Transmission fluid change

[tk6214]

So I just hit 58K on my Sonic 2012 1.4 LT and I decided to look at the service intervals. I found out about the 45K intervals for transmissions. Surprise!
Found this great tutorial https://youtu.be/tT_0f1UlGVA on how to change the fluid.
how much fluid do I need? I haven't found an answer.
Please advise on this.

Also, is there any way we could group basic routine maintenance tasks on a sticky with fluid amounts, socket sizes, etc? The lack of a clear manual is killing me.

 

[Natesriv]

Your manual should have a section on capacities. EDIT....NOPE it doesn't. There's an online PDF of the manual and it recommends your dealer do the service...WTF?

But, good idea!

 

[6speedti]

Are we talking automatic or manual transmission????

 

[Natesriv]

Manual says 45K for both....

 

[minitrucking02]

i really want to redline swap at that interval but i have a 6yr 96k warranty soo.... that'll void transmission in a heartbeat lol. guess I'm stuck with OEM grind friendly fluid....

 

[SuperFudd]

Redline in a stick might not void the warrantee. I think I read that on this forum awhile back. Discuss it with your dealers service department.

 

[Natesriv]

We need to bring this to the forefront!!

A lot of us by now should be getting near or over the 45K recommendation to change our tranny fluids (Autos and sticks)

But there seems to be no "standard" on how

Anyone have links or real info on how to do both??

1: How to do an automatic? This might be easier since there will be a dipstick??

2: How do to do a manual? Drain plug at all?

I searched but didn't see a direct link.....

???

 

[6speedti]

From the service manual. Manual transmission.

Draining Procedure
Note:

The fluid check bolt at the front of the transmission may not be opened.
The transmission fluid drained out during the pre-delivery inspection may be re-used. New transmission fluid must be used during servicing work.
The transmission fluid must be brought up to operating temperature before draining.

Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle.
Remove the drivetrain and front suspension frame skid plate, if equipped. Refer to Drivetrain and Front Suspension Frame Skid Plate Replacement.


Clean away all dirt and debris from the transmission fluid drain fastener area.
Position an appropriate container under the transmission.
Remove the transmission fluid drain fastener (1).
Allow the transmission fluid to drain into the container.
Caution:

Refer to Fastener Caution.

Install a new transmission fluid drain fastener and tighten to 20 Y (15 lb ft)
.

Remove the container used to catch the used transmission fluid from under the vehicle.
Install the drivetrain and front suspension frame skid plate, if equipped. Refer to Drivetrain and Front Suspension Frame Skid Plate Replacement.
Filling Procedure

Lower the vehicle.
Lower the vehicle.
Remove the engine control module with the bracket from the battery tray. Refer to Engine Control Module Replacement for the 1.2L or 1.4L engine, or Engine Control Module Replacement for the 1.6L or 1.8L engine.
Clean away all dirt and debris from the transmission fluid fill fastener area.
Remove the transmission fluid fill fastener (1).
Fill the transmission with the appropriate amount of fluid. Refer to Fluid and Lubricant Recommendations and Manual Transmission Specifications.
Install a new transmission fluid fill fastener and tighten to 30 Y (22 lb ft)
.

Install the engine control module with the bracket to the battery tray. Refer to Engine Control Module Replacement for the 1.2L or 1.4L engine, or Engine Control Module Replacement for the 1.6L or 1.8L engine.

 

[Stew]

how much fluid do I need? I haven't found an answer.
Please advise on this.

2.5 quarts for the 6MT

 

[2014 Blue RS]

i really want to redline swap at that interval but i have a 6yr 96k warranty soo.... that'll void transmission in a heartbeat lol. guess I'm stuck with OEM grind friendly fluid....

What dues Redline swap mean? Could care less about warranty. If it's actually better.

 

[Papasonic]

What dues Redline swap mean? Could care less about warranty. If it's actually better.

Redline is merely a brand or manufacturer of a lubricant. The Redline swap merely means to replace the lubricant with the Redline brand.

 

[tk6214]

I have the Automatic.

 

[2014 Blue RS]

Is Redline akin to Royal Purple or Amsoil? I was thinking of using one these when it was time to change the tranny oil.

 

[Maddmatts]

So I just hit 58K on my Sonic 2012 1.4 LT and I decided to look at the service intervals. I found out about the 45K intervals for transmissions. Surprise!

There are 2 service schedules in the manual. The "Normal" interval for transmission fluid changes is 156,000km/97,500 mi.

The 72,000km/45,000 mi interval is for "Severe" use (think taxi/commercial or frequent towing).

 

[Natesriv]

Ahhhhhhhhhh !

 

[tk6214]

From the service manual. Manual transmission.

Draining Procedure
Note:

The fluid check bolt at the front of the transmission may not be opened.
The transmission fluid drained out during the pre-delivery inspection may be re-used. New transmission fluid must be used during servicing work.
The transmission fluid must be brought up to operating temperature before draining.

Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle.
Remove the drivetrain and front suspension frame skid plate, if equipped. Refer to Drivetrain and Front Suspension Frame Skid Plate Replacement.


Clean away all dirt and debris from the transmission fluid drain fastener area.
Position an appropriate container under the transmission.
Remove the transmission fluid drain fastener (1).
Allow the transmission fluid to drain into the container.
Caution:

Refer to Fastener Caution.

Install a new transmission fluid drain fastener and tighten to 20 Y (15 lb ft)
.

Remove the container used to catch the used transmission fluid from under the vehicle.
Install the drivetrain and front suspension frame skid plate, if equipped. Refer to Drivetrain and Front Suspension Frame Skid Plate Replacement.
Filling Procedure

Lower the vehicle.
Lower the vehicle.
Remove the engine control module with the bracket from the battery tray. Refer to Engine Control Module Replacement for the 1.2L or 1.4L engine, or Engine Control Module Replacement for the 1.6L or 1.8L engine.
Clean away all dirt and debris from the transmission fluid fill fastener area.
Remove the transmission fluid fill fastener (1).
Fill the transmission with the appropriate amount of fluid. Refer to Fluid and Lubricant Recommendations and Manual Transmission Specifications.
Install a new transmission fluid fill fastener and tighten to 30 Y (22 lb ft)
.

Install the engine control module with the bracket to the battery tray. Refer to Engine Control Module Replacement for the 1.2L or 1.4L engine, or Engine Control Module Replacement for the 1.6L or 1.8L engine.

You are amazing. Thank you.

 

[6speedti]

You are amazing. Thank you.

Your welcome but my two brothers deserve the credit.
Mr. COPY and Mr. PASTE. LOL....

 

[Stew]

i really want to redline swap at that interval but i have a 6yr 96k warranty soo.... that'll void transmission in a heartbeat lol. guess I'm stuck with OEM grind friendly fluid....

Just to throw it out there, I changed out my original fluid for Redline and it did not help my grind at all. About 20k miles or so later I changed it again to Amsoil something or other and it still grinds. I'm done changing it for a while. I know others have had success fixing the grind by changing fluids but sadly not me

 

[tainopayute]

I was reading this trend when I realized, "shoot, I just hit 90,000 miles and I haven't done a transmission fluid change". I drive a 2013 RS with a manual transmission. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to change the oil in that transmission so I decided to call the dealership to ask them. What they said was a little scary. They told me that I should have changed the transmission fluid when I hit 50,000 miles and that I should have read the car's manual when I first got the car. The scary part was when they told me that if I didn't do the transmission fluid change at 50,000 miles, that there's a good chance that when I put the new fluid in it, that it will probably start slipping. Then they told me that if the transmission would start slipping, it would not be covered by the warranty because this is considered to be a wear and tear part.... What? What really got me thinking that the service adviser might have been fishing for money was when he said "Don't mess with it, just bring the car in and let us handle it. Well, I should have done this back when I hit 50,000 miles but I hapen to be mechanically inclined.

Thanks to all you guys that have wrote about this and the information on this forum, I ended up doing the fluid change myself and I can say that so far I have no slippage in my transmission.

If I would have gone to the dealership, I'm sure that they would have found slippage,,, but the only thing slipping would have been the money out of my hands.

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

 

[Papasonic]

I was reading this trend when I realized, "shoot, I just hit 90,000 miles and I haven't done a transmission fluid change". I drive a 2013 RS with a manual transmission. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to change the oil in that transmission so I decided to call the dealership to ask them. What they said was a little scary. They told me that I should have changed the transmission fluid when I hit 50,000 miles and that I should have read the car's manual when I first got the car. The scary part was when they told me that if I didn't do the transmission fluid change at 50,000 miles, that there's a good chance that when I put the new fluid in it, that it will probably start slipping. Then they told me that if the transmission would start slipping, it would not be covered by the warranty because this is considered to be a wear and tear part.... What? What really got me thinking that the service adviser might have been fishing for money was when he said "Don't mess with it, just bring the car in and let us handle it. Well, I should have done this back when I hit 50,000 miles but I hapen to be mechanically inclined.

Thanks to all you guys that have wrote about this and the information on this forum, I ended up doing the fluid change myself and I can say that so far I have no slippage in my transmission.

If I would have gone to the dealership, I'm sure that they would have found slippage,,, but the only thing slipping would have been the money out of my hands.

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

Let me try to understand what you just said the service advisor told you: Because you didn't change the manual transmission lubricant at 50K miles, when and if you do replace the lubricant, the transmission would probably slip.

Where do these people that staff the GM dealers come from? How can someone whose occupation is automotive service, spew this kind of mistruth.

A manual transmission does not contain components that could cause it to slip; there are many other potential problems that a manual transmission could develop, but slippage is not one of them! The clutch assembly can slip if contaminated or worn, but that isn't related to lube replacement, and isn't part of the transmission.

It's good that you were able to perform the fluid replacement on your transmission yourself. I wish our dealers would be more honest and professional in their dealings with their customers, stop the BS, and stop the attempts to up-sell unnecessary service.