Just changed my manual transmission fluid...

[Yuriman]

...and it feels like I have a brand new box. Transmission is a Y21 originally mated to a Honda B16A. Total miles on the transmission are approximately 200,000. Though I've only owned the car for around 20k miles, I have doubts that the tranny fluid was ever changed before. The old stuff came out a dark brown with a very strong burnt odor. New fluid was Honda MTF and was close to clear. No metal shavings or sludge came out, thankfully, but the old fluid was definitely old.

I'm not terribly familiar with the internal workings of a transmission, but shifting into first while rolling at any speed was basically out of the question and shifting to second was difficult on occasion. After changing the fluid and driving for a few minutes, the gears began to slip in and out much more smoothly and easily. It feels like I got a brand new transmission.

The fill-bolt was quite stuck and I ended up lowing the car down on a breaker bar to knock it loose (it probably had not been unscrewed in 19 years), but once I had it off it was a 10 minute operation to drain and fill.


Semi-related images, as a thread is no fun with pictures:

How often do you change your manual / automatic transmission fluid? Do you follow factory recommendation?

 

[chin311]

I bought my Altima with 39k on it and changed over the Manual Trans gear oil to Redline synthetics and OH MAN what a difference, shifts like butter. Will probably continue to change it every 30k or so.

 

[Raduque]

Over 110 thousand miles on my mom's Eclipse GT 5spd and the MTF has never been changed. She bought it with 35k on the clock, and it still shifts like new.

I'll do a backyard flush and filter change on my 4R70E once my truck hits 110-115 thousand miles.

 

[T_K]

50K. New fluid feels quite a bit smoother than 50k fluid. If it wasn't such a pain to swap, I'd probably shorten the interval until it felt virtually the same after the flush.

 

[SearchMaster]

I have a 6g Accord and they are known for their bad transmissions so I do it yearly. Thanks for the reminder - I need to do it or have it done again (I had someone else do it last year, might have more time this year).

 

[Xecuter]

1999 Miata with 100k - I put Motorcraft full synthetic in it and she shifts like a hot knife slicing butter

 

[ThatsABigOne]

Oh wow. Did not know that many changed transmission fluids that frequently. My 1998 Acura's(182k miles) fluid has never been changed and it still shifts smooth.

 

[mvbighead]

Actually, this sounds like something I need to do on all of my vehicles.

Other than gasket, filter, and oil, anything else one should do when changing the ATF?

 

[Yuriman]

Actually, this sounds like something I need to do on all of my vehicles.

Other than gasket, filter, and oil, anything else one should do when changing the ATF?

Clean the air filter and new plugs can't hurt.

 

[JCH13]

I did both of my Miatas with Redline MTF, somewhat better than whatever was in there before.

Some manual transmissions, and automatic transmissions, are filled with oil that's good for the useful life of the transmission, thus some never need to be changed.

 

[Zargon]

every 50 k or so I try and do it

cheap insurance

I did both of my Miatas with Redline MTF, somewhat better than whatever was in there before.

Some manual transmissions, and automatic transmissions, are filled with oil that's good for the useful life of the transmission, thus some never need to be changed.

yeah I wouldnt ever do that. they say that because they will probably be fine past 100k and the powertrain warranty (IMO)

its not that expensive or hard to do

 

[JCH13]

every 50 k or so I try and do it

cheap insurance



yeah I wouldnt ever do that. they say that because they will probably be fine past 100k and the powertrain warranty (IMO)

its not that expensive or hard to do

Agreed.