[cdb95z28]

Great info Matthew.

I began having trouble shifting my tracked Gen5 SS 1LE TR6060 a couple years ago. Soon after I purchased my car in 2014, I put in Redline D4 due to the cold 2nd gear tough engagement. I stayed with it for the first couple years, changing it at least once a year. Began to have trouble so I changed out for fresh D4 immediately after. It was good for a few events then started giving me trouble again. Decided to try something else, went with Amsoil, no change, was still bad shifting. At that point I thought my trans was in trouble. Went to Mobil 1 and it felt great all of 2019. I was kinda shocked the Mobil 1 made a huge difference. Put fresh in for 2020, but by late summer my trans was the worst it had ever been.

A fellow member here, travislambert, also runs his ZL1 at my local track, Pitt Race. He mentioned to me mid season about the Tremec fluid. He spoke highly of it. I did purchase some late last year to swap in this winter. I decided to do a clutch this winter and after doing some research decided to send my TR6060 to Bowler Transmission. Well, my 2nd and 3rd gear syncro teeth were worn. Craig @ Bowler said this is common with tracked TR6060s and was most likely my problem. It seems that in 2009 Tremec went with different 2nd and 3rd gears to alleviate Corvette owner complaints about poor shifting. These pre 2009 gears were of the "non-advanced" design. They are a more durable design vs. what the post 2009 "advanced" gears are. I asked Craig about the shift characteristics of the pre-2009 gears in my fresh trans and he said nobody has ever complained about it in their rebuilds. I believe the cold 2nd gear engagement issue that I experienced early on was due to a blocker ring issue and not a gear issue. I also went with the full carbon blocker rings and Vespel pads in gears 1-4.

I think that the ATF that most of us are using is not good enough for use with tracking. If you compare the shear specs of the popular ATFs vs the Tremec fluid, I already feel better about using it in my fresh TR6060.

My trans is on its way back to me, but here are the pics Craig sent me. He is also sending my old parts back, I can get a better look at the gears.

This is my good first gear, so view it as a reference:


Second gear:


Third gear:

[MatthewAMEL]

Originally Posted by SloCal

Got it thanks thats very helpful I'll probably do similar next week when I dump the D4 for it.

Were your problems mostly around high rpm 1-2 2-3 shifts with D4? I have been actively avoiding 2nd gear in low speed corners because NLS 2-3 has been on the verge of catastrophe at recent track events

Thanks for your input on this

My problems were always 2-3 shifts at high rpm. I have been driving manuals for 30+ years and never had problems with shifting.


I noticed it in my first few track events after the car was new and just assumed I was getting used to the 2-3 feel. Then my instructor at Sebring mentioned 'stiffness' in the 2-3 shift for him as well. I found the thread here commenting on it and I went looking for a fluid solution. I landed on Tremec.


cdb95z28, thanks for sharing your info. It's nice to see some hard evidence and not anecdotal.

[Redlinez]

After seeing the Tremec fluid is not recommended for our TR6060, I cancelled and will try the Mobil 1. I only get to the track about once a year or less. I'll probably switch once mine is out of warranty.
'

[SloCal]

cdb95z28 great info - thanks!!

Waiting on my Tremec fluid to install but now you have me wondering if my car has a messed up 3rd gear syncro (+ maybe 2nd)....

Issue reared it's head one week after buying my car with 25k miles -- put in D4 after amsoil in my last regular ss and did a highway pull and damn near hit first. Thought maybe its a 1le short throw thing but now I'm thinking it could be syncros (As I've always feared) since the car wasn't hot (70s ambient with no hard driving).

I'll keep the thread posted on what happens with Tremec MTF in my trans but don't have an event for a few months so test will likely just be a 2-3 6,500 clenched no lift shift to see if its as smooth as my last SS/all my other manuals.

[N Camarolina]

Thanks the info MatthewAMEL regarding your experience with improved 2-3 upshifts at high RPM as well as the info about the Tremec Magnum trans being same as the TR6060.

I called Tremec today and spoke to their tech support person. I told him I had a 2016 SS that was coming off warrantee so I'd now have the freedom to choose the best fluid to help protect the trans while driving HPDE events. He surprised me by saying that for the Magnum trans, they recommend Dexron III ATF (not the Tremec fluid) and the same for the TR6060, even when past warrantee. So I asked him which fluid (ATF vs Tremec) would protect the trans better on the track, and said he doesn't know, and that it just comes down to individual user preference. He claims to not even been aware that the viscosity of their product is 2x that of ATF.

I gotta say that Tremec aren't doing themselves any favors if they can't even articulate under what conditions their fluid will perform better than the ATF they are otherwise recommending. I want to provide the best protection to the M6 at HPD events, but it makes it difficult to run non OEM fluid and risk of warrantee void when there isn't much supportive evidence or support from Tremec.

Would be great to hear from other Tremec fluid users as to whether it has improved shifting while on track and whether anyone has reason to think they are getting better wear protection.

[cdb95z28]

Honestly I think this should be easy for those who track their TR6060. Tremec states their fluid is compatible with all their transmissions after 2008. ATF's specs aren't going to satisfy the heavier use. The Tremec techs are most likely going to take the conservative route, especially if they are not performance centric. ATF will satisfy the OEs with one other criteria, fuel economy. The thinner ATF is part of their sum of all parts approach with fuel economy. Yeah, it's a v8, but they still will engineer what they can into it.

I received my trans back today, they sent 2nd and 3rd gear with it. Here are my pics of the teeth.

[cdb95z28]

Better pics with my phone




This one is of the matching synchro

[cdb95z28]

More info from Tremec on their fluid:

https://www.tremec.com/anexos/Litera..._19Feb2018.pdf

[N Camarolina]

Thanks cdb95z28. You've obviously been tracking quite a bit for the last several years, and the pics of your 2nd and 3rd trans teeth look decently worn/chipped (I'm no expert for sure, but assuming that's the source of the difficult shifts).

I'm curious how much wear and tare your trans has been subjected to in order to help others estimate the longevity of the trans before repair is needed. How many track hours do you tend to put on each season?

[JCunningham]

I asked Tick Performance and they said run Dex III only. In the stock tr6060 and especially in my Level 1 with all carbon fiber synchros. They said do not use synthetic. As far as draining the trans. just pull the trans brace. its no big deal. put a jack under the trans pull the 6 bolts and you can lower the trans a little. then drain it from the drain plug. the trans will go strait back up and the 6 bolts are 37lbft. Fill until fluid comes out the fill hole then suck some out with one of these. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1. dont drain 8oz like the manual says. Just drain enough out and use a rag to get the fluid off the threads so it doent contaminate the liquid teflon tape. if you use the liquid. im going to try the MTF though.

[AMOR]

For those on the shelf about getting Tremec HP-MTF - heads up, it is now back to stock on their website! I just ordered 6 bottles (not sure how much exactly needed for a ZLE) and will be soon changing trans fluid at a local car shop. My car has ~3000 miles and 3 track days. I am not happy with shifts from 2-3 and also 4-3 on stock fluid when things get hot on track. I do not have this issue while driving around town, even during aggressive spirited driving. I am hoping that Tremec fluid will eliminate this issue, or at least make it better.

[kropscamaro16]

damn 6 bottles you must be balling haha if you have any left let me know ill take some i think it only takes 2-3

[AMOR]

1LE in fact takes 5 quarts from what I read, due to trans fluid also used for diff cooling, etc.

[kropscamaro16]

aww gotcha well i only have ss so may not need as much !