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YACT: Transmission Fluid

K

Kipper

Diamond Member
I've got a Saturn 1997 SL2 sedan with a manual transmission, which was rebuilt approximately a year ago. It's coming time when I figure I should either a.) check and make sure the transmission fluid is up to spec, or b.) drain and refill it.

Is there a difference between "transmission lubricant" and "transmission fluid," and am I correct in assuming that manual trannies have no transmission fluid filter? Any help would be appreciated as I'm taking a 350-mile round trip in a few days followed up by a 700-mile round trip in a few weeks back up North for Thanksgiving.

Also, if any Saturn owner could tell me where the heck the transmission fluid dipstick is on this Saturn I'd appreciate it.

Edit: Also, any specified time period/mileage where it has to be changed would be appreciated. Rebuild was done around 110,000 miles, now it has around 119,250 on it.
 
Generally, manual transmissions do not have dipsticks to check the level. You basically fill it until it starts overflow out of the fill hole. They don't usually need to be changed quite as often as Automatic transmissions do either, and none that I've ever seen have a filter. Also, make sure to check with the manufacturer...some manual trannies use a gear lubricant only, while some use ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid).

🙂
 
Originally posted by: Insane3D
Generally, manual transmissions do not have dipsticks to check the level. You basically fill it until it starts overflow out of the fill hole. They don't usually need to be changed quite as often as Automatic transmissions do either, and none that I've ever seen have a filter. Also, make sure to check with the manufacturer...some manual trannies use a gear lubricant only, while some use ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid).

🙂
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Agreed.

See the dealer first.
 
MCD, since your Saturn is six years old and not an uncommon car, I bet your local used bookstore has a repair manual for cheep. This does not have to be a factory manual.
Most of these will go into great detail about servicing w/helpful pics...🙂
 
You will have to check your car's owner's manual. Some manual trans take engine oil, some trans fluid, some rear end fluid.
 
Most standards do not have dipstick. The transmission fluid level is usually checked at the fill plug. Just pull the plug and if the level of the fluid is at the bottom of the hole, and it doesn't appear dirty, you're fine.

If it is low then you should be checking for leaks at the axle seals, shift shaft seal, between the case halves or from the bellhousing(front seal).

I'm not sure what fluid is recommended for your car since I'm not at work to look it up, but I do suggest that you use a synthetic oil if available. This is especially true for manual transmissions that use ATF. Since ATF has such a low viscosity it doesn't perform well as a lubricant. I would suggest using a blend of synthetic oil with the ATF or replacing it entirely with synthetic oil.
 
Originally posted by: Eli
Why in God's name would they make a manual use ATF?
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Some standards use friction material similar to that used on the clutches of automatics for their syncronizers rings. But I have seen several other that use brass rings and still suggest using ATF. 😛

And believe it or not, most of the domestic transfer cases made over the last twenty years are using ATF. :Q WTF are they thinking? 😕
 
Originally posted by: TonyH
Originally posted by: Eli
Why in God's name would they make a manual use ATF?
Click to expand...
Some standards use friction material similar to that used on the clutches of automatics for their syncronizers rings. But I have seen several other that use brass rings and still suggest using ATF. 😛

And believe it or not, most of the domestic transfer cases made over the last twenty years are using ATF. :Q WTF are they thinking? 😕
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Bizzare...

I thought virtually all manual trannies used gear oil.. or at least normal engine oil.

Wasn't aware that any use ATF....

I guess we need to change its name simply to TF.
 
Originally posted by: Eli
Why in God's name would they make a manual use ATF?
Click to expand...
ATF is used in manual transmission to reduce friction, which can reduce fuel economy. The change was made in domestic around 1980, but six years after first Japanese vehicles.

ATF can lubricate a manual transmission just fine, since there are fewer loads on a manual gear set than an automatic.

Gear oil is still used in most heavy-duty applications because of the stress these transmissions and transfer cases endure.

Most farm tractor transmissions have been using an ATF type of oil since the sixties.
 
If it was rebuilt a year ago, you're definitely not due yet (they have to have put new lube in when they rebuilt it). Generally the lube in a standard transmission is good for a 60,000 mile interval at the very least, and generally 90,000+ miles.

ZV
 
Originally posted by: Quixfire
Originally posted by: Eli
Why in God's name would they make a manual use ATF?
Click to expand...
ATF is used in manual transmission to reduce friction, which can reduce fuel economy. The change was made in domestic around 1980, but six years after first Japanese vehicles.

ATF can lubricate a manual transmission just fine, since there are fewer loads on a manual gear set than an automatic.

Gear oil is still used in most heavy-duty applications because of the stress these transmissions and transfer cases endure.

Most farm tractor transmissions have been using an ATF type of oil since the sixties.
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Well..... ya learn something new every day.

Like I said, I guess we should just change it's name to TF. 😛
 
Little off topic... was it Chrysler a while back who started making/using BLUE ATF? It was basically Dexron II ATF with blue dye instead of red dye.
 
Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Little off topic... was it Chrysler a while back who started making/using BLUE ATF? It was basically Dexron II ATF with blue dye instead of red dye.
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GM uses a blue fluid for the AutoTrac T-cases... we call it "Smurf Fluid"

 
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