sounds like the top fill bolt is either loose... or missing lol. but i would check that out for sure though.

the noise your are hearing is being low on oil. you're hearing "gear noise". if your gears were straight cut.... you'd REALLY hear it regardless of oil level. but on the stock gearing, the gear teeth are cut in a way that it doesn't cause as much gear noise, instead of the gear teeth directly engaging with one another, they actually roll across one another but when you're low on oil, you'll start to hear a bit of gear noise because there's less lubrication.

Thanks for the info ^^

I thought it was something of that sort.

But you explained it much better than I could have, lol.

I'll be getting the washers this weekend.

Hopefully that solves my problem.

cool this is the info i was looking for gl4 it is. hopefully that is only gear noise and not bearing noise.

im going to change the gear oil in my box in the morning from the bottom ill report back when it is done and let you all know how it went.

ok so i went and got some mobil 1 synthetic 75-90 to put in the gearbox and after i got all ready to change it i noticed it is a gl5 fluid. i thought i read someplace that a gl4 fluid is better for the syncros? anyone care to comment about that before i make the change?

thank you for the write up!

I'm about to do my drain+fill @ 24K miles. I've got Walmart brand = Super-Tech synthetic blend 75-90 gear oil @ $5 per quart. I've been told it is good gear oil; however it is GL-5 :no: Hmmmmmmmmmm
I know the synthetic Super-tech Walmart oil(5w-30 or 10w-30) is made by Quaker State(out West here), and Valvoline produces it out East+Mid-West for Walmart (most likely one of the two manufactures of this gear oil).

Do you guys recommend I go w/ this gear oil, or just a standard 75-90 GL-4? It sounds like GL-4 is best given the above info. from the community.

Who else makes a syn. blend or full synthetic GL-4 (besides Redline) ??