DIY: Changing Manual Transmission Fluid

[alancp]

Hello All SI owners again, i just changed my 07 Si tranny fluid to amsoil and it was also overfilled. the crush washer sizes are 20mm top fill hole and 14mm bottom drain plug. i could barely get my hand up in there to remove and replace fill bolt. My car needs a long bath so i wont test it until later.
have a good one later alan

[usakicksass]

Quicky lube wont do my MTF change, they say it is a "specialty" oil change. Honda in Vancouver,Wa. wont do it because it aint Honda MTF. The Honda parts guy did read me a private online Honda bulletin that stated the gear shift problem and that Honda did reformulate thier MTF for this problem. If your '07 was made after about Dec. of '06 you have it. According to Mike the parts guy.

[Alek]

Thanks everyone for the write up. I changed my tranny fluid today with Amsoil Synthetic Synchromesh and it was very easy. I don't know if it was overfill or not because I didn't want to take the chance of doing a mess, so what I did was only loose the fill plug (I didn't removed it) and then drain the oil. I went for a small ride and so far shifting feels smoother and no problems with third gear but I would have to test it for a few days to see how it goes. Thanks everyone.

[Alek]

Originally Posted by usakicksass

Quicky lube wont do my MTF change, they say it is a "specialty" oil change. Honda in Vancouver,Wa. wont do it because it aint Honda MTF. The Honda parts guy did read me a private online Honda bulletin that stated the gear shift problem and that Honda did reformulate thier MTF for this problem. If your '07 was made after about Dec. of '06 you have it. According to Mike the parts guy.

Mine was manufactured in July 07 and I was having the 3rd gear problem with only 3,300 miles. Don't know if is true but I read on another forum from someone that took the car to the dealer a few times until they finally opened the transmission that Honda tried to fix the 3rd gear problem in 2007 models but the fix didn't work and they are working on another fix. That guy had the 2007 model with the fix and it was having the issue.

[Zee]

Changed Engine oil and Transmission to Amsoil Synthetic.

Interestingly, I got about 1.7L in, Amsoil's site says the capacity is 1.5L.

It does shift better.

Here is a hint, drive up the front on ramps, then jack up the back until level (About 4-6") ... your rear tires will still be in the ground, so you parking brake still keeps everything nice and solid.


I checked the level of the car with a level and the level was perfect

Mine was also way overfilled from the factory, and it smelled really gross. It was a clear yellowish color. I wonder if they pissed in it

[Wally]

Originally Posted by Zee

Here is a hint, drive up the front on ramps, then jack up the back until level (About 4-6") ... your rear tires will still be in the ground, so you parking brake still keeps everything nice and solid.

Nice Idea! I also have some Amsoil on the way too. I'm interested in how it would change too.

Thanks for the tip!
-W

[ErichPryde]

Originally Posted by Zee

Changed Engine oil and Transmission to Amsoil Synthetic.

Interestingly, I got about 1.7L in, Amsoil's site says the capacity is 1.5L....



Mine was also way overfilled from the factory, and it smelled really gross. It was a clear yellowish color. I wonder if they pissed in it

I believe your transmission should hold slightly more than 1.6L, so Amsoil is slightly off. and the factory stuff DOES smell absolutely rank, doesn't it! it gushed all over the place when I got the fill bolt off and got all over the concrete floor in my garage. I could smell it for weeks...

[Zee]

Originally Posted by ErichPryde

I believe your transmission should hold slightly more than 1.6L, so Amsoil is slightly off. and the factory stuff DOES smell absolutely rank, doesn't it! it gushed all over the place when I got the fill bolt off and got all over the concrete floor in my garage. I could smell it for weeks...

I had it run down my arm... took a LOT of soap to get that smell off me.

[shutter13]

diff/gear oil is the smelliest... engine oil smells GOOD compared to those!

[dwm5f5]

Changed my MTF to Amsoil today...the hardest part of the whole process was finding someone who stocked the stuff. It was much easier in this car than my old 99 Ex. I used a BA syringe from Autozone (8.99) and it worked like a charm...after about 1.8qt it started to drip out of the fill opening. For the record, I have an '07 made in March and at about 10000mi 3rd started not going in (that's what she said). Took it for a quick spin and it seemed much smoother, it's supposed to snow here on thurs after today's 75 deg weather (missouri weather sucks)...so we'll see how the cold affects it.

Great DIY! Thanks!

[CatScratched]

I just ordered from Amsoil online and I'm looking forward to doing this.
Cold weather + Honda MTF = frustrated me.

Any issues doing this change in the cold weather? I.E. below 50 degrees F?

Thanks to Batang for the DIY! Repped accordingly!

[GlxyGry06Si]

Originally Posted by CatScratched

I just ordered from Amsoil online and I'm looking forward to doing this.
Cold weather + Honda MTF = frustrated me.

Any issues doing this change in the cold weather? I.E. below 50 degrees F?

Thanks to Batang for the DIY! Repped accordingly!

if i were you i would get the magnetic drain bolts now so you can change them out when you change the tranny fluid. i have to buy more tranny fluid soon cuz im going to do the same thing.

i dont know what you need advice for with the cold weather. your engine should be warm from driving. keep the new tranny fluid somewhere warm so it wont be so thick.

[CatScratched]

Originally Posted by GlxyGry06Si

if i were you i would get the magnetic drain bolts now so you can change them out when you change the tranny fluid. i have to buy more tranny fluid soon cuz im going to do the same thing.

I had read about those, but I hadn't thought of getting them. Good idea!

Originally Posted by GlxyGry06Si

i dont know what you need advice for with the cold weather. your engine should be warm from driving. keep the new tranny fluid somewhere warm so it wont be so thick.

That answers my question. I'll drive it a while to warm the tranny up before the change.

Thanks!

Tried to rep you again... must spread it around first. Rep for everyone!!!

[GlxyGry06Si]

Originally Posted by CatScratched

I had read about those, but I hadn't thought of getting them. Good idea!



That answers my question. I'll drive it a while to warm the tranny up before the change.

Thanks!

Tried to rep you again... must spread it around first. Rep for everyone!!!

that happens a lot. your welcome man. i wish someone would have told me.

[BATANG CITY JAIL]

pics are back..thanks 2fast my baby....

[tite681]

Someone told me that 5W 30 Amsoil MTF is too thin for the Si tranny. Suggests that I go with 75W-90 Amsoil MTG. What do you guys think?

[Tom1222]

Originally Posted by tite681

Someone told me that 5W 30 Amsoil MTF is too thin for the Si tranny. Suggests that I go with 75W-90 Amsoil MTG. What do you guys think?

The Amsoil MTF is fine. The 5W30 is probably the equivalent Motoroil weight. The other 75W90 is the Gear Oil rating. They are calculated differently. A 75W90 gear oil rating is about equal to a 10W30 Motoroil rating.

Personally, I would go with Redline MT90.

[racerx78]

[dwm5f5]

Just an update...I replaced my MTF awhile ago (1+ week) and there is a noticeable difference in shift quality, especially in cold conditions. Third gear has not given me ANY trouble at all. However, there is slightly more effort required for the 5-6 shift, but it's EXTREMELY minor. Amsoil has my vote...

[GlxyGry06Si]

Originally Posted by tite681

Someone told me that 5W 30 Amsoil MTF is too thin for the Si tranny. Suggests that I go with 75W-90 Amsoil MTG. What do you guys think?

i have tried the new honda stuff, royal purple and now amsoil. amsoil was the only thing that has fixed the car. royal purple is the best.