manual transmission fluid change

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by danielr, Nov 25, 2005.

  1. danielr

    danielr Guest

    Hi everyone;
    Is it necesary to change the manual transmission fluid, or just refill
    when low?
    If necessary, after how many Km (or miles)?

    Thanks in advance for all your answers.

    Daniel Rozenberg.
     
    danielr, Nov 25, 2005
    #1
  2. danielr

    Steve Mackie Guest

    Is it necesary to change the manual transmission fluid, or just refill
    Depends on the transmission. Example would be a '94 Saturn Coupe you have to
    change the tranny fluid at the 9600km mark and then not again until the
    200,000km mark. On an '88 Z24 you never have to change it. Your owners
    manual will tell you what you need to know:

    www.mygmlink.com

    Steve
     
    Steve Mackie, Nov 25, 2005
    #2
  3. On the S- series, you change it at 6k miles, and then basically leave it
    alone. You'll end up changing it when you do an axle or the clutch.

    As far as getting low, if it does, you've to problems that need to be
    addressed.
     
    Kevin M. Keller, Nov 25, 2005
    #3
  4. danielr

    Private Guest

    The early years of the S series mfgr manual called for an early change at
    approx 10,000 km and further changes at ???100,000 km???? intervals. The
    later years (with the same manual trans) did not call for these changes. I
    can only speculate as to why the reduction in oil change recommendations.

    I found that with both of my cars that the oil from the first change had a
    very silver metallic sheen and appeared to contain a large amount of very
    fine metallic material which I concluded came from the break-in wear. This
    caused me to shorten the second change interval and to continue to change
    the fluid regularly afterward. The trans only takes about <3 liters of
    fluid and the drain plug is in an easy location (much better than the engine
    oil filter) and the drain part is easy. Use sealer on the plug and DO NOT
    over-tighten. Refilling is also easy if you have a funnel with a long hose
    that will fit inside the dipstick hole.

    IMHO transmissions are expensive to repair and clean oil, and gentle
    shifting at reasonable engine speeds, are the cheapest way to extend their
    service life. The cost of clean trans fluid is so low that in the big
    picture it is almost zip. If you are a handy guy you will probably have
    many uses for the almost clean oil that you drain.

    Just my .02
     
    Private, Nov 25, 2005
    #4
  5. danielr

    p_vouers Guest

    I cnaged mine and first of all let me say it is very easy.. no filter
    just open the drain plug then refill. My manual ran smoother that it
    ever had after the change. My car had 140k on it and I don't think it
    was ever changed. Now since tranny fluid is so cheap I replace it every
    3rd oil change or every 9l miles.
     
    p_vouers, Nov 26, 2005
    #5
  6. danielr

    Steve Mackie Guest

    was ever changed. Now since tranny fluid is so cheap I replace it every
    You change your oil every 30 miles, gees.
     
    Steve Mackie, Nov 26, 2005
    #6
  7. danielr

    navaidstech Guest

    Daniel...

    I believe they recommend to change the fluid after 60k miles.....or
    every 60k miles. Your owners manual should have a little blurb about it
    near the end of the book.

    alex
     
    navaidstech, Nov 26, 2005
    #7
  8. danielr

    punxyguy Guest

    Alright I work for an oil changing place plus I do car work on the side.
    All the books I have looked at recomend that you change you fluid in the
    trans at every 30,000 miles it is very simple to do.But the first thing to
    do is make sure u have a trans dipstick or right on top of the trans there
    is a little red cap that u open to fill the trans. then there is a drain
    plug on the passanger side of the trans pull that drain plug and catch the
    fluid in some kind of measuring cup that way you know about how much fluid
    u need to put back into the trans.If wu have the red cap and no dipstick
    it is very important that u catch all the fluid that comes out that is the
    only way you will know how much fluid u will have to put in. well I hope
    this helped good luck
     
    punxyguy, Nov 26, 2005
    #8
  9. "punxyguy" <> typed until their fingers bled, and came
    up with:

    that is the only way you will
    Or you could check the owners manual, and find out that the S series manual
    trannies take 2.6 quarts.
     
    Kevin M. Keller, Nov 26, 2005
    #9
  10. danielr

    danielr Guest

    Hi Fellows;
    Thank you very much to all of you for your replies, which I am just
    reading now.
    The reason I posted the question was because I could not find any
    recommendation in the owner's manual, although I found at the end the
    capacities and specifications. It states 2.6 quarts (2.5 liters) for
    the manual.
    So, yesterday I took the car to the dealer where they did the job.
    Worrisome enough, as I was going to archive the bill now, I find it
    indicates they filled 1 LITER . (?).
    I don't know if it's a typo, a regular item in their invoice/billing
    form or what, but tomorrow early morning (its 8.00 PM here in Toronto,
    Canada now), I will check the dipstick to verify if everything is OK.
    Will keep you posted .
     
    danielr, Nov 28, 2005
    #10
  11. danielr

    danielr Guest

    hi feloows;

    well as expected, it was only a "clerical formality".
    the form says 1 liter, but the person who did the job filled the 2.5
    (perhaps even a little bit more).
    nevertheless, when i checked the dipstick, I found it has marked "2.5
    liters maximum", what solves the problem of knowing how much to refill.

    best regards to you all.

    DR.
     
    danielr, Nov 29, 2005
    #11
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