i just changed my g-56 fluid out with amsoil ATF. i got in a little over 6 quarts maybe 6 and a half. now, when its cold out and the engine is cold, its kind of hard (as in...harder than it was) to get into gear (low or 2nd). is this just a symptom of the fluid? or is it b/c its over/under filled? or ??

 

This is interesting. I would hate to do this but I would go back to factory oil just to see. Also I would expect support from Amsoil to resolve this issue or a refund. Amsoil states they have a multi purpose trans fluid for our trucks. The G56 shouldn't be hard shifting.

I think all oil has a shelf life so check the mfg date etc.

I to am looking to upgrade to a fully synthetic and Mobile 1 does not offer a full syn trans fluid for our trucks.

 

The main objective of manual trans. lube is, getting it to perform well with the syncros when cold. You have the wrong choice going on.

 

I have used AMSOIL ATF in all of my G-56's with exact opposite results. They were all notchy with the factory stuff and smooth as glass with the Amsoil... I live in California however so have no comparison for the very cold. COldest mine ever sees is the teens and it sure shifted fine...let us know what you find out. Walmart carries the MOPAR ATF4 might find a clean container for the amsoil and dump it for the Mopar. I agree call Amsoil and see if they will refund your money.

 

I use the Amsoil ATF in my G56 tranny. My tranny was REAL notchy with the Mopar ATF when it was cold, still a little notchy with the Amsoil ATF, but nothing like the Mopar ATF. Once it warms up a little the notcy stuff is gone and it shifts much smoother over the Mopar fluid when warmed up.

I don't think there is any standard tranny out there that is not a little notchy when cold. Either the older trannys that use gear lube or the newer ones using ATF, ALL tend to be a little notchy cold. That has been my experience through the 40 years of driving them.

I knew this fellow who ALWAYS put his xfer case in neutral and then the truck tranny in 1st, turned the tranny while he was sitting warming up his truck, he never talked about having notchy shifts after his warm-up procedure, that was his way of solving the problem when cold. It was much easier to do that with the xfer case floor shifter over the girlie ***** we have now. I have done that with my older trucks in the past when the temps were below zero, it does benefit the shifting.

CD

 

How much fluid did you put in to it? The Amsoil web site shows that it take 12 pints and 2 pt's to a qt = 6 qt's. Also Amsoil ATF has a pour point of -63 (-53 C) below zero so I don't think your problem is caused by cold fluid.

 

its not impossible or anything, just notchier than it had been. it has been colder since i changed it, but its notchier than i remember it being last winter. once it warms up a little, its good to go....

 

Mine works great with the Amsoil in it and it was -8F here the other day. Mine seems much better than it did with the oem.

 

would a overfill make it a little stiffer? i jacked up the pass side so i could squeeze a little more in there....