Checking and changing transmission fluid?

I changed transmission fluid in a friends Ford Ranger and thought about the CX-5. I remember in the sales process, the salesman bragged about the fact that Skyactiv transmission are fully sealed and requires no maintenance. I called BS on him and said that transmission fluid breaks down, especially with breather tubes allowing moisture, dirt, etc. into the transmission, so it will need a change one day. I've never changed transmission fluid on a sealed unit, but I was told by a friend that sealed transmissions have a fill hole, covered by a cap, and a drain plug, and a fluid level plug. If you pull out the fluid level plug and some ATF dribbles out, then the level is good. If it's bone dry, you need to add some. Does this apply to skyactiv transmissions?

It's bolted sealed. Take it to the dealer and they can do a flush.

My 2002 Acura MDX didn't have a fill hole on the transmission. What people did was to drain it and add thru the dipstick hole and repeat for 3 times to get like 75% of fluid changed. You have to take it to dealer or transmission place in order to get it completely flushed.

Lots of info here from these threads:

Automatic Transmission Fluid - Can you change it?
Change automatic transmission fluid?
Skyactiv 6 auto - flush or drain?

Kedis82ZE8 said:

Out of curiosity I need to look for the dipstick. Looks like it is secured with a bolt like my Infiniti is.

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Kedis82ZE8 said:

Went out and checked it. Fluid is clear and bolt is 10mm

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Has a small dipstick underneath the air cleaner box. You can access it better from the underneath when you remove the bottom cover.

edhchoe said:

My 2002 Acura MDX didn't have a fill hole on the transmission. What people did was to drain it and add thru the dipstick hole and repeat for 3 times to get like 75% of fluid changed. You have to take it to dealer or transmission place in order to get it completely flushed.

Click to expand...

Your MDX does have a fill hole. It's on top of the transmission. It's usually a 17 mm bolt. If you had the oil jet kit which was a bulletin installed, you remove the oil jet kit by pulling the 12mm bolt that held it in a full from there.

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