The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 4 speed trans fluid capacity

Have a small leak on my 4 speed trans in my 1950 3800, getting a slow drip out of the access plate on the side. What type of lubricant do these old trannys take? Gear oil? Or just some regular 30 weight?

The follow-up, anyone know the fluid capacity? Or is there a dipstick or something used to measure how full the trans is?

Thanks - Bruce

stick yer baby finger in the side hole ["fill" hole], if you can't find fluid, add some up to the level of the hole, gear oil, not motor oil - takes about 6 pints from right empty, and it'd be a good idea to drain it, flush it out, fix that gasket, refill with fresh lube

Bill

Fill it till it runs out the fill hole, OOPS thats just a bit too much. Make note of how much that was and NEXT Time its drained, add just a little less. Oh and by the way, Share with us all because if we drain our trannies, we would also like to know " HOW Much Do I ADD"? Jerry

6 pints of 80w90w

You want to keep it a little low on those older models. There is no front seal. If you park it faceing downhill It can run out.
I'm with red. Drain it & pull the cover off & repair the leak.

Good info on transmissions here.
http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/transmission_gateway.htm

Bruce,
Drain it out pull the side cover.
Clean out the bottom of the case,reseal the side cover,that solves the leak.
this trans holds 6 pints 90 wt gear oil according to F S M (fact shop manual)
Big Hint...Rather than laying under the truck and trying to squeeze 6 pts 90 wt into this beast,
Pop the shift handle out the top,in neutral of course, and POUR the gear oil in the shift tower like a Gentleman
regards
steve sr.

Mine was noisy and shifting hard. I was told if I clean it too well I might do more damage than good. I special ordered 6 quarts of GL4 drained the old and replaced. It shifts smoother and runs quieter now. GL4 is supposed to be good for the original stock rears as well.

*I used the handle and part of the bottom of a plastic milk gallon as a sideways funnel. It had a small volume but allowed me enough clearance to pour. There is virtually no room between the fill and the cab floor

Thus the reason to remove the shifter. Once removed this is the way to go. If you have not had it out before do the following. Wire brush and clean off the top of the tower area. Put some light penetrating oil on it, brush it in good. Make sure it is in neutral as stated above, push down on the top lock ring and turn it 1/4 turn counter clockwise. Lift out the handle and add gear oil.

I use a $10 "Performance Tools Fluid Oil Pump" part #W1139 from Advance Auto Parts. Screw it into a Qt bottle of Lucas 85-140 Gear Oil, poke the hose into the fill hole, and push the pump knob. I can add gear oil to my '54 4-speed while I'm on a creeper under the truck. Gotta pump it 32 times for each quart, but that's faster and easier than removing the shifter.

> Fluid Oil Pump

- Lonnie

Sorry Lonnie but I can remove the shifter in less than a minute from inside the cab. Open the quart and pour, how can that not be easier? Pumping 32 times seriously?

That's a snazzy idea!

Brad -

You're a better mechanic than I am. I sometimes screw up just sticking the key in the ignition!

I've never tried to remove the shifter, so I spoke without any real knowledge. But for my abilities, I'll stick with unscrewing the plug and pumping and pumping and pumping.

It took a lot more than 32 pumps when I drained and refilled the tranny.

- Lonnie