Changing the oil on a manual transmission

[nocturnaldragon]

I drive a d16z6 so im asuming this would be true for other transmissions as well but after a few times of doing this i found the best way to change the oil is this: (1) Remove the old oil via the drain plug and retighten (leave the drain pan for now) (2) Remove the oil check bolt and set asside (3) Remove the speedo sensor (Normally 1 10mm bolt) and set aside (4) Get a nice long funnel or a hose that ataches to the oil can with a cut off like i ussed (5) pure 2qts. of oil into the tranny thro the speedo sensor opening untill full - you'll see oil coming out of the oil fill/check bolt (6) Reatach the speedo sensor and replace the oil fill bolt and check for leaks - You can skip step 3 and use a piece of hose to attach the funnel to the breather tube, but its more difficult making an adaptor and slower because of the smaller opening inside the tranny "O <-Propably that size litterly inside, its meant for a breather not to fill it." Enjoy! After replacing my tranny 4 times last month and trying different ways of filling it with oil i found this to be the easiest with the least amount of spillage and mess

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[Mike_C]

i assume you meant the fluid? i know you can use oil in it's place, but i don't want people to be confused - "there's oil in my tranny!?!?!"

[nocturnaldragon]

Mine calls for 5w-30 or 10w-40 engine oil in my honda service manual so, But im assuming theres not much difference between motor oil and manual transmission fluid all they do is lubricate the gears and what not like the oil does in the engine block........

[Mike_C]

ya ya, i know. i assume some people don't know that though, don't want to confuse them.

[743power]

Originally Posted by nocternaldragon

Mine calls for 5w-30 or 10w-40 engine oil in my honda service manual so, But im assuming theres not much difference between motor oil and manual transmission fluid all they do is lubricate the gears and what not like the oil does in the engine block........

Actually honda made a service bulletin and recomends using honda MTF now. Alot of dealers dont even stock it, and still use oil. I only use the MTf. It's about the same price as a quart of synthetic oil. It's alot thicker, and smells like absolute hell.

[chronodyne28]

Can anyone post pics on how to do this, please?

[lDanny]

last time i got it done.. they used some kind of pump?

[BLUE EH3]

cant u fill the tranny , but useing the hole on the side!!

[BLUE EH3]

[civictildeath]

i didnt realize this to be a problem that required a DIY writeup.

i would never use anything in my tranny other than tranny fluid. the call it engine oil for a reason, it goes in the engine!!

Originally Posted by 743power

Actually honda made a service bulletin and recomends using honda MTF now. Alot of dealers dont even stock it, and still use oil. I only use the MTf. It's about the same price as a quart of synthetic oil. It's alot thicker, and smells like absolute hell.

if it smells bad, it must be the better stuff ad the power steering fluid you can not use ATF fluid for because it screws it up im not sure why but was told this by very upstanding mechanics

Originally Posted by nocternaldragon

After replacing my tranny 4 times last month and trying different ways of filling it with oil i found this to be the easiest with the least amount of spillage and mess

sounds like you have a driving problem not a tranny problem.

[BLUE EH3]

What is a "the oil check bolt "

[b20eghatch]

i need some pics

[chrisw85]

motor oil is not the most suitable for use as a transmission lubricant. It does not contain the proper EP (extreme pressure) additives and other wear additives that a puropse designed transmission/gear/axle fluid does.

Try putting regular dino motor oil 5w30 into your transmission and then use a good quality synthetic like Amsoil 5w30 MTF synchromesh transmission fluid. Night and day difference. I used to run Redline MTL, but the amsoil MTF has been butter, more so than the MTL in my opinion.

[b20eghatch]

what does the spedo look like on the tranny i need a pic

[killakoupe]

Originally Posted by chronodyne28

Can anyone post pics on how to do this, please?

x2

[SkoundrelUSA]

Tom I borrowed your pics

Its really really easy.

Jack the car up

Then grab your 3/8" socket wrench and loosen this bolt (the "square one" that your socket wrench will fit)





See how it pours out



Then after its all out you can do it 2 ways

1) Thread the bolt back on, lower the car and fill it back up with 2.3-2.5 qts of oil(I'll get to the filling in a sec)

or Thread the bolt back on, but UNTHREAD the fill plug (picture below), lower the car so its "level" with the ground, begin filling it up until oil pours out the filler hole, and then thread it back

The reason I say this is because with the car down its more accurate as to how much oil is actually in there. But its also a pain in the ass IMO to keep jacking the car up and down and up and down.



Next unplug and unbolt the VSS.

To unbolt theres 1. I repeat 1 10mm bolt closest to the driver's side thats holding it onto the tranny.











Then just bolt back on the VSS and the drain bolt (depending on which way you decided to do it) and you're done! Don't forget to plug the VSS back on or there won't be any VTACK!!!!


Modified by SkoundrelUSA at 9:29 AM 9/16/2006

[HondamanXxX]

Does the VSS pop up? Mine is stuck to the tranny.

[HeikDiesel]

Originally Posted by HondamanXxX

Does the VSS pop up? Mine is stuck to the tranny.

Its just held in by the 6mm bolt and a o-ring

[HondamanXxX]

Wierd how I took out this bolt buts a bitch to get out. I wiggled and wiggled and not moving an inch!

[HeikDiesel]

Originally Posted by HondamanXxX

Wierd how I took out this bolt buts a bitch to get out. I wiggled and wiggled and not moving an inch!

maybe the metal galded to the transmission case. Try a pry bar and be easy maybe?

[hatch_]

my VSS is stuck to the tranny too. it wont move at all. is there any other way i can do this without the removal of the VSS?

[hatchling37]

Originally Posted by SkoundrelUSA

or Thread the bolt back on, but UNTHREAD the fill plug (picture below), lower the car so its "level" with the ground, begin filling it up until oil pours out the filler hole, and then thread it back

Modified by SkoundrelUSA at 9:29 AM 9/16/2006

Grab a long skinny tube, and attach it to a funnel and run it into the fill hole. Then dump in MTF or equivalent until it starts to run out of the hole. You can't overfill it, the exact level is where the hole bottom is. This is (like was said) kind of a pain, because then, if you aren't on a lift or lifted evenly on jackstands, you have to raise the front end to get under it to put the bolt back in there.

[jdm91CrxSi]

no mean to bump in your thread but about two weeks ago i changed my tranny oil. usually i just go with some regular highmilage 10w-30. usally a pretty smooth transaction.. but i wanted to change it up. some one told me to never put full synthetic in. why? so i had to prove them wrong. went to oriellys and bought two quarts of royal purple 10w-40 and put it in the tranny. and matter of fact i can feel a great diffrence in transactions. feels pretty damn smooth in the d15. sorry btw

[neocrynym]

Or you can just fill it via the transmission's vent at the top and eliminate all this removing the VSS mumbo jumbo. In the time it takes you to remove (and possibly damage) the VSS, you'd already have it filled through the vent.

[B18C5-EH2]

Originally Posted by jdm91CrxSi

no mean to bump in your thread but about two weeks ago i changed my tranny oil. usually i just go with some regular highmilage 10w-30. usally a pretty smooth transaction.. but i wanted to change it up. some one told me to never put full synthetic in. why? so i had to prove them wrong. went to oriellys and bought two quarts of royal purple 10w-40 and put it in the tranny. and matter of fact i can feel a great diffrence in transactions. feels pretty damn smooth in the d15. sorry btw

"I heard not to use full synthetic in my tranny, so the very next thing I did was go and put synthetic fluid in my tranny!"

The way that manual transmission synchros work is like a cone that another piece slides down onto and locks into place - this action requires a certain level of "friction" so to speak, and if all of that advertising about synthetic oil "bonding to parts" and " provides the best protection against friction" etc. is all true then that is why I'd agree that I'd never put synthetic oil in my transmission.

I personally use and recommend Genuine Honda MTF as evidenced by that pic up there of me pouring it into my Type R transmission. You spend less than synthetic oil, and you KNOW you're using what Honda/Acura intended to be in the transmission anyways.