Educate Me. I can't (don't want to do it myself) Please answer my questions on a 97 LX manual.

- Is it necessary?

- I heard manual trans just used motor oil in the trans?

- I plan to have a Honda dealer do it, is it better than other shops like PepBoys? Does Honda dealer do more?

- I got a coupon special for $99 from a Honda dealer, is this fair?

- What else should I look out for?

TIA

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GoLowDrew &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
- Is it necessary?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, absolutely. I do it every 30K, and thinking about doing it every 15. Notice the difference everytime.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GoLowDrew &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
- I heard manual trans just used motor oil in the trans?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

You can use a motor oil in it, but not the 5w-30 or multi grades that the engine uses. I beleive a 30W non-multi grade can be used, but why would you want to? Get penzoil or GM synchromesh or honda MTF. They're designed for manual trannies.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GoLowDrew &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
- I plan to have a Honda dealer do it, is it better than other shops like PepBoys? Does Honda dealer do more?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Have no idea, my car doesn't visit the shops.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GoLowDrew &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
- I got a coupon special for $99 from a Honda dealer, is this fair?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Good god! My a$$ hurts from looking at that price! It's a 10 minute job, and is easier than an oil change, no way it should cost that much. Open drain, wait for oil to come out, replace, remove fill plug, fill. It takes me longer to jack up the car and get the tools out than it does to do the actual change.

 

It is necessary to keep the transmission in good shape and shifting smooth. It is recommended to be done every 30k miles. Tranny fluid is about $5-$6 a quart...and you only need two for a SOHC civic engine. It is as easy as removing the drain bolt and draining the old fluid, and then loosening the fill bolt and putting the new stuff in. Definitely not worth $100.

 

I wish I have the coupon here at work. It said something like changing the filter and some other stuff too.

 

There is no filter for the manual tranny fluid...

 

For $100 you could get all the needed supplies AND tools and still come out ahead of the game.

2 qts MTF (from the dealer) - $12
Drain and Fill plug washers - $2
A pan for the old MTF - $10
A funnel with hose for the new MTF - $5
Jack+stand - $50
3/8" drive ratchet for the drain bolt - $5
17mm (or 19mm) for the fill bolt - $5

= $89

And then just take the old MTF to Autozone or the like - they take your old stuff and recycle it for free.

If that isn't a nice bonus (saving money + getting tools), you'll also be able to change your oil and save that money as well (assuming you went to the dealer for this item too).

 

ok heres a breakdown for you....


-Jack car up(i like to use the rad support but you can use whatever you want)

-Find drain plug for tranny...there are 2 plugs on the tranny 1 filler and 1 drain...the drain plug will be the lower of the 2 that is on an angle pointing down.

-Place drain pan underneath drain plug

-Get 3/8th inch ratchet and crack the plug loose and loosen the rest of it slowly with your hand

-Let drain until there is just a tiny line of fluid coming down with little air pockets in it

-hand tighten plug snuggly and then use 2 fingers with the 3/8th inch ratchet to snug it up.

-undo the filler plug and place the drain pan directly underneath the filler plug

-go into your engine bay and take out your speed sensor(should be 2 10mm bolts)

-place tranny funnel in and fill until fluid comes out of the filler plug

-bolt speed sensor back in

-hand tighten filler plug and then use 2 fingers with the rachet to snug it up

 

Here is a good write up by B18C5-EH2

link:
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=851527

I'm having trouble reposting the pics so follow the link

 

And I was just about to take mine to the stealership to get it changed...

How come there is no filter?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Foxcow &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">And I was just about to take mine to the stealership to get it changed...

How come there is no filter?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Because it's a manual transmission and manual transmissions don't have filters. I work for Valvoline and do transmission services all the time, both manual and automatic, and nearly 100% of automobiles manufactured today are internally or non-filtered. Another reason manual trannies don't have filters is because the margin for user-error on a manual is so high. For instance: you grind the **** out of second gear maybe twice a week (let's talk hypothetically), shedding reasonably large pieces of metal into the tranny fluid (10w30 Durablend, here). Reasonably large pieces of metal can destroy, clog or burst filters (I change oil all day...ask me how I know =p).

In the case of some cars, they have magnetic drain plugs to capture the shrapnel and keep it away from the gears after its been shed into the fluid. Hondas don't have this to my knowledge, although Spoon sells (reasonably priced, actually) sets of magnetic drain plugs that work really well. Regardless, I change mine every 5,000 miles or so (privelaged) and notice the difference every single time. I just use a semi-synthetic oil, too, so if you're paying for MTF or Synchromesh you'll probably be even further ahead of the game.

Oh, and fill it through the VSS .

 

Just a guess...but there isn't pressure inside the tranny to force the fluid through some filter - it just gets splashed around by all the moving parts inside.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Foxcow &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">And I was just about to take mine to the stealership to get it changed...

How come there is no filter?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Because there just isnt one... $100

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Foxcow &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">And I was just about to take mine to the stealership to get it changed...

How come there is no filter?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Because it doesn't need one. Where would the dirt and such be coming from?

 

Do it yourself man, it's as easy as this picture.

Remove drain bolt.
Remove fill bolt.
Let fluid come out.
Replace drain bolt.
Place new fluid through fill hole until fluid comes out of the fill hole.
Replace fill bolt.
Off you go.

 

kinda akward to fill from the side? Funnel with a hose should work fine I guess.
Do all the trannies look like that for the most part? I have a 90 Ex...

 

Why wouldnt you use the filler plug for filling? Is there a reason you go through the Speedo cable/sensor plug hole?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by warric_k &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why wouldnt you use the filler plug for filling? Is there a reason you go through the Speedo cable/sensor plug hole?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Because when you fill through the VSS hole there's no need for an awkward hose arrangement. Just stick the funnel in and pour.

 

$99 for a trans oil change!!!!

Damn, for that price I could do 5 changes with GM syncromesh.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by warric_k &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why wouldnt you use the filler plug for filling? Is there a reason you go through the Speedo cable/sensor plug hole?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Unless you know how much fluid your tranny takes, it isn't really quicker/easier to fill through the VSS. You still need to take out the fill plug so you know when the tranny is full. Some people break the VSS by over tighening it (just leave it be). By the time you loosen the fill plug, take out the VSS, fill through the VSS, replace VSS, replace fill plug, you could have removed fill plug, jimmy-rigged funnel w/ hose, filled tranny, then replaced the plug in half the time.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Archidictus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...In the case of some cars, they have magnetic drain plugs to capture the shrapnel and keep it away from the gears after its been shed into the fluid. <u>Hondas don't have this to my knowledge,[/] although Spoon sells (reasonably priced, actually) sets of magnetic drain plugs that work really well...</TD></TR></TABLE>

not true. i know 100% for sure that there is a magnet at the bottom of the tranny case.


but the extra spoon plug is def. worth keeping **** out of the gears!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SkRiBLaH &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

not true. i know 100% for sure that there is a magnet at the bottom of the tranny case.


but the extra spoon plug is def. worth keeping **** out of the gears! </TD></TR></TABLE>

That is correct...atleast on my D16Z6. It's #3 in the pic.


http://www.hondaautomotivepart...SI%29

 

DO NOT use 30W. What you want is good Synthetic 10W-30. Mobil 1 work great for me and I do it every 2 years.

 

Does anybody know the exact amount of fluid to put in a D-series tranny?

 

there is no magnet on the stock plug.

 

2-3 or just 2 quarts is all you need. not a lot