Changing manual gearbox fluid???

[Mr. Brightside]

This topic seems to shed a bit more light:

T56 or TR6060? Hybrid?

Hey guys, im a bit confused in regards to identifying my 6 speed. Ive had a few T56 and recently picked up a couple of what i thought were Tr6060's, but I've recently found out the VE models had this hybrid box, effectively at T56 in a TR6060 case. My ID tags TUET8381 A show very little info...

forums.justcommodores.com.au

 

[losh1971]

Hmmmm that would explain it, if there is a hybrid. Don't know if the internals are different to a VZ T56 or same? The output shaft can't be the same, well I don't see how it could be? My research says that the 6060 as we know it was fully developed by 2007, however there appears to be some earlier versions?

From what I've read you can't just swap them into something that didn't come out with it. But certainly possible GM weren't ready for the 6060 and had to make a T56 fit.

 

[losh1971]

Do you know much about this hybrid and if it' the same as a VZ box with a different output shaft and extension housing?

 

[Mr. Brightside]

I don't know anything more than what it says in that topic unfortunately. I just wanted to know how much oil my transmission takes haha.

 

[losh1971]

Mine took nearly 4L but I jacked up the passenger side as recommended for the T56 and squeezed in around 300mls more. Been told I didn't need to as I had a 6060 but looking like I did the right thing now.

 

[losh1971]

Unless you plan to put it in a measuring jug you won't know exactly how much it takes regardless. You have to pump it in so I would just buy the two bottles and keep pumping until it takes no more. Also might need to jack the passenger side up to squeeze in a bit more as the Holden bulletin update says is needed on the T56.

 

[Mr. Brightside]

Mine took nearly 4L but I jacked up the passenger side as recommended for the T56 and squeezed in around 300mls more. Been told I didn't need to as I had a 6060 but looking like I did the right thing now.

Cool thanks for that, so sounds like you put in 4.2-4.3L in total? That tallies with everything I've read which says they take between 4 to 4.4L.

Interestingly, the service manual I linked says two different capacities in different sections of the manual:

But then it also says this:

 

[losh1971]

Can't find much info on this modified T56. What I did find is the T56 is supposed to have plenty of issues but that seems odd as apart from being notchy when cold there's no other problems and I've done over 200k.

 

[losh1971]

HSV (as well as a lot of other manufacturers, including FPV and Ford) have stopped fitting T56s to their cars and are instead fitting TR6060s which, whilst still essentially a modified T56, it's a bit like the cleaner's 20 year old broom... the one that has had 15 new handles and 18 new heads - it's changed dramatically from the T56 and as such is much nicer to use. It's faster, smoother, much more accurate and able to handle significantly more torque. If Holden had turfed the tired T56 for the TR6060, they would have had a lot less gearbox problems in VEs and many happier customers who have learned to deal with the noisy and clunky gearbox that was fitted. I have had 4 replacement T56s in my ute (all within 35,000km) and am about due for number 5. Sure that's due to some underlying issue that is chewing out the synchros (no one knows) but essentially, the gearbox belongs in a truck, not in a car.

The torque rating is higher.. but I can't remember the figure off the top of my head.

This seems odd.

 

[losh1971]

I'd love to pick the brain of Mal Wood, but I don't want to waste his time when I have no need to buy something off him. I'm sure he would know exactly what all the VE's had.