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How to change oil on Manual Transmission ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter lvmustanggt
  • Start date Start date Apr 12, 2006
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lvmustanggt

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Apr 9, 2006
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Las Vegas
Apr 12, 2006
#1
  • Apr 12, 2006
  • #1
I bought my 02 mustang on 04 and it's been 2 years. I have 34000 miles on it and thinking to change manual transmission oil but don't know how. I called Midas and they want $200.00 for a stupid oil change as they called they manual transmission oil flush.

When do you have to change manual transmission oil? How hard is it to do by your self ? Do you have to jack car on 4 jack stand or just 2 is fine ? Any website with picture ? How much oil ?

Thanks in adavance
 
B

bdcardinal

tree hugger
Jun 10, 2003
3,612
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santa barbara, CA
Apr 12, 2006
#2
  • Apr 12, 2006
  • #2
4 jackstands would be nice cause you can get it higher. on the side of the trans you will see a fill plug, take that out, then undo the drain plug, and fill through the fill plug.
 
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white-04

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Apr 1, 2005
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Owings, MD
Apr 12, 2006
#3
  • Apr 12, 2006
  • #3
At your mileage, I can't see needing a flush. Drain and refill sounds adequate. There is a drain plug on the bottom of the tranny, I believe a 1/4" or 1/2" drive ratchet fits in the square.

I was lucky enough to do my tranny oil when I changed out my shifter and poured in the new stuff through the shifter hole... There is apparently a fill hole on the side of the transmission to pour in the new oil. Do a search, there is some info on how to do that with a funnel connected to a long tube(without using a pump). I don't do much on my car, but this one isn't too bad.
 
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bdcardinal

tree hugger
Jun 10, 2003
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santa barbara, CA
Apr 12, 2006
#4
  • Apr 12, 2006
  • #4
btw there is no such thing as a manual trans flush.
 

sgarlic

Founding Member
Apr 21, 2001
3,085
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56
Apr 12, 2006
#5
  • Apr 12, 2006
  • #5
I think it's a 3/8" drive ratchet that fits in there.
 
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itshowmuch

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Sep 15, 2002
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fort myers
Apr 13, 2006
#6
  • Apr 13, 2006
  • #6
white-04 had it right. easiest mess free way to change your tranny oil is from the top, right through the shifter mount.

*remove plug and drain tranny
*while the tranny is draining
*remove shifter bezel
*remove shifter
*clean off old gasket sealant
*lay down a towel or two to protect interior
*put teh drain cap back in
*pour in the good stuff (i prefer mobil 1 or royal purple)
*reinstall reverse order

after having my tranny down a few times. i prefer to change out my tranny fluid this way. jacking the car up on stands and using that mickey mouse filler hose/pump contraption and spilling fluid all over yourself and the floor you will eventually come to the conclusion that pulling the shifter was the right way to go.

and you will need 3.25 quarts of fluid. the manual says 6.4 - 6.7 pints of fluid
 

Give Me TP

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Jun 17, 2004
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Republic of Texas
Apr 13, 2006
#7
  • Apr 13, 2006
  • #7
^^^^^ what he just said

since you have a Tremec 3650 changing the transmission fluid is a good idea. I used 3.2 quarts (3.0L) of DEXRON III in mine based on tech advice put out by Tremec a few years ago.
 
2

2002GreyGT

Member
Jun 10, 2003
481
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Raleigh, NC
Apr 13, 2006
#8
  • Apr 13, 2006
  • #8
I brought my fluid to a Jiffy Lube and gave the guy $20 and they did it for me as I watched.

For $20 let them get all messy and play with the pump.

Its not like they can really mess up taking two plugs out and puttin gin fluid. I just never leave the bay and watch them the whole time.

~K
 

HoustonGT

Gilded Gelding
Apr 6, 2003
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Houston
Apr 13, 2006
#9
  • Apr 13, 2006
  • #9
Yea, doing it through the shifter is the easiest way. I'll be doing it when i install my MGW and will fill it with either Mobil or Redline synthetic trans. fluid.
 

GDawg

Founding Member
Mar 22, 2002
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Nevada
Apr 13, 2006
#10
  • Apr 13, 2006
  • #10
At what mileage should you replace it? I'm just turning over 70K and haven't replaced it yet.
 

lvmustanggt

New Member
Apr 9, 2006
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Apr 13, 2006
#11
  • Apr 13, 2006
  • #11
itshowmuch said:
white-04 had it right. easiest mess free way to change your tranny oil is from the top, right through the shifter mount.

*remove plug and drain tranny
*while the tranny is draining
*remove shifter bezel
*remove shifter
*clean off old gasket sealant
*lay down a towel or two to protect interior
*put teh drain cap back in
*pour in the good stuff (i prefer mobil 1 or royal purple)
*reinstall reverse order

after having my tranny down a few times. i prefer to change out my tranny fluid this way. jacking the car up on stands and using that mickey mouse filler hose/pump contraption and spilling fluid all over yourself and the floor you will eventually come to the conclusion that pulling the shifter was the right way to go.

and you will need 3.25 quarts of fluid. the manual says 6.4 - 6.7 pints of fluid
Click to expand...


Ty all and ty it'showmuch for talking time to give me great direction. I am thinking to change my transmission oil and motor oil on sunday.
 

HoustonGT

Gilded Gelding
Apr 6, 2003
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Houston
Apr 13, 2006
#12
  • Apr 13, 2006
  • #12
lvmustanggt said:
Ty all and ty it'showmuch for talking time to give me great direction. I am thinking to change my transmission oil and motor oil on sunday.
Click to expand...
Switch em both to synthetic...Thats what i'll be doing this week
 

Stang|ess

seeking cyber partner(s)
Oct 18, 2003
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Hawaii
Apr 13, 2006
#13
  • Apr 13, 2006
  • #13
GDawg said:
At what mileage should you replace it? I'm just turning over 70K and haven't replaced it yet.
Click to expand...

About 55k miles ago? I change mine every 15k, makes a big difference.
 

BurningRubber

10 Year Member
Dec 6, 2004
1,865
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Apr 14, 2006
#14
  • Apr 14, 2006
  • #14
What all is involved in taking the trim peice and shifter out to refill the fluid from the interior? How do you get the trim peices off.. pop them away with a scredriver? As for the shifter... never taken one out, is it hard?

I have two ramps, and two jack stands... So I could probaly get the car up enough to get to the drain plug. I dont want to deal with the PITA pump bottle to get the fluid back in the fill hole. I had to do that with my transfercase on my 4x4 and it wasnt hard, but it was very annoying and definatly left me with my arms aching.
 

lvmustanggt

New Member
Apr 9, 2006
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Las Vegas
Apr 14, 2006
#15
  • Apr 14, 2006
  • #15
For my motor oil I allways use 5w20 mobil 1 full synthetic.
Whic one is for my transmission?

Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF OR Mobil Multi-Vehicle ATF ? I don't know which one is best or right ? Help
Cannot find royal purple pepboys , checkers nor autozone
 
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beaterstanger

New Member
Nov 28, 2004
13
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0
Philly
Apr 14, 2006
#16
  • Apr 14, 2006
  • #16
itshowmuch said:
white-04 had it right. easiest mess free way to change your tranny oil is from the top, right through the shifter mount.

*remove plug and drain tranny
*while the tranny is draining
*remove shifter bezel
*remove shifter
*clean off old gasket sealant
*lay down a towel or two to protect interior
*put teh drain cap back in
*pour in the good stuff (i prefer mobil 1 or royal purple)
*reinstall reverse order

after having my tranny down a few times. i prefer to change out my tranny fluid this way. jacking the car up on stands and using that mickey mouse filler hose/pump contraption and spilling fluid all over yourself and the floor you will eventually come to the conclusion that pulling the shifter was the right way to go.

and you will need 3.25 quarts of fluid. the manual says 6.4 - 6.7 pints of fluid
Click to expand...
Yup! I love royal purple, it took away the grind that i had from 2nd to 3rd.
 

lvmustanggt

New Member
Apr 9, 2006
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0
Las Vegas
Apr 14, 2006
#17
  • Apr 14, 2006
  • #17
Beaterstanger which royal purple did you use atf or ?
 
I

itshowmuch

Founding Member
Sep 15, 2002
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fort myers
Apr 14, 2006
#18
  • Apr 14, 2006
  • #18
What all is involved in taking the trim peice and shifter out to refill the fluid from the interior? How do you get the trim peices off.. pop them away with a scredriver? As for the shifter... never taken one out, is it hard?
Click to expand...

out of the hundreds of articles, probably the best write up i have run across is...

http://www.mustangworld.com/ourpics/fcar/shift1.htm

the pics and the tech info is perfect. if this is your first time taking a shifter off it might take you 30-45 mins. average time to do a shifter is about 20-30 mins. good luck let us know how it comes out.
 

BurningRubber

10 Year Member
Dec 6, 2004
1,865
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58
Apr 14, 2006
#19
  • Apr 14, 2006
  • #19
itshowmuch said:
out of the hundreds of articles, probably the best write up i have run across is...

http://www.mustangworld.com/ourpics/fcar/shift1.htm

the pics and the tech info is perfect. if this is your first time taking a shifter off it might take you 30-45 mins. average time to do a shifter is about 20-30 mins. good luck let us know how it comes out.
Click to expand...


Thanks for that man, I appreciate it.
 
D

DerekStangGT

My package is in the mail!
Feb 18, 2003
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36
Apr 14, 2006
#20
  • Apr 14, 2006
  • #20
lvmustanggt said:
Beaterstanger which royal purple did you use atf or ?
Click to expand...
i bought Royal Purple Syncromax from mustangtuning.com. good stuff, as are all their products.

OT
i use Royal Purple Fluids for everything on my car. syncromax in the tranny, 5W 20 synthetic in the engine, 75W 140 max gear for the rear. if only they made coolant and brake fluid....
 
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