How often do you change fluid in your M5OD?

[country0001]

I started hearing some noises. So I decided to change fluids. Its been about 2 1/2 years with very low miles. A couple long trips but maybe 13,000 miles.

My fluid was grayish and now I'm concerned. Is this normal?

 

[Andy D]

You used Mercon? Yah, grayish ATF isnt a good sign. Have you been running through deep water?

 

[adsm08]

It should darken, but it shouldn't turn grey. Not in 13,000 miles.

 

[swynx]

Never. I need to. Suspect its the 300k mile lube...

I've noticed only real mechanics who care change there manual transmission fluid. Most people just do oil.

I've heard "there's no dipstick why should I change it? "

 

[adsm08]

I've heard "there's no dipstick why should I change it? "

Wow. That is the height of stupid there.


I usually change my own MT fluid when I do the clutch, so every 10 years/100K miles or so.

 

[swynx]

When I did my moms clutch on her celica I told her to buy fluid so I could change it. Damn thing is out so why not. She refused "its not needed" so I just spilled out all the fluid so she had to. Black stuff out red stuff in

 

[adsm08]

When I did my moms clutch on her celica I told her to buy fluid so I could change it. Damn thing is out so why not. She refused "its not needed" so I just spilled out all the fluid so she had to. Black stuff out red stuff in

I have a lot of customers who don't want to bother changing fluids on certain things that need done periodically, or just don't want to spend the money, so when I have to spill it for some other service I just build the fluid into the price of the job.

Differentials are the best ones to do that on from a flat-rate perspective because our diff fluid exchange service is a package price, the cost of the labor and the service pack (gear lube w/ friction modifier, sealer, brake clean) aren't separated and there is only about $10 difference in price between the diff service and just buying 4 quarts of Motorcraft gear lube. Basically the same price for the customer, I get an extra hour to do the job.

 

[country0001]

Maybe it was just darkened. Changed fluid in tcase too. I'll change it again in a couple weeks

 

[adsm08]

Maybe it was just darkened. Changed fluid in tcase too. I'll change it again in a couple weeks

Pour some through a white cloth. Once the fluid soaks in and starts to disappear if it leaves a dark stain it means there is a lot of metal in the fluid.

 

[Mark_88]

I did mine when I lifted the engine with the transmission attached and saw it bleeding out the tail...

Thought I killed it then...but I put some fresh blood in and it's been fine...except I heard it rattling last year and checked the level...it was down a bit so I did a trans~fusion at that point...

It's only got 443,000 Km on it so I don't think it should need anything for another 400,000 or so...

 

[Road Angels]

Grey can be from a shot tail shaft bushing and yoke wear, also from resting your hand on the shifter causing the fork to rub on the slider constantly. That would be magnetic, brass is from syncro rings, I would get brass from mine cause the syncros are shot, I never change mine I use old oil thats out of my wifes car after 3k in the engine, my rotors are about 5mm thick and sooon I will be getting a free sun roof from rust through, 300K and going strong, but I do change my timing belts

 

[wildbill23c]

How big of a pain is it to replace the fluid once you drain it? Looks like a huge pain to try and get the fluid in due to the lack of space to tip the container.

I've got the old TK-5, but I'm sure it would pretty similar to drain and refill. However, my other question is do I just pull the fill plug first of course then the drain plug, or should I just take the plate off the bottom and drain it that way?

I want to change the M/T fluid, and the front/rear differential fluids as well. So which fluid do I use?

 

[kryptonitecb]

I found that the easy way to full the transmission is to pull the "fill" plug. Then remove the shift mechanism and add fluid till it begins to come out of the fill plug. The button it all back up.

The transmission takes a specific class of mercron rated atf fluid. I don't remember which one but the tech library has it listed. The differentials take gear line, I use whatever cheap 90w I can find.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I547 using Tapatalk

 

[swynx]

I use a syphon pump till it comes out the fill plug

 

[country0001]

I used a pump a bought at Autozone for 8.99. You can easily pump it in from underneath the truck. The pump fits right in the jug.