Gear lube in ATF in manual bad?


mechanic put a quart of gear lube in the atf.

 

Gear lube and ATF are two totally separate oils. I'd say not good!! If you check it, it'll probably have a nice marbled look to it... The clearances of the tranny aren't designed for the thickness of gear lube.

 

For the price of 6 quarts of Syn ATF, I would change it out. That's an expensive trans.

 

I really don't think a quart will do immediate harm but I would change it all out. When I bought my truck it looked the trans was taken apart and rebuilt or something. But they filled it with gear lube, I'm pretty sure this is why the front seal is leaking. That stuff is just not meant for these trannies.

 

If you don't want to spring for new fluids, you *might* be able to drain the tranny into a clean container, and let them set for a day or two, they might separate. And if your container had a drain on the bottom, even better.

I don't know for a fact if they would separate, or how long it would take, or which would end up on top, but if you have more time than money, it might be worth a try.

 

It won't separate. Oil is oil is oil and once mixed it stays mixed. Unless you have a centrifuge or something but then you would be extracting additives and things that you don't want to remove.

Just change it out and be done. It's a lot cheaper than taking a chance on fixing something more expensive later.

 

i'm not worried about saving money.. i'm worried this is causing weird vibrations since my clutch was replaced (another thread). i'll be putting in 6 fresh quarts of mobile syn atf saturday.

 

It's not the direct cause of the vibration. It might, repeat might be the indirect cause due to a bearing failure or something along those lines, but don't assume that is the case here.
Changing out the oil for a fresh fill of ATF will not make the vibration go away.

 

then my only assumption is that my mechanic dropped it on its input shaft, or the likes... cause it didn't do this before i gave it to him.

 

Don't assume.. It could be as simple as the transmission cross member bolts being loose, or even the drive line not being indexed when removed, in which case it might be off when reinstalled. There are lots of possibilities here.