DIY - changing your transmission fluid/oil, M/T 7afe Options

[Batman722]

I changed the transmission fluid/oil in my 7afe recently and Manny (presure2) took some pics - thanks Manny
I was having some slight grinding going into 2nd gear in higher RPMs and I figured changing the tranny fluid would be a great idea. Since it has been changed, no more grinding

tools needed : ratchet, 24mm socket, 3-4qts transmission fluid/oil, oil drain pan, jack/stands
time : 30min - 1hr, depending on your mechanical skill level

DO NOT attempt this when engine is hot, wait until the engine is very cool/cold.


first you need to loosen this bolt (fill plug) with a ratchet and the 24mm socket

bolt removed


it is located here, it is facing the front of the car. The transmission is circled in yellow and the arrow is pointing to the bolt location

the bolts are usually very tight and could be difficult to loosen

next, jack up the front of the car (putting it on jack stands is always safer) and with the 24mm socket you need to loosen this bolt (drain plug)

Remove drain plug. The drain plug is located directly under the transmission. You may need to remove some of the plastic under the engine for easier access. Be sure to put the oil drain pan under the bolt when removing because the old fluid/oil will be pouring out.

now after the old oil has drained out (10 min later), replace the drain plug - make sure it is secure - and lower the car.

My personal choice
Pennzoil Synchromesh


pour 3-4qrts of the Synchromesh into the fill plug hole (you might want to use a long funnel or pour/squeeze from the bottle into the hole) until full - it will start pouring back out. I used just less than 3qrts



Once full, replace fill plug - make sure it is secure - and wipe up the excess that has spilt.

Done.

Notes :
- be sure to dispose of old fluid/oil properly
- according to the BGB - 7a transmission refill = 3.5qrts, 5s transmission refill = 2.6qrts
- this procedure should be the same/similar for both 7afe and 5sfe

[Defgeph]

Awesome work guy, I added to the sticky.

Now go tear up those streets.

DEF

[Silver94CelicaOw...]

Awesome job you guys. I've still been too lazy to change mine, but I think this how-to might just motivate me to get a move on and finally do it.

[slvrblt]

To make refilling the transmission eaiser, go to a marine store and buy a pump that is used to put gear oil into an outdrive. Just remove the fitting that comes on the end of the hose, insert the pump into the bottle and then pump the gear oil into the transmission with very little mess.

[TTE]

Its best oil for manual transmission. I tried it on my other car and it totaly cured the problem.

[blu94gt]

so on the 5sfe, the fill hole is pointed slightly downwards on the front of the case? i think i'm doin this right but i don't think fluid should have come out of the fill hole when i opened it up?

[Supersprynt]

Did you drain it first? If you open the fill hole while fluid is still in there some will come out.

[blu94gt]

Did you drain it first? If you open the fill hole while fluid is still in there some will come out.
[right][snapback]353475[/snapback][/right]

ok i was just making sure i wasnt doing something wrong (this is my first time doing tranny fluid) i was always told that the fill hole wouldnt have anything come out of it, i'll have to tell my friend he's an idiot now lol

[Defgeph]

Make sure you fill the tranny with all four tires on the ground. If the car is jacked up when you're filling it, there will be too much fluid in there.

So when somone opens the filler hole tranny fluid will come pouring out of the hole.

DEF

[blu94gt]

Make sure you fill the tranny with all four tires on the ground. If the car is jacked up when you're filling it,  there will be too much fluid in there.

So when somone opens the filler hole tranny fluid will come pouring out of the hole.

DEF
[right][snapback]353477[/snapback][/right]

yeah, i think that's what happend the last time it was filled. it's draining right now, i'll drop it down and finish the job up. thanks guys, i love this community

[Supersprynt]

What I usually do is get a funnel with a tube.

[Phat_99CeliGT]

i gotta do mine soon.
i use Redline though. i use it in all my probes and its great.
$7-8 a quart though.

[blu94gt]

I just used Coastal gear oil, it was all they had in stock still and I just needed to get it done. Instead of a funnel, they sold a hose that screws on to the bottle, you twist the base of the hose closed, get the hose in the fill hole and then turn the bottle upside down and fill the tranny, the whole job was really fast.

[lagos]

synchromesh owns all. ive been recomending it to everyone

[Starcraftjunkie]

I'm thinking about changing to synchromesh as well, but I got a question.
So if you do a summary of the steps:

-jack up car
-remove fill bolt
-put drain pan underneath drain hole
-remove drain bolt and let fluid drain out
-screw in drain bolt
-drop car back down
** here's my question **
-put in new tranny fluid
-screw in fill bolt

But if the car isn't jacked up, isn't it very difficult to get to the fill hole? It appears to be mostly accessible when you got the car jacked up. Or is it accessible from the hood area so you just have to reach in?

This post has been edited by Starcraftjunkie: Nov 24, 2005 - 5:05 PM

[trdevelopment]

im gettin ready to do this also im going to use lucas is anyone using it?

[lagos]

your going to need a funnel with a long hose to do it with the wheels on the ground. i just did mine while it was jacked up, it overfills it a little, but i havent noticed any negative side effects from it.

[Cutrara]

I just did mine, and WOW! What a difference, everything is so smooth. I couldn't find my jack, so I just drove up on a 2x4 under each wheel and had enough room.

I didn't need a funnel to fill it up. I dropped the bottle bottom first next to the transmission, took off the cap, put the top in the fill hole, and tilted it up. Sounds complicated, but it's easy and no mess

Thanks for the How-to Dustin.

[Batman722]

glad things worked out for you Alex

there is a lot of room to pour strait from the bottle for an ST, the GT is much tighter for space and a funnell would be easiest.

overall, changing it is pretty easy and well worth it.

[Predator]

damnit, seems to be much harder to change on the 3s-ge, it's really dark outside and i can't locate fill bolt.
Well i'll take a look tomorrow and hope it's not too hard to do, the tranny could really use a fluid change...