16 minute transmission fluid change

[meicalnissyen]

OK only doin this cuz lots of folk are in that zone, AND to dispel any thoughts of it being harder than an oil change.

far easier than an oil change

1 lift car (in a safe manner)
2 pull shroud
3 put bucket under drain port
4 remove drain plug near control arm pivot ( get a breaker bar, a ratchet is a snug fit)
5 replace drain plug
6 pull fill plug
7 rig fill hose and funnel
8 pour in 3qt of trans juice
9 put rag under fill hole and pull fill hose (some may come out, that is correct, and normal. trannys and diffs are filled til fluid reaches the level of the fill port.
10 replace fill plug

PLEASE NOTE, you do not need to remove ANYTHING. except the shroud to do this

I borrowed AWDthis's photo for the drain port/fill port shot
the funnel rig is very high tech, don;t try this at home depot

THANK YOU

 

[ohioan]

Awesome. Sounds really easy!

 

[Hank3]

Thanks for the easy write-up! Gonna be doing mine in a couple thousand miles.

 

[08cosmic3]

I found it easier than changing the oil.

 

[solez]

I need to change mine out really soon. Anybody know of a good brand of transmission fluid? any info would be great. I drive a MZ3 GT hatchback.

 

[meicalnissyen]

I need to change mine out really soon. Anybody know of a good brand of transmission fluid? any info would be great. I drive a MZ3 GT hatchback.

redline mt90 is the standard, I just put in the fomoco stuff that 08 discovered
it sounds thin when you shake the bottle, and I could NOT find a viscosity on the label and it was 17 bux a quart but I think it will be in mine for a long time Tranny still sux, mebbe a bit better to down shift, but not much, and into 2nd and 1rst it either goes first try, or I'm stuck like chuck, I may have a iffy box
really, any brand name 75/90 should be fine. just get a magnetic drain plug, and do the first change between 500~1000 miles

 

[freeflyfreak]

I would definitely make sure you can get the fill plug out before you drain.

 

[khoney]

I get horrible diff whine with Redline MT-90. Next change I'll try the FOMOCO stuff that many folks have said eliminates the noise. It's so loud it's embarrassing, and not just in really cold weather. Didn't start whining until I had about 10K miles on the fluid.

 

[Hank3]

So I found that the torque specs for the drain and fill bolts are both 20.2-37.5 ft\lbs. Did you guys just split the difference and do 29 lbs.?

 

[meicalnissyen]

So I found that the torque specs for the drain and fill bolts are both 20.2-37.5 ft\lbs. Did you guys just split the difference and do 29 lbs.?

(boom03)

I used the drain plug setting on my breaker bar

 

[meicalnissyen]

I would definitely make sure you can get the fill plug out before you drain.

either way, the breather vents it fine

 

[08cosmic3]

I torqued mine to the German specs. Goodentight.

 

[Hank3]

Ahhh...gudentight.

 

[Saskatchewan17]

Thanks for this. Now to make a top secret funneling system like that...

 

[d0nkeypunch01]

Does the transmission filter not need to be changed during a fluid change?

 

[Mazda_maniac]

This is for the Manual transaxle. Automatic procedures usually involve dropping the pan and replacing the filter.

 

[MikeHTally]

either way, the breather vents it fine

I think the idea was: make sure you can fill before you drain. Would be most embarrassing otherwise.

 

[meicalnissyen]

I think the idea was: make sure you can fill before you drain. Would be most embarrassing otherwise.

AH, got it, thought it was a glurp glurp glurp issue.


well there are alternative holes in the box.

 

[ALIEN3T]

Instead of runnign a funnel. You can buy pumps that will mount ot almost any oil type bottle. For big gallon, to 1 quart size. You just sit under car run hose and pump till you see some come out? What i use fo rgear and tranny oil. Pump can be as low as 5 bucks. or aroudn 10. at pep boys usually by the wall o fgear oils, and motorcycle oil.

 

[meicalnissyen]

Instead of runnign a funnel. You can buy pumps that will mount ot almost any oil type bottle. For big gallon, to 1 quart size. You just sit under car run hose and pump till you see some come out? What i use fo rgear and tranny oil. Pump can be as low as 5 bucks. or aroudn 10. at pep boys usually by the wall o fgear oils, and motorcycle oil.

true
but the funnel is less than $5