moosestang

I thought i'd take some pics and do a little how to for anyone that doesn't know how to change their manual transmission fluid. It was much easier than I thought it'd be.

First remove the fill plug located on the passenger side of the transmission. you'll need a 3/8 inch ratchet and a 3/8 inch short extension to remove it. I actually used a 1/2 inch ratchet and a 1/2 inch to 3/8 inch adapter instead of an extension, all my extensions were too long. I didn't get a shot of the fill plug, but it's located where the clear tubing is going into the side of the transmission.



Next remove the drain plug located at the bottom of the transmission. You need to remove the fill plug first so the fluid will not created a vacuum. Be ready with a catch pan or gallon water bottle with the top cut off, which is what I used. I could have used my oil drain pan, but I wanted to be able to lift it up to the transmission and inspect the oil that came out.



Now replace the drain plug and insert your fill hose into the fill hole. I used some 3/8 inch inside diameter tubing from the hardware store. Ace hardware sells this stuff by the foot and you only need 3 feet, if that. This size worked perfect for fitting into the fill hole and also fit the top of my royal purple synchromax bottle very nicely. You can use a smaller diameter tube, but using a thicker tube meant I could squeeze the bottle from inside the car without worrying about the tube coming out of the fill hole.

Remove your shifter boot and rubber gasket and feed the tube down in front of the shifter like so.





the manual calls for 3.2 quarts to fill it to 1/2 inch below the fill hole. You'll need to squeeze the bottle and then back the bottle off the tube a bit to allow air to get in. Otherwise it will try to suck the oil you just squeezed out back into the bottle. You could also poke a hole in the bottom of the bottle. You need to stick your finger in there to judge half an inch. I found that 3 quarts was enough, but I didn't let it drain completely. Reinstall the fill plug and torque both plugs to 18-20 ft lbs.

I've read the royal purple synchromax does wonders for manual transmissions, but I only drove it around the block so I can't give an opinion yet on smoother shifts.

howarmat

Very nice, beats the pump that i used with mine[:@]

moosestang

I did the pump thing with the gear oil, never again![:'(]

onederful100

nice info.
how did the tranny fluid look, and how many miles on your car?

moosestang

Almost 20k and it looked good to me. A nice deep red color.

Burnsy

Thanks moose, looks good.

Sticky!

EDIT:

nvm matt already put it up there[8D]

hammeron

i'll use this thread when i do mine....

thanks moose for the write up, i wish
you'd do more of these....

Argonaut

Sweet write-up, thanks Moose.

Now I wish someone would do:
- Change the oil in rear differential
- Change brake fluid
- Maybe even a change coolant how-to
Then we'd have all the fluid How-Tos covered (Taco Bill already has the oil change covered)

kcmarti

I do not believe I have ever change the tranny fluid on any of my manual transmission vehicles. Is this required? When/what mileage is recommended for the change?

Tigercat

Great post I am going to change over to Royal Purple soon....smoother shifts?