Shifter gets hot

I've noticed, on occasion, my shifter gets quite warm. The 4WD stick as well. Being a 97 I don't see that the computer is tossing tranny temp at my Scan Gauge II, so no idea what that temp is when this occurs. Engine temp is normal when this happens. Normal, or something to be looked into? 2.7L 4wd, manual hubs (if that matters). Not doing any 4x when this happens, no codes being thrown.

 

it has to be tranny heat doing it, check levels/change fluids

 

Only way to check the level in this is to open up the fill plug,eh? I cannot find a dipstick on this one.

 

oh 4wd, lol ok well yep that's it check the fluid level but if you have heat issues just change it no matter the level. then see what it looks like. probably got enough miles on it to need a change anyway.

another thing that might be putting out a lot of heat would be a restricted cat

 

Considering its 17 years old and only 130k on it, not bad, but I suppose it can use a change. I'm hoping the cat is ok, would rather not have to deal with that right now, but could change that out as well if needed. I'm not noticing abnormal heat in the passenger floor where the cat runs so have not zeroed in on that so far.

It's odd. Was toasty driving it out of this parking lot just now. Shut it off for a bit and checked this site on my iPad, fired it back up and the stick cooled down. Like I mentioned it is very sporadic and does just that - hot for a bit then cool.

Thanks

 

I'm heading home to replace the trans oil. Going to use Valvoline Max Life full synth (Dex/Merc, Mercon LV). Anyone know of this being a bad idea before I commit?

 

Mine used to get pretty hot and I attributed it to the rubber cap plug boot thing letting heat up through the transmission hump. I cut another thick rubber cap and screwed it on top of the stock one and it helped a lot.

 

Valvoline Max Life full synthetic is just for auto trannies

axles and gear boxes get gear oil like this: http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English...bil_1_Fully_Synthetic_Gear_Lube_75W-90LS.aspx

that's just an example so just check to see the grade we need for our trucks and what brands others recommend

 

exactly this^^

uses gear oil.

 

^^^ that's the stuff I run.

 

The ATF brands come up in the search engine at AutoZone for my truck. A quick research I did before buying said some manuals can use ATF, some can't.

 

I'll hold off on the ATF, my Camry can use it for sure and is in need of an ATF fluid change anyway. The AZ guy may have punched in something wrong...?

 

to do a full tranny flush you drain the pan then over fill the pan by adding 4 quarts of new tranny fluid, then disconnect the cooler line hose on the passenger side under the radiator then start the engine for 30 seconds and shutit off, then refill the pan with 2 more quarts and repeat.

when the engine runs, it pumps out the tranny fluid from inside the tranny internals and replaces it with fresh new fluid just as you would flush the brake lines. its not under high pressure so it comes out slow like a slow running faucet so you start the engine for 30 seconds then shut it off and add 2 more quarts, you refill run and repeat until nothing but clean fresh new fluid comes out then reconnect the hose and top off the fluid level. its really easy and its not very messy as long as you add a short hose to direct fluid into a catch pan if needed. if you end up with too much fluid just unhook hose and pump out the excess fluid then add to your mark.

 

Jesus, this seems to be insanely complicated. I went and bought Mobil 1

$28 75w-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75w-90, but am now reading on other sites to NOT use this in my '97, as it is designed for hypoid differentials. I keep hearing to use some kind of GL4 fluid, whereas everything AutoZone carried is GL5. AZ only carries a few 75W-90 gear oils, all of which indicate GL5. Castrol, Royal Purple (at $21 a quart), Lucas (more expensive than the Mobil 1). I seem to recall all of them stated they are for limited slip differentials/hypoid differentials.

Alldatadiy indicates the proper fluid is 75W-90 GL5, so that helps. But what about all this hypoid business?

 

OP has a manual. All the info you have posted thus far has been for an auto.




OP, any

$28 75w-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75w-90 gear oil should work. With our without LSD additive shouldn't make a difference. I have read that you should use GL4, as opposed to GL5 due to an additive that could effect brass components in the transmission, but don't know much about this. I switched recently from a cheap one to Redline MT-90, which is one of the most recommended oils for our trans. Made a little difference, but not much.

As far as the change goes, it's just like a diff. Two plugs (both use 24mm socket) take off the top plug, then the bottom, let it drain, and fill it back up. Takes somewhere between 2-3 quarts IIRC.

 

Thanks, I have read similar things about GL4 vs 5 as well, but it is all over the map. Interesting that my owner's manual says NOTHING about transmission/gear oil (net even listed in the appendix). Not a word, so I can't find what it is recommending. Alldatadiy supposedly has the same FSM material, and it states GL5.

Looking through a '96 FSM I have, it states use either GL4 or 5 for the W59 tranny. And all state 2.6 quarts if you drain/fill.

I think I will call the stealer tomorrow and ask them what they recommend, GL4 or 5 for this. MT-90 is rated as GL4, so I could go that route, but Mobil 1 is less expensive and supposedly the AHHHHHHHH of oils, so ??? It is GL5.

 

Straight from my owners manual:



I ran GL5 for over a year with no issues.

 

^^ OK, sweet, thanks. Feeling a bit better. I did find the oil specs finally in my owners manual. For tranny and transfer it states "Multipurpose gear oil API GL-4 or GL-5". For the differential it states "Hypoid gear oil API GL-5". From what I read about hypoid it does just seem to be an extra pressure capable oil.

Others have stated MT-90 as being a great oil to use. It is almost $17/qt from Amazon, quite a bit more than the Mobil 1. I shall ponder this tonight...

 

So as I just posted in the what have you done....thread, just put in Mobil 1 synth

$28 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75W-90 into both the t-case and the tranny. Each was about half a quart low. T-case only takes 1 qt so that was low. Nothing alarming I think about what came out. Tranny oil was definitely dark brown/blackish. I have no idea when it was changed last. We''l see if I note any more warm shifter issues.

 

if you had even bothered to look at the quote that this post was replying to you would have noticed this was not speaking about his truck but for his CAMRY tranny which is an auto.