anyone know how to tell the transmission type.
i have a 91 2wd ranger with a manual tranny
i had purchased 80-90 because i thought this is what it took.
when i drained fluid it smells like mercon, called autozone and they said that the mitubishi tranny takes one kind and mazda takes other. how do i tell which i have?? i need to figure this out so i dont fry tranny

 

Both of the manual tranny's use ATF, to the best of my recollection, I know that.s what was required in my old '89.

 

Call a dealer and give them your VIN number. They should be able to help you.

 

mitsu has a removable pan while the mazda doesn't. Mazda uses Mercon, all others don't

This explains it

manual transmissions

 

ive been running pennzoil syncromesh fluid in my M5OD for the last 6 months/5,000 miles and have had no problems. defintly stay away from gear oil if its supposed to have a.t.f. , i out some 80w90 in a jeep maual trans once thinking it would be "better". ruined the syncros. more than likely youve got the M5OD. my '88 2.3 & my '93 4.0 both had the M5OD

 

Just use one of the full synthetic ATF's like Royal Purple, Redline, or Amsoil (my choice) that are "universal" in nature -- that is, they replace all ATF fluid. I don't have a manual but it's great stuff and I have it in my auto tranny, transfer case, and power steering.