they had the TSB done.

You probably need to get Motorcraft fluid in there before you take it in.