In the FAQ it appears that the NV3500 manual transmission takes 2.1Q. Has anyone changed the fluid in their NV3500 and it actually took over 2 quarts (I don’t want to have to get 3Q of the expensive oil - though they may take it back if I don’t open it).

 

Make sure you get the fill hole screw out first, then drain it down. I took the shifter base off and filled it from the cab both times until it came out of the fill hole since I didn't have a pump. I believe mine took just under 2 quarts one time and just over 2 the other so it's hard to say. I returned the 3rd quart the second time if I remember correctly. The guy was kind of suspicious but he gave me my money back, just make sure that if it has a seal you don't break it but the ones I had didn't.

This is where I filled mine until it came out of the fill hole underneath.
S7300219a.jpg

 

Mine takes exactly 2 quarts before it starts running out of the fill hole. Maybe there is just a little more than exactly one quart in the bottle, I have no way to tell for sure. I use a rubber hose attached to the bottle and just run the hose through a cutout part of the bottom edge of in the fender liner, between the liner and the frame, with the hose routed down into the fill hole. It is a lot easier than using a pump, at least for me it is. I use Pennzoil Synchromesh, it only costs about $7.00 per quart at Auto Zone and it is a better lube than the Mopar gear oil. My truck shifts smooth as silk on Synchromesh, no matter if it is hot or cold.

 

Thanks for the replies.

I was a little concerned about taking back a quart of expensive oil because I could see that it could be a little over or under 2 quarts needed. Looks like it could go either way. Maybe the safest way is to just get 2 quarts, and if it doesn’t fill it all of the way I can go back and get a 3rd quart. The truck isn’t my Daily Driver, so I can leave it in the garage for a day.

TheePlaymaker - I bet it’s easy to pour it in that big hole. How much work was it to take off the shifter?

01SilverCC - thanks for the tube idea. I had to do something similar when I changed the oil in my transfer case in my Jeep. I can’t remember if I got the pump and it failed and I ran a hose, or I just ran a clear hose???

Speaking of oil, is the consensus that Synchromesh is better than the Mopar stuff? I just got the truck, so I don’t know when the oil was changed last, which is why I want to change it. It seems to shift OK warm for 165K miles, but it’s tuff shifting when it’s cold, so I was thinking a change of oil may help. I noticed that Synchromesh isn’t synthetic, and I don’t know it Mopar is. I also noticed the Amsoil has some kind of synthetic for the NV3500…

 

Synchromesh has a label on the back of the bottle that says it is the equivalent of Chrysler/Mopar part # 4874464 which is the Mopar manual transmission lube and the label also says Synchromesh meets all of Chrysler's specs. You can check the data sheet for more info here:

http://pennzoil.com/other-car-produc...mission-fluid/

Back when I first bought my truck in December 2005 it shifted hard and was real notchy, especially when it was cold in the mornings. I also bought my truck used, it had 42,000 miles on it. Synchromesh gives much smoother and easier shifting. I don't know if Synchromesh is really any better than Mopar lube but I know it is just as good if not better than Mopar and it costs half as much as Mopar. I don't believe Synchromesh is a synthetic but I just change it every 30,000 miles anyway and never had any problems with it at all. I have over 154,000 miles on my truck now.

Jimmy

 

Good to hear it's working for you. I did a little research and found some really old posts on various forums where some did and didn't like Synchromesh, not many comments on the Mopar stuff, and nothing on Amsoil, so I wasn’t sure which way to go and I’m glad to get some current feedback - thanks.

I use Penzoil for my engines and like it. I use Valvoline in my differentials and use Mopar in my transfer case and automatic transmission. I don't have a favorite for the transmission yet, but I know it's important to get 4874464 or equivalent for these transmissions. And yeah, the Penzoil stuff is cheaper!

 

The Mopar stuff is a synchromesh as well. Supposedly you are never supposed to have to change the tranny fluid if you look at the manual but I don't agree with that so I have done it twice, maybe a third time here soon. It isn't that hard to get the shifter off just a couple bolts and some patients. I have the Hurst shifter so I have had it off a few times to tighten that up and adjust it every once in a while. The last time I took it off probably took 5-10 minutes, then you can also take a flash light and just see how things look down in there. I would just go with the Pennzoil Synchromesh if I were you, I have had no problems with it for over 75,000 miles and pulling my boat is easy as pie, it still shifts great at 176,000 miles now.

 

OK, thanks for the advice. I think the last time I changed the oil in a manual transmission I had to pour it in the shifter hole too.

I'll probably change it out sometime this month.

 

It's really much easier to buy one of those cheapo plastic pumps and pump it in.

 

I've got lot of junk in the garage - I may already have one of those things (I changed the fluid in a transfer case once and I think I needed it for that job). In any case I just need to get the truck in the garage, see what stuff I have, then do it.