Tranny fluid change [Archive]

fgafd2007

07-08-2009, 01:34 AM

CnoTataymo

07-08-2009, 02:23 AM

24mm short socket and ratchet. There's a How-To in the How-To section.

Circle9

07-08-2009, 06:18 AM

I do all my own maintinence. Change the tranny fluid yourself, its not hard. I also reccomend using MT-90.

SHAGwagn

07-08-2009, 08:55 AM

I do all my own maintinence. Change the tranny fluid yourself, its not hard. I also reccomend using MT-90.

not. ull get lsd wine like everyone else. i had MT for 3 days, drained it and tossed it. replaced it with mazda oem fluid and got my peace and quiet back. I also found shifting more difficult with the MT for some reason.

meicalnissyen

07-08-2009, 11:45 AM

Has anyone done their own maintenance, besides oil changes(brake fluid, transmission etc)? Just asking because I had the car in for the an oil change (33k) and they brought small samples of my fluids and they were dirty..... very dirty. They wanted a stupid amount of money to change it. So I was going to try to change the trans fluid myself..... any tips would help!

30K service include tranny change

but it is stupid easy

do it from underneath, one how to makes it way difficult

short socket +1

don't remove the angled bolt

I heard good things about royal purple, but be aware, some manual trans oils are made real thin for use in other applications

cymx5

07-08-2009, 01:00 PM

they brought small samples of my fluids and they were dirty..... very dirty.

Interesting...at 37k miles on my factory trans fluid it was crystal clear still. It's a closed system...soo unless you added the dirty during the last change...it shouldn't be dirty...maybe small shavings of metal...but no dirt.

Ah yes do it yourself.

Tools:
10mm socket to pull the splash gaurd off
24mm short socket
Torque wrench (if you want it perfect)
Oil catch pan
Funnel with ~24" tube to reach the fill plug (or a pump to pump the oil up and in...the funnel's easier imo)

sephiroth

07-08-2009, 01:20 PM

I'm thinking dirty means brown or black in color, which it will turn since all oil does when it's put through heat cycles and breaks down. I really doubt they acutaly took samples anyway, or if they did, that they used a clean tool.

Darth Vader

07-08-2009, 02:38 PM

Circle9

07-08-2009, 08:04 PM

not. ull get lsd wine like everyone else. i had MT for 3 days, drained it and tossed it. replaced it with mazda oem fluid and got my peace and quiet back. I also found shifting more difficult with the MT for some reason.

I had lsd whine before changing to MT-90, it still sounds the same, but shifting is easier and smoother. I wouldn't really worry about the lsd noise though, I'm using the TRZ combo.

sephiroth

07-09-2009, 07:23 AM

Trans oil doesn't get brown or black, there's no combustion by-products to do that. 90 weight trans fluid has a pretty easy life, comparatively. The only way it could get burnt is if the fluid is REALLY low or the LSD is severely slipping.

Mine's always come out pretty tan/brown when i change it. Might be differences in transmissions though.

Darth Vader

07-09-2009, 11:12 AM

It started life tan-brown, it's 80W-90 weight dino oil(spin). Really dark brown or black is another thing altogether and a sign of serious internal injury or really low fluid levels. A sniff will tell the difference, you can always smell it when it's smoked.

fgafd2007

07-09-2009, 09:59 PM

Hey thank you all for your help!!!

matsuda

07-10-2009, 12:21 AM

...and they brought small samples of my fluids and they were dirty..... very dirty.

I'm not sure who "they" are but it sounds like "they" cannot be trusted.

Circle9

07-10-2009, 05:23 PM

I like how shops try to exaggerate how "bad" a small issue is.

fgafd2007

07-13-2009, 01:39 AM

I'm not sure who "they" are but it sounds like "they" cannot be trusted.

uh Dealership

prenedo

08-04-2009, 07:00 PM

I took mine to dealership for a checkup (had smoke coming out of exhaust). Just got the car a few weeks ago, 44k miles on it..... They said I needed to change tranny fluid, looked like it had never been changed. I did some research on this forum and auto part store also said to use a 80w-90 and I hear a lot about mt-90. When I asked dealer what they used, he said it was like a 5 or 10w - 30? Told me that's what's recommended, but he is the ONLY person that has said that. I honestly don't trust the b@$t@rd. He also told me that a 90 is way to thick and the car won't drive right. Thinkin about doing it myself when I install my rear MM, although I'd rather not (kinda lazy and don't mind payin money for it). I don't know to much about fluids, what do you guys think about what the dealer is trying to put in my car? What is the difference between the different tranny fluid/gear fluids? OR, is there already a thread explaining this?

Darth Vader

08-04-2009, 07:43 PM

It's 80W90 and you'll need about 3 qts. The best stuff is the Ford Synthetic MTF. Hit up your local Ford dealer for it. It's expensive but, so is Redline and, the Ford stuff won't make your limited slip diff make noise.

The smoking sounds like it may be tired turbo but, check the PCV system for proper function first. The run some engine cleaner through it and change the oil for 5W40, synthetic or dino. See if that solves it for you.

Find another dealer/service shop, your descriptions sound like trouble.

cymx5

08-05-2009, 10:31 AM

I took mine to dealership for a checkup (had smoke coming out of exhaust). They said I needed to change tranny fluid, looked like it had never been changed.

Unless you've got gaskets leaking or metal shavings in your fluid, this fluid will typically never 'look like it needs to be changed.' It's a closed system. I just changed the 128k mile original fluid in my Miata and guess what!? it looks just like it did when it went in!

Either way, at 44k miles you'll want to change it, I'm just not accepting the priniciples behind how they came to that conclusion. I just did mine around 40k miles with MT-90 and it feels great. No problems.

CledusMS3

08-13-2009, 11:51 PM

Ford XT-M5-QS is the part # for the Ford fluid. Best there is for our cars.

MSP300

09-10-2009, 07:25 PM

Im thinking about changing my trans fluid too. considering MT 90 but also heard a lot of good thing about Red Line Heavy Shockproof Gear Oil, have anyone tryed it?

Darth Vader

09-10-2009, 07:38 PM

bykeryder4life

09-10-2009, 08:28 PM

It's 80W90 and you'll need about 3 qts.

last I checked our car uses 75w-90 gl-4 tranny fluid. its not 80w. just to clear it up for anyone.

MikeHTally

09-10-2009, 08:44 PM

I'm not sure who "they" are but it sounds like "they" cannot be trusted.+2.7835 Never trust they.

MSP300

09-10-2009, 10:16 PM

last I checked our car uses 75w-90 gl-4 tranny fluid. its not 80w. just to clear it up for anyone.

this is what it says in technicians manual:
Specified oil viscosity
All-season: SAE 75W-90
Above 10°C {50 OF}: SAE 80W-90

MSP300

09-10-2009, 10:18 PM

Specified oil grade
API Service GL-4 or GL-5

bykeryder4life

09-11-2009, 02:01 AM

thanks man, never heard of anyone using anything other than 75w so I would stick with it but if the manual says 80w thats cool too.

MSP300

09-11-2009, 08:35 AM

Not for modern car transmissions, that's for HD rear ends like in my truck. It's too viscous to flow well in a MT and will likely make shifting difficult and may even damage parts from lubrication starvation.

what do u think about this one:
http://shop.edoperformance.com/motul-gear-competition-gearbox-lsd-oil-75w140-p-9823.html

khoney

09-11-2009, 08:28 PM

not. ull get lsd wine like everyone else. i had MT for 3 days, drained it and tossed it. replaced it with mazda oem fluid and got my peace and quiet back. I also found shifting more difficult with the MT for some reason.

No, NOT like everyone else. I use it, and it's fine. Have never heard lsd whine.

khoney

09-11-2009, 08:33 PM

I took mine to dealership for a checkup (had smoke coming out of exhaust). Just got the car a few weeks ago, 44k miles on it..... They said I needed to change tranny fluid, looked like it had never been changed.

So exactly why would they check your transmission fluid for an exhaust problem? I'd find another dealership - they're just out for money. I doubt it needs to be changed, but just do it yourself if you're concerned. It's pretty easy. I changed mine even though it didn't need it :)

bigdaddy

09-11-2009, 10:50 PM

just got mine changed with MT-90 at the dealer. Drove up to lake tahoe tonight, which is roughly 200 miles from my house, and it was great. Shifting is super smooth, and no lsd whine.

08cosmic3

09-11-2009, 10:57 PM

Ford XT-M5-QS is the part # for the Ford fluid. Best there is for our cars.

What he said.^^^^

I went to MT-90 first and got the whine and it did not help the cold morning 2nd gear grind like I had hoped. It did help shifting once the tranny warmed up though. I just recently changed it to the Motorcraft XT-M5-QS and the shifting is much improved over the MT-90 and I have not even thought about the whine since I installed the fluid so it must have went away. I'll try to get it to whine tomorrow and see. I can't imagine what it would have been like going form stock fluid to the Motorcraft fluid. I paid $53.65 shipped for three quarts from K-MansParts‏. You might can find it cheaper elsewhere but it is worth the money. Changing the tranny fluid is easier than changing the oil in this car. I will have to wait til it gets cold to see if the cold morning 2nd gear grind is gone.

08cosmic3

09-11-2009, 11:01 PM

just got mine changed with MT-90 at the dealer. Drove up to lake tahoe tonight, which is roughly 200 miles from my house, and it was great. Shifting is super smooth, and no lsd whine.

Get in a parking lot and turn the wheel hard all the way and turn. You will here it.

bigdaddy

09-11-2009, 11:21 PM

Get in a parking lot and turn the wheel hard all the way and turn. You will here it.

well it wouldnt surprise me if i was trying to make it make noise. My brothers audi makes a horrid noise when he turns all the way, who really cares about that?