AX15 vs. NV3550

[Gerald G. McGeorge]

At this point, with many NV3550s running around out there what's the
consensus of this trans vs the older AX15? The AX15 was really trashed back
in the early '90's but has apprent;y been robust enough to silence its
critics. The NV3550 seems to have had some early problems but I wondered how
the later ones have held up.

[Matt Macchiarolo]

Post by Gerald G. McGeorge
At this point, with many NV3550s running around out there what's the
consensus of this trans vs the older AX15? The AX15 was really trashed back
in the early '90's but has apprent;y been robust enough to silence its
critics. The NV3550 seems to have had some early problems but I wondered how
the later ones have held up.

There were first intro'd in MY2000, and mine has held up alright, no problems
besides the noise, which has been consistent (i.e. not gotten worse). It is a
somewhat stronger tranny, DC also put it behind the Dakota V8's.
* * *
Matt Macchiarolo
www.townpeddler.com
www.wolverine4wd.org
http://wolverine4wd.org/rigs/macchiarolo_ml.html

[FrankW]

Matt how many miles on the transmission?
Did you change the oil? if so when?
Regards
Frank

Post by Matt Macchiarolo

Post by Gerald G. McGeorge
At this point, with many NV3550s running around out there what's the
consensus of this trans vs the older AX15? The AX15 was really trashed back
in the early '90's but has apprent;y been robust enough to silence its
critics. The NV3550 seems to have had some early problems but I wondered how
the later ones have held up.

There were first intro'd in MY2000, and mine has held up alright, no problems
besides the noise, which has been consistent (i.e. not gotten worse). It is a
somewhat stronger tranny, DC also put it behind the Dakota V8's.
* * *
Matt Macchiarolo
www.townpeddler.com
www.wolverine4wd.org
http://wolverine4wd.org/rigs/macchiarolo_ml.html

[Matt Macchiarolo]

Post by FrankW
Matt how many miles on the transmission?
Did you change the oil? if so when?
Regards
Frank

I knew someone would ask. :-) I admit I haven't put that many miles on it,
about 35,000. A lot of them are off-road miles. And lately I have been
practicing clutchless shifting in case I ever lose my clutch.

Have not yet changed the oil but will this winter. Standard gear oil is not
specified for the NV3550, you have to use "Syncromesh" fluid, available at the
dealer. There is an aftermarket fluid, I think it might be Pennzoil?

Inter
* * *
Matt Macchiarolo
www.townpeddler.com
www.wolverine4wd.org
http://wolverine4wd.org/rigs/macchiarolo_ml.html

[John Sevey]

<snip>

Post by Matt Macchiarolo
Have not yet changed the oil but will this winter. Standard gear oil is not
specified for the NV3550, you have to use "Syncromesh" fluid, available at the
dealer. There is an aftermarket fluid, I think it might be Pennzoil?

Matt,

Check your owner's manual for the Chrysler part number, but I believe that this
product from Quaker State will work, too:

http://www.quakerstate.com/pages/products/atf_synchromesh.asp

I printed out a page for a Quaker State product that claimed compatibility
with the "stuff" in my '03 Wrangler's NV3350 and I think that this is it. I'll
check it out when I go home today...

-John

[Matt Macchiarolo]

John,

That's the one I was referring to, thanks again for posting that link. Any idea
what the cost is on this? Dealeship wants something like $12.00 per quart...

Post by John Sevey
Matt,
Check your owner's manual for the Chrysler part number, but I believe that this
http://www.quakerstate.com/pages/products/atf_synchromesh.asp
I printed out a page for a Quaker State product that claimed compatibility
with the "stuff" in my '03 Wrangler's NV3350 and I think that this is it.
I'll
check it out when I go home today...
-John

* * *
Matt Macchiarolo
www.townpeddler.com
www.wolverine4wd.org
http://wolverine4wd.org/rigs/macchiarolo_ml.html

[John Sevey]

Post by Matt Macchiarolo
That's the one I was referring to, thanks again for posting that link. Any
idea what the cost is on this? Dealeship wants something like $12.00 per
quart...

No. In fact, I haven't been able to find any online retailers who list it
either.

I figured that I'd pay a visit to one of our local Quaker State oil change
"shops" and see if they knew anything about it. I haven't done any local
searching yet -- since my TJ only has 4600 miles on it.

-John

[FrankW]

Sorry I did have to ask.
I changed the oil on my 01TJ at 60,000Km or 37,000Mi
and was quite surprised at the amount of filings on
the magnet. I know that filings are normal for a new transmission
but it did seem excessive. Unfortunatly I don't have the expereince to
compare with other transmissions except my Argo 6X6
After changing it with the dealer oil. I was again surprised how much
less noise it made. Wish I changed it sooner. In fact I would recommend
everyone with the NV3550 to change the oil after the first year or 30,000km.
Regards
Frank

Post by Matt Macchiarolo

Post by FrankW
Matt how many miles on the transmission?
Did you change the oil? if so when?
Regards
Frank

I knew someone would ask. :-) I admit I haven't put that many miles on it,
about 35,000. A lot of them are off-road miles. And lately I have been
practicing clutchless shifting in case I ever lose my clutch.
Have not yet changed the oil but will this winter. Standard gear oil is not
specified for the NV3550, you have to use "Syncromesh" fluid, available at the
dealer. There is an aftermarket fluid, I think it might be Pennzoil?
Inter
* * *
Matt Macchiarolo
www.townpeddler.com
www.wolverine4wd.org
http://wolverine4wd.org/rigs/macchiarolo_ml.html

[Matt Macchiarolo]

Post by FrankW
Sorry I did have to ask.
I changed the oil on my 01TJ at 60,000Km or 37,000Mi
and was quite surprised at the amount of filings on
the magnet. I know that filings are normal for a new transmission
but it did seem excessive. Unfortunatly I don't have the expereince to
compare with other transmissions except my Argo 6X6
After changing it with the dealer oil. I was again surprised how much
less noise it made. Wish I changed it sooner. In fact I would recommend
everyone with the NV3550 to change the oil after the first year or 30,000km.
Regards
Frank

A friend of mine bought at 2000 TJ used and when he changed the tranny oil he
found the same thing.

Interestingly neither my FSM nor the OM list tranny lube change intervals for
the 3550.
* * *
Matt Macchiarolo
www.townpeddler.com
www.wolverine4wd.org
http://wolverine4wd.org/rigs/macchiarolo_ml.html

[L.W.(ßill) Hughes III]

Hi Matt,
That should tell you, Daimler, doesn't expect the transmission to
last long enough to require a fluid change:
http://www.billhughes.com/lubrication&maintenance.pdf
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O

Post by Matt Macchiarolo
A friend of mine bought at 2000 TJ used and when he changed the tranny oil he
found the same thing.
Interestingly neither my FSM nor the OM list tranny lube change intervals for
the 3550.
* * *
Matt Macchiarolo
www.townpeddler.com
www.wolverine4wd.org
http://wolverine4wd.org/rigs/macchiarolo_ml.html

[Dave Milne]

Found that on my AX15 - 2nd gear was a bit notchy so I replaced the oil at
18,500
(normal oil - no change) and again at 22,000 with dealer oil which cured it
completely.
Schedule B says change every 18K - I think I'll do the next few at 10K as
the oil came
out a bit dirty.

Dave Milne, Scotland
'99 TJ 4.0 Sahara

"Matt Macchiarolo" <***@aol.comspambgon> wrote in message news:***@mb-m04.aol.com...
: In article <***@magma.ca>, FrankW <***@mxznorpak.ca>
: writes:
:
: >Sorry I did have to ask.
: >I changed the oil on my 01TJ at 60,000Km or 37,000Mi
: >and was quite surprised at the amount of filings on
: >the magnet. I know that filings are normal for a new transmission
: >but it did seem excessive. Unfortunatly I don't have the expereince to
: >compare with other transmissions except my Argo 6X6
: >After changing it with the dealer oil. I was again surprised how much
: >less noise it made. Wish I changed it sooner. In fact I would recommend
: >everyone with the NV3550 to change the oil after the first year or
30,000km.
: >Regards
: >Frank
: >
:
: A friend of mine bought at 2000 TJ used and when he changed the tranny oil
he
: found the same thing.
:
: Interestingly neither my FSM nor the OM list tranny lube change intervals
for
: the 3550.
: * * *
: Matt Macchiarolo
: www.townpeddler.com
: www.wolverine4wd.org
: http://wolverine4wd.org/rigs/macchiarolo_ml.html
:
:
:
:

[Peter Parker]

Post by Gerald G. McGeorge
At this point, with many NV3550s running around out there what's the
consensus of this trans vs the older AX15? The AX15 was really trashed back
in the early '90's but has apprent;y been robust enough to silence its
critics. The NV3550 seems to have had some early problems but I wondered how
the later ones have held up.

190600 miles on my AX15 and still going on strong with Redline MT-90
MTL....

[Gerald G. McGeorge]

That's great to know. I've been using Redline MTL for years in my '94 and
have been impressed with the performance.

Post by Peter Parker

Post by Gerald G. McGeorge
At this point, with many NV3550s running around out there what's the
consensus of this trans vs the older AX15? The AX15 was really trashed back
in the early '90's but has apprent;y been robust enough to silence its
critics. The NV3550 seems to have had some early problems but I wondered how
the later ones have held up.

190600 miles on my AX15 and still going on strong with Redline MT-90
MTL....
--
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