How To Change Transmission/Tranny Fluid

[amsgator]

Can someone write a how to on how to change the transmission fluid. I have 43k on mine and I don't know when the previous owner changed it or if they did. Or is it just easier to take it somewhere?

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

unscrew the drain bolt
let it drain
put drain bolt back in
remove fill bolt
fill until fluid starts coming back out the fill bolt.


thats the jist of it...

 

[amsgator]

which bolts are they. that's what i meant. idk which they are. have pics? i have 43k...is it too late to switch to synthetic? i think traditional is in it now

 

[gimpo2]

the bolt to drain the tranny is the bolt that looks like its being protected by a little lip thing on the very bottom. is the one to fill it up is the bolt on top that looks like it doesn't do anything

 

[amsgator]

this is all under the intake area correct? the fill bolt is angled down...how do you pour the fluid in? hose or what? also can i switch to syn or is it too late? my reg oil is syn

 

[hoindawall]

its never too late to switch to synthetic. also, i used a funnel with a hose and filled it from the top

 

[gimpo2]

yeah its all towards the front of the tranny. to get your fluid into the tranny you're gonna have to get a funnel and a hose like a beer bong. or you can buy a fill can thing that shoots the fluid in the hole with a hose by pumping. About reg or syn, i dunno. I don't see why you can't switch

 

[amsgator]

i know you arent supposed to switch oil after like 50k so i wasnt sure about tranny fluid either. so est time... 20 min? difficulty: easy?

under intake/battery area. i think i see the bolts. big @$$ bolt...what size socket? idk if i have one big enough

 

[gimpo2]

hahaha i used a crescent wrench to get it off when i did it honestly. i think its like 22mm or maybe even bigger?

Difficulty? undo 2 bolts, wait, do one bolt, fill, do the other. I forget what the stock intake system looks like. I'm not stock so i was able to do it without removing anything. I guess you'll be spending the majority of your time removing the stock parts to get to it. Also i didn't have any of my plastic underpinning stuff on underside the car at the time either.

 

[amsgator]

i have a sri so it's cool. oh crap i have my plastic underpinning on...that sucks. guess i get to take that off. screws or what?

i was told to take the fill plug off first then the drain plug b.c it can be hard to get the fill off after it drains out. i gues the pressure inside maybe? not sure

 

[gimpo2]

yeah plastic just has screws, i think its got those weird plastic spreader screws. You might not have to take it off tho.

 

[amsgator]

dang this sucks. i have to buy the fluid, drain pan, funnel w/ hose. geez prolly be cheaper to take it somewhere

 

[gimpo2]

hahahahaha its not that hard man. fluid $5, pan $5, funnel $1 tube $1? I just bought a funnel and some vinyl tubing from homedepot and stuck the tube onto the funnel. you can even save yourself 5 bucks and dump it all on the ground if you want.

 

[amsgator]

fluid is only 5 bux? i was expecting more. what kind is the best? amsoil?

 

[amsgator]

its like 6-7 bux a quart..and i need 3 quarts right? it might be cheaper to have it done at pep boys or somethin. i dont mind doing it but if it's cheaper to have someone do it... idk

amsoil has like 10 different kinds of tranny fluid too...wth........

 

[gimpo2]

actually you're right fuild will be more. I got Redline MT-90. it was alike $7-9 a quart? need like 4 quarts i think? (DON'T TAKE MY WORD ON THE QUANTITY OF FLUID YOU NEED, I'M 100% NOT SURE) I know with the car flat and level you can fill the tranny until it starts to over flow or until the fluid is level with the bottom of the fill bolt hole. ~3.5quarts or so

The best fluid? Everyone has an opinion on that, Our cars are econo boxes, i'm sure it really doesn't matter at all as long as you get the right viscocity.

FYI: i have a blown 3rd gear right now but i'm sure thats due to power and not the tranny fluid

 

[amsgator]

how do i know what viscocity to use.... i've never changed my own b4 and it looks cheaper to take it to pep boys and have it done. idk we'll c

 

[gimpo2]

how much will pepboys charge? no way they will be cheaper than the parts alone. If you don't wanna deal with it thats another thing. Its about as much effort as changing your oil. a lil more cuz of the funnel-tube thing.

About the type of fluid to use check to see if its in the car owners manual. or search i don't know either.

 

[amsgator]

i dont mind doing it, i kinda like doing it but if it's cheaper to have it done i'll do that. i'll call around and see. i know some places do oil changes cheaper than it costs me to do it, but then again i use mobil1 synethic so maybe thats more. i guess i'll see what other ppl use. it's a pro 5 in FL so usually warm and humid, anyone change theirs in similar climate?

 

[hoindawall]

i was told to take the fill plug off first then the drain plug b.c it can be hard to get the fill off after it drains out. i gues the pressure inside maybe? not sure

its to make sure that you will be able to fill it once it drains. you really dont want to drain it and then find out you cant fill it cause the fill plug wont come off