2003 VY 6-speed T-56 - Which oil??

[elladur]

Hey everyone,

Wanting to change the oil in my gearbox (clashing a bit when cold, shifting is a bit notchy and hard), and having trouble deciding what to use. Some people recomend using castrol transmax Z, others recommend standard dexron III because synthetic oils will ruin a T-56. I've also heard/read people raving about mainlube 154 gear oil.

What do you guys use/recommend?

[nick_]

If you want a proper gear oil on the cheap that will suit your t56, your options are Penrite MGO 70w (it'll say t56 on the label) or Nulon Smooth Shift 80w (which states its designed to be used in place of auto fluids in manual boxes)..

-Nick.

[eroled]

How much will it hold and is there instructions on here how to do it ?
Cheers Phil

[alien]

eroled, according to the search feature, no there isn't :S Which is odd. Either way there's two bolts on the sides of the T56 for filling and removing. Simply undoe the bottom one to drain, and replace that and undo the top one to fill. Unless you have an aftermarket transmission cooler

[danja]

My useless **** of a gearbox builder put regular gear oil in my T56 after rebuilding it, it was shithouse. Slow, notchy shifts which would often clash. I swapped it for Transmax Z after hearing good things and mien got the difference was night and day, much smoother, no more crunches. I also hear good things about Mainlube, but the price is just silly so I never bothered. Would happily recommend the Transmax, and would strongly discourage the 70 or 80 weight oils, they are just too thick for this box - there's a reason Tremec specified a DexIII type fluid...

Regarding filling, alien is nearly right, except once you fill it to the brim of the filler plug, you're supposed to remove the reverse sensor and add another 400ml. Beats me why they didn't just make the filler plug higher up, but that's how it's done, and it's even documented in Holden's own service manuals.

[GenReaper]

Running ULX in mine, awesome oil, brand new gearbox but its smoth and i love it.

[eroled]

eroled, according to the search feature, no there isn't :S Which is odd. Either way there's two bolts on the sides of the T56 for filling and removing. Simply undoe the bottom one to drain, and replace that and undo the top one to fill. Unless you have an aftermarket transmission cooler

ok that makes it easy so just fill up untill it starts to come out top hole, correct. My gear box is runnig sweet but just a piece of mind knowing its been done, it only done 100 000 km. While im under the car doing diff pinion seal , diff oil ,diff cradle bushes and nolathane solid diff insert i thought I may as well do gearbox oil aswell . thanks for the help.

[nick_]

would strongly discourage the 70 or 80 weight oils, they are just too thick for this box - there's a reason Tremec specified a DexIII type fluid...

The nulon "80W" is just like dex3 so it's thin enough.. Never had any dramas in a mate's vy ss and it copped a regular flogging..

[alien]

Regarding filling, alien is nearly right, except once you fill it to the brim of the filler plug, you're supposed to remove the reverse sensor and add another 400ml. Beats me why they didn't just make the filler plug higher up, but that's how it's done, and it's even documented in Holden's own service manuals.

Oops, yes, that's an important part of it. I only work on ones with aftermarket coolers now, so only fill to there then fill the lines going to the radiator and top up.

[eroled]

thanks danja, alien and nick for the quick replys I missed that extra 400ml part whooooops , how much in total ,if I get 4L would that be enough to do the job . no aftermaret cooler and is it best to drain gear box oil hot or cold.
cheers Phil

[alien]

Warm oil flows quicker, so generally you try to do it while it's still warm, but it doesn't really matter than much, you can do it cold if you want, if you do that i'd just wait a bit longer while it's draining.

2.1 Recommended Lubricant
The recommended lubricant for the 'T56' manual Transmission is Dexron III automatic transmission fluid to Holden's Specification HN 2126.
The transmission lubricant capacity is approximately 4.4 litres.

[danja]

Yep, 4.4L is the go - brilliantly they sell most gear oils in 4L bottles, but you can sometimes find 1L bottles too, so if you get 1 of each you should be good. I'd also recommend getting some kind of hand pump (eg Tom Thumb Utility Pump - Autobarn - Tools & Equipment - DIY Tools) to fill it up with, because you have no room to "pour" it in while the gearbox is attached to the car.

You're also supposed to put a bit thread sealant on the plugs before you reinstall them, otherwise it will probably leak (thanks again crappy gearbox builder!). You can use Loctite 565 (567 will also do the job), or you should be able to get it from Holden part #12346004. Note that this isn't like the red/blue watery Loctite most people are used to, it's a much thicker paste-type sealant.

[eroled]

hey danja and alien you guys are a great help and you seem to know ya s%#t have either of you done diff pinion seal i cant seem to find anything on it, is it straight foward job looks easy .

[alien]

I havn't done the diff pinion seal on a VY, it is a fairly easy job. You will need two tools though, first is to hold the pinion flange in place while you undo the nut. Second tool is a pinion seal seating tool to get the new seal in (if you have a socket seat you might be able to get away with it if it's the same size). Other than that it's all straight forward.

[eroled]

THANKS for all the help guys , work all done and now it handles so much better and more traction off the start . I took it to the mechanic to do diff pinion seal and gear box oil ,it needed to be done under a hoist . I gave them my own oils I had brought , when getting my gearbox oil leftovers back off them there was still 1.7L left out of 5L container = 3.3L inside gearbox................hhmmmmmm from what you guys have told me that would be incorrect by about 1L + / -. It is 4L to bolt hole then extra 400ml in reverse sensor hole totaL 4.4L , t56 6spd No aftermarket cooler . Where can I get this info from about gearbox oil extra 400ml so I can show the mechanic, if i tell him i read it on a fourm he'll probally tell me to f .... offf dont believe everything u read on fourms. I just want to do this right so im not to piss off the mechanic or buying new gearbox. Cheers guys Phil

[eroled]

all good I found it 4.4L on castrol and mobil web sites cheers anyways ill show mechanic that.

[danja]

Holden also quote this amount in their own service manuals, which ideally the mechanic would have access to.