MN6 Routine Maintenance?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 62,195
Likes: 28
Cruise-In II Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
MN6 Routine Maintenance?
I don't see anything in the maintenance intervals besides "inspect".....I'm guessing it certainly wouldn't hurt to change the oil every now and then, right???
So, am I missing anything? What's everyone else doing for their MN6 maintenance? Oh....and what is the proper oil/fluid for it?
So, am I missing anything? What's everyone else doing for their MN6 maintenance? Oh....and what is the proper oil/fluid for it?
Last edited by 84zz4vette; Jan 5, 2005 at 03:39 PM. Reason: Spelling....
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
From: Bloomsburg Pa
I copied this from a thread already posted. It does not address when to change the fluid in the tranny, but it does address a difference between the older C5's and the newer C5's as far as the fluid goes. Check it out and if you do service the tranny, ensure that you use the proper type fluid.
Tough shifting
The shifter in manually shifted Corvette's takes a strong arm to get it into gear. You really have to make sure that the shifter is fully in 1st and Reverse, or it will pop out of gear when you let the clutch out. This is not the fault of the car, but rather the fault of the driver.
Replacing the transmission fluid often helps shifting. Early transmissions have paper parts that require stock organic fluid because synthetic will destroy the paper and the transmission. Later transmissions, and all rebuilt transmissions, have carbon fiber parts that allow the use of synthetic fluids.
If it is especially tough to shift into 2nd or 4th gear, it's possible that the synchro's are worn out or the forks are bent. Do NOT force it into gear. Abuse creates and aggravates this problem. You can still drive, even quite well, without synchro's....or a clutch for that matter if you know how to rev match.
Some aftermarket shifters make it easier to make sure you're fully in gear, and prevent gear grinding, but they also vibrate, and require more effort to shift. The stock shifter has a tuned weight damper that changes the vibrations to a non-audible frequency. The shaking doesn’t annoy some people, and there are some fixes.
Tough shifting
The shifter in manually shifted Corvette's takes a strong arm to get it into gear. You really have to make sure that the shifter is fully in 1st and Reverse, or it will pop out of gear when you let the clutch out. This is not the fault of the car, but rather the fault of the driver.
Replacing the transmission fluid often helps shifting. Early transmissions have paper parts that require stock organic fluid because synthetic will destroy the paper and the transmission. Later transmissions, and all rebuilt transmissions, have carbon fiber parts that allow the use of synthetic fluids.
If it is especially tough to shift into 2nd or 4th gear, it's possible that the synchro's are worn out or the forks are bent. Do NOT force it into gear. Abuse creates and aggravates this problem. You can still drive, even quite well, without synchro's....or a clutch for that matter if you know how to rev match.
Some aftermarket shifters make it easier to make sure you're fully in gear, and prevent gear grinding, but they also vibrate, and require more effort to shift. The stock shifter has a tuned weight damper that changes the vibrations to a non-audible frequency. The shaking doesn’t annoy some people, and there are some fixes.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
I put a short though ( cut down stock ) shift level in my car. We put in polly bushings and greased the heck out of it. when the car was less then a month old. This helped the shifting movement.
Last March I had a transmission cooler put in. We changed the fluid to Mobil 1 ATF. Huge difference in shift ability with the Mobil 1 ATF. I will change the trans fluid this winter. other then drive my car, that is about it.
The trans cooler is for track use only, I do not switch the cooler on for street driving.
Last March I had a transmission cooler put in. We changed the fluid to Mobil 1 ATF. Huge difference in shift ability with the Mobil 1 ATF. I will change the trans fluid this winter. other then drive my car, that is about it.
The trans cooler is for track use only, I do not switch the cooler on for street driving.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 2
From: Arlington VA
Originally Posted by 84zz4vette
I don't see anything in the maintenance intervals besides "inspect".....I'm guessing it certainly wouldn't hurt to change the oil every now and then, right???
So, am I missing anything? What's everyone else doing for their MN6 maintenance? Oh....and what is the proper oil/fluid for it?
So, am I missing anything? What's everyone else doing for their MN6 maintenance? Oh....and what is the proper oil/fluid for it?
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Lower Burrell PA
Originally Posted by allegro
I had the same tranny in my 94 Trans Am GT, put 84K oin it and never had a problem at all. Relatively bulletproof but a check from now to then is always a winner.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 12,599
Likes: 1
From: Texas
Originally Posted by Wavegoodbye
Replacing the transmission fluid often helps shifting. Early transmissions have paper parts that require stock organic fluid because synthetic will destroy the paper and the transmission. Later transmissions, and all rebuilt transmissions, have carbon fiber parts that allow the use of synthetic fluids.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 881
Likes: 1
From: Hernando MS
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by Wavegoodbye
I copied this from a thread already posted. It does not address when to change the fluid in the tranny, but it does address a difference between the older C5's and the newer C5's as far as the fluid goes. Check it out and if you do service the tranny, ensure that you use the proper type fluid.
Tough shifting
The shifter in manually shifted Corvette's takes a strong arm to get it into gear. You really have to make sure that the shifter is fully in 1st and Reverse, or it will pop out of gear when you let the clutch out. This is not the fault of the car, but rather the fault of the driver.
Replacing the transmission fluid often helps shifting. Early transmissions have paper parts that require stock organic fluid because synthetic will destroy the paper and the transmission. Later transmissions, and all rebuilt transmissions, have carbon fiber parts that allow the use of synthetic fluids.
If it is especially tough to shift into 2nd or 4th gear, it's possible that the synchro's are worn out or the forks are bent. Do NOT force it into gear. Abuse creates and aggravates this problem. You can still drive, even quite well, without synchro's....or a clutch for that matter if you know how to rev match.
Some aftermarket shifters make it easier to make sure you're fully in gear, and prevent gear grinding, but they also vibrate, and require more effort to shift. The stock shifter has a tuned weight damper that changes the vibrations to a non-audible frequency. The shaking doesn’t annoy some people, and there are some fixes.
Tough shifting
The shifter in manually shifted Corvette's takes a strong arm to get it into gear. You really have to make sure that the shifter is fully in 1st and Reverse, or it will pop out of gear when you let the clutch out. This is not the fault of the car, but rather the fault of the driver.
Replacing the transmission fluid often helps shifting. Early transmissions have paper parts that require stock organic fluid because synthetic will destroy the paper and the transmission. Later transmissions, and all rebuilt transmissions, have carbon fiber parts that allow the use of synthetic fluids.
If it is especially tough to shift into 2nd or 4th gear, it's possible that the synchro's are worn out or the forks are bent. Do NOT force it into gear. Abuse creates and aggravates this problem. You can still drive, even quite well, without synchro's....or a clutch for that matter if you know how to rev match.
Some aftermarket shifters make it easier to make sure you're fully in gear, and prevent gear grinding, but they also vibrate, and require more effort to shift. The stock shifter has a tuned weight damper that changes the vibrations to a non-audible frequency. The shaking doesn’t annoy some people, and there are some fixes.
What publication or expert is this quoted from? Can anyone confirm this?
Early transmissions....97-till???
This is important to follow up because there are alot of Forum Members who have upgraded to Synthetics in their "Early" C5 Corvettes!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,947
Likes: 2
From: Atlanta GA
"early" C5s dont need to worry, I researched this for a while, and all C5s (MN6 atleast) can use the synthetic fluid. The issue i believe was with the paper vs. the carbon fiber filters used in the tranny. The F Bodys used paper filters, and when they put in synthetic fluid it ate them up. All the C5s have carbon fibre, so no worries!
My car became very difficult to get into 1st quite often, and sometimes "notchy" to get into 2nd. I changed the fluid to syntheic (Mobil 1) at 49k miles, and it shifts PERFECTLY now, the shifter almost "falls" into gear, a great improvement!
red
My car became very difficult to get into 1st quite often, and sometimes "notchy" to get into 2nd. I changed the fluid to syntheic (Mobil 1) at 49k miles, and it shifts PERFECTLY now, the shifter almost "falls" into gear, a great improvement!
red
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 36,838
Likes: 438
From: Manassas Park VA
St. Jude Donor '07-'08,-'13-'14, '16-'17
Originally Posted by red97vette
"early" C5s dont need to worry, I researched this for a while, and all C5s (MN6 atleast) can use the synthetic fluid. The issue i believe was with the paper vs. the carbon fiber filters used in the tranny. The F Bodys used paper filters, and when they put in synthetic fluid it ate them up. All the C5s have carbon fibre, so no worries!
My car became very difficult to get into 1st quite often, and sometimes "notchy" to get into 2nd. I changed the fluid to syntheic (Mobil 1) at 49k miles, and it shifts PERFECTLY now, the shifter almost "falls" into gear, a great improvement!
red
My car became very difficult to get into 1st quite often, and sometimes "notchy" to get into 2nd. I changed the fluid to syntheic (Mobil 1) at 49k miles, and it shifts PERFECTLY now, the shifter almost "falls" into gear, a great improvement!
red
Tks
Peace
Willfulone
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,947
Likes: 2
From: Atlanta GA
we jacked up the rear end and drained all the tranny fluid, then replaced it with the synthetic. Its kinda tricky because when you refill it, you have to have some method of "injecting" the fluid into the tranny as u cannot just hold the bottle above the tranny and fill it up.
red
red
