What type of Transmission fluid do I need for a 83 Firebird
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 27,893
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Car: Yes
Engine: Usually
Transmission: Sometimes
Axle/Gears: Behind me somewhere
Re: What type of Transmission fluid do I need for a 83 Firebird
That will be the 1st design T-5, with the brass blocker rings.
You can use either gear lube or ATF, or a mix of the 2. I'd recommend a thin gear lube, preferably synthetic, such as Mobil1 75W-90 (the normal kind, you can get it at VatoZone or wherever).
The factory flip-flopped on what they said to use, probably trying to eeeek out the last couple of inches per gallon of gas mileage in different years; WITHOUT any change whatsoever in the parts themselves. I wouldn't get too hung up on what "the manual for 83", or any other year, says, although someone will probably come in and post that their manual says one of those things and that the other is "wrong". It's not. ANY fluid, even regular motor oil, is better than running it dry.
It's not magic, it's just gears and bearings. It just might not shift as good.
You can use either gear lube or ATF, or a mix of the 2. I'd recommend a thin gear lube, preferably synthetic, such as Mobil1 75W-90 (the normal kind, you can get it at VatoZone or wherever).
The factory flip-flopped on what they said to use, probably trying to eeeek out the last couple of inches per gallon of gas mileage in different years; WITHOUT any change whatsoever in the parts themselves. I wouldn't get too hung up on what "the manual for 83", or any other year, says, although someone will probably come in and post that their manual says one of those things and that the other is "wrong". It's not. ANY fluid, even regular motor oil, is better than running it dry.
It's not magic, it's just gears and bearings. It just might not shift as good. 
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 12,088
Likes: 125
From: SALEM, NH
Car: '88 Formula
Engine: LC9
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.89 9"
Re: What type of Transmission fluid do I need for a 83 Firebird
That will be the 1st design T-5, with the brass blocker rings.
You can use either gear lube or ATF, or a mix of the 2. I'd recommend a thin gear lube, preferably synthetic, such as Mobil1 75W-90 (the normal kind, you can get it at VatoZone or wherever).
The factory flip-flopped on what they said to use, probably trying to eeeek out the last couple of inches per gallon of gas mileage in different years; WITHOUT any change whatsoever in the parts themselves. I wouldn't get too hung up on what "the manual for 83", or any other year, says, although someone will probably come in and post that their manual says one of those things and that the other is "wrong". It's not. ANY fluid, even regular motor oil, is better than running it dry. It's not magic, it's just gears and bearings. It just might not shift as good.
You can use either gear lube or ATF, or a mix of the 2. I'd recommend a thin gear lube, preferably synthetic, such as Mobil1 75W-90 (the normal kind, you can get it at VatoZone or wherever).
The factory flip-flopped on what they said to use, probably trying to eeeek out the last couple of inches per gallon of gas mileage in different years; WITHOUT any change whatsoever in the parts themselves. I wouldn't get too hung up on what "the manual for 83", or any other year, says, although someone will probably come in and post that their manual says one of those things and that the other is "wrong". It's not. ANY fluid, even regular motor oil, is better than running it dry.
It's not magic, it's just gears and bearings. It just might not shift as good.-- Joe
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