The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop T-5 Question

1985 s-10 maintanance schedule-section E-recommende fluids and lubricants;manual transmissions-Dexron 2,GM part# 1051855.

I've been wrong before, and I'm sure it'll happen again!

Here's a National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall regarding the s-10 5 speed manual transmission fluid. It doesn't specifically say 'no gear oil' but I'm guessing that is what it means.


1982 Chevrolet S10 Recall ID from NHTSA: 84V073000
Auto Recall Date: 06/18/1984
Vehicle Component: POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:LUBRICANT
Estimated Vehicles Affected: 35919
1982 Chevrolet S10 Defect Summary:
REAR WHEELS MAY LOCK SUDDENLY DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION BETWEEN MAINSHAFT AND FIRST GEAR.
Defect Consequence:

Remedy:
DEALER WILL REPLACE TRANSMISSION FLUID WITH A BLENDED FLUID AND IN ADDITION, WILL UPDATE THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE.
Notes: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.,

Looks like I will be using ATF in the T-5. Hoping to get started this weekend or else I have to wait two weeks... KKOA show in Salina on the 29th.

As for the 1987 Camaro not using ATF I imagine that is because it was the first GM application of the WC T-5 and they tried a new lubricant then decided it wasn't the best one to use.

Oh yeah. I kinda thought $275 was high for a T-5 but mine came with a B&M short throw shifter! SWEET!

THANKS Tim

i just used the same autozone to look up S10 1983-1991 S10 2 WD
AND IT SAYS:
Transmission
ALL GM Blazer/Jimmy/Typhoon/Bravada 1983-1993 Repair Guide
Home
Transmission Fluid Type
For your 1991 Chevrolet Truck :
SPEC-FLUID-TYPE/WT
***IMPORTANT*** THIS MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAY CONTAIN DEXRON (USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS) OR GEAR LUBE. **USE TYPE AF (ALL CLIMATE) THESE ARE ALL OEM OPTIONAL FLUIDS DESIGNED TO SATISFY A VARIETY OF TEMPERATURES, CONDITIONS AND MANUFACTURER REQUIREMENTS. DEXRON USUALLY HAS A THIN-REDDISH CONSISTENCY AND COLOR. GEAR LUBE IS MUCH THICKER IN CONSISTENCY AND HAS A PUNGENT ODOR. DETERMINE WHICH LUBRICANT IS REQUIRED BY CONSULTING THE OWNERS MANUAL, VISUALLY VERIFY BEFORE PROCEEDING, AND REFILL/TOP OFF WITH THE SAME TYPE OF LUBRICANT.

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker/?UseCase=C001&UserAction=answerRequiredQuestion&Parameters=%7C%7EWITH+MANUAL+TRANSMISSION&PageSync=8

I just called the Lube Hotline from the AutoZone website and the final verdict on my transmission (1988 S-10 T-5) is ATF with Dexron III. Auto Zone Specifications Page

I had a reputable tranny shop build my T5 and he told me to use synthetic 10-30 in it. I got 12,000 miles on it with no problems so far. Just and FYI.

Your welcome carolinestruck.

nm51,I have been wrong many times and will be wrong quite a few more times.That is valuable information you posted from National Highway Transportation Safety Administration,great site.

jthuma94,i also bought a b&m short throw shifter for my t-5.

Just to be 100% sure,i had the winning bid of $3.00 for a original 1985 s-10 owners manual on ebay.I will let you know what it says.

We need to keep each other posted on how the t-5s are doing,especially the ones not using atf fluid.It will be interesting to see how they all hold up.

This is a great site !!!

This is becoming the great debate...and still no resolution. I'm running ATF in mine, but it does shift kinda rough under certain conditions. An earlier post mentioned easier shifting with gear lub...hmmmm...I wonder.

It may very well shift easier with gear oil. That would be until it blows up. Personally I would put in what the manufacturer recomends, but I am just that way.

so in that case, how do I flush the gear oil out of my T5? :confused:
It's just been sitting in it for about a month. The wrecker had it drained, I kept it drained until I got some free 80-90 gear oil and poured it in.
Or can I drain it and put the free ATF I have?
(sorry, I'm just happy about all this free oil :rolleyes: )
Thanks.

I'd use some tranny flush in the tranny before switching to a different fluid-

Bowtietim- I think the '83 manual might say gear lube, the manual I'd be interested to see is the '85 because the NHTSA recall was issued in '84 so it wouldn't make it into the owner's manuals til the new model year.

NM51,I was wrong on the year of the manual.I was the winner of two owners manuals.A 1986 and a 1989,both for a total of $3.00.My t-5 lists as a 1985-1986 so the 1986 manual should work fine.I will let you know what it says.I'll post it here.

amsoil makes a flush

I have an '85 S-10, the manual says to refer to the maintance shedule for lubrication, the schedule states that the 5 speed for S-10 uses dexron 2 (now 3) atf.

Longbox55,I will post what the 1986 manual says.Thanks for the information on the 1985 s-10 manual.I'm going ATF in mine.

Thanks again,Tim

I'm officially convinced- ATF is it for me!

Great T5 article in the new October 2006 Rod & Custom magazine.

1986 general motors maintance schedule for chevrolet light truck.
4-speed and 5-speed manual transmission use dexron II ATF or gm #1051855.Dexron III takes the place of dexron II .

I am now 100% sure about atf in a t-5 .

Thanks for the great debate !!!

In 1985 I purchased a new 1985 S10 with T5 and 2.5L. ATF (DextronII) was in the tranny when delivered.

Freaked when I found bright green coolant in the crankcase, on the dipstick and oil fill cap. Turned out to be leak checking die.

Having worked in GM dealerships, the first thing I did with the truck was check all fluid levels. I had seen new vehicles delivered with dry holes. (New Caddy with no engine oil!) We replaced that engine after the dealer bought it back from it's recent buyer........

yes i thought autoenthu note was a typo
it's true
october 2006 article in rod & custom @ newz stands now

OK guys...

I am going to tell you that the once and for all, end of discussion, solve all of our problems answer does not exist for this topic. I was one of the guts in the shop back when the change from gear oil to atf was coming about in American vehicles.

We searched for years to find the ryhme or reason for changing one vehicle and not the other. We even compared internals to find a dis-similar part between transmissions that would be the weak link calling for one or the other.

We never got a straight answer from the auto manufacturers, borg-warner, or any of the parts suppliers.

The only "answer" that has keep itself true was that there was a lubrication problem with the gear oil and so the switch to atf was made. My hypothesis is that the engineers that designed this trans, (origionally for the s-10 by the way) made some incorrect assumptions regarding the fluid characteristics of the gear lube. At this point the plan to change was made (to atf to easily tell it apart from gear oil for warranty purposes) but some applications were held from the change for some concern of applications that would load the bearing surfaces to a larger extent. However, this last part is where there is not much ryhme or reason. One application gets atf and a different one gets gear oil. Some engineer asked to get some models changed but did not ask for all applications to change.

Also, internal parts can not be interchanged between brand as mentioned above. The gear sets have different cuts even between the same ratios on many applications. Yes, you can remove all of the internals from one to another. Yes, you can take all of the gears and parts that make up, say, first gear on a Ford t-5 wc and put them in a gm t-5 wc to change the ratio, but that is almost the extent of it. You can not haphazardly take parts from any wc t-5 and put them in another wc t-5, nor can you take nwc gear parts and use them in a wc. That said, there are SOME internal arts that can be swapped and others that can be "creatively swapped."

Not venting-Just wanted this in the thread for future readers that want to do the swap.

Hi:
According to Mike Knell in his book "Chevrolet S10 Engine Conversion" the T5 Borg Warner was used behind the 4 cyl and 2.8 V6 until 1988.
A New Venture 5 speed was used in S10 trucks from 1989 until 1995. These newer trannys used an electronic speedometer and have the same torque rating as the full size trucks.
This book is a great source of info on GM engine conversions.
Ter

I have tons of T5 info. Email me and I will send it to you.

digiflux(at)gmail.com

I,m still going to use 80-90 gear lube in mine. It just feels better & shifts better. I,ve been using it in gear boxes for 55 years & i think thats what belongs in it. I,m running it behind a good running stock 350 & have burried my foot in it a few times. I,ll let you know when it blows. I have another one ready.

Fellows, be sure to pay attention to the comments about the heavier oil not getting into some of the ports and parts in the T-5 where it is, of course, needed. I think there in lies the message of the Dextron II. 5W motor oil would probably work, too. The regular transmission grease is just too darn heavy.

Joe