DIY Manual Trans fluid change (pics)

[FFPM73]

I changed my M6 fluid today and wow what a breeze. I used Royal Purple Synchromax roughly 4.0 qts. See pictures below, I used 4 ft 5/16 clear tubing attached to the tip. I fed the tubing up through the engine compartment which is much easier than trying to use a pump from below. I think Chevrolet mixed up the amount of fluid needed. If you look at the last picture you can see I drained about 3.5 qts. I tried to squeeze 4.2 qts in but the last .2 was on the floor. I must say shifting is so smooth, I kind of wished I would have done this back when I did the Diff and oil change.

[jag107]

wow! Thanks for the writeup and pics, I'll be doing this too now!

[mtcwby]

It takes 4.2 qts, but you have to remember that there are oil cooler lines that run up to the radiator and also the cooler itself. Only way to drain the cooler is to disconnect the lines where they go into the tranny and then squirt fresh fluid into one line until you see clean fluid come out the other one.
Without doing the cooler it will only take about 3.9 qts just for the tranny.

[Ject]

I heard to fully change the tranny oil that you need to disconnect a line at the oil cooler then start the car and put it in Drive to kinda flush the system.

True? False?

[Dave2SSRS]

Originally Posted by Ject

I heard to fully change the tranny oil that you need to disconnect a line at the oil cooler then start the car and put it in Drive to kinda flush the system.

True? False?

I do not know the answer.. but my gut and sack say... BAD IDEA! I mention sack because if I tried that and screwed something up.. the wife would apply a nice even coat of tennis shoe to the sack!

[Ject]

Originally Posted by Dpsyphered

I do not know the answer.. but my gut and sack say... BAD IDEA! I mention sack because if I tried that and screwed something up.. the wife would apply a nice even coat of tennis shoe to the sack!

Well Reason I say that is because my dealership told me to drain my transmission fluid, then fill it almost full.... then put a hose on the return line of the tranny cooler and run it to a 1gallon jug like a milk jug and drain about 1 gallon of fluid by starting the car and putting it in D... should see it go from a milky/hazey to a nice clean pinky color and that's when you stop.

Sounded odd to me cause I had never done it before but Im somewhat inclined to 50/50 trust someone from the service shop of the dealership.

[Dave2SSRS]

Originally Posted by Ject

Well Reason I say that is because my dealership told me to drain my transmission fluid, then fill it almost full.... then put a hose on the return line of the tranny cooler and run it to a 1gallon jug like a milk jug and drain about 1 gallon of fluid by starting the car and putting it in D... should see it go from a milky/hazey to a nice clean pinky color and that's when you stop.

Sounded odd to me cause I had never done it before but Im somewhat inclined to 50/50 trust someone from the service shop of the dealership.

It does sound a bit odd but the guys here will straighten it out for ya. I am interested to know as well!

[Camaro2SSLS3]

This is for a manual trans, not auto,

Originally Posted by Ject

I heard to fully change the tranny oil that you need to disconnect a line at the oil cooler then start the car and put it in Drive to kinda flush the system.

True? False?

[Ject]

Originally Posted by Camaro2SSLS3

This is for a manual trans, not auto,

I am aware of that, I still have a valid question. May very well apply to Manuals (1st gear would be a drive gear just fyi.) Concept is still all the same.

[v6sonoma]

Um does the M6 even have lines? I thought it was a sealed system?

[wylde1]

Originally Posted by Ject

I am aware of that, I still have a valid question. May very well apply to Manuals (1st gear would be a drive gear just fyi.) Concept is still all the same.

It's actually not the same at all... Auto trannys use fluid pressure to engage clutches that spin gears. Depending on the engine load/driveshaft speed etc the fluid pressure changes. Changes in pressure selects different gears. Because of this, the fluid heats up alot more and they need to cool it to keep it running efficiently. (this is why auto tranny's are less efficient. Energy is lost to pressure and heat)

In manual tranny's the fluid is there strictly to lubricate the gears. The lower part of the gears are in a bath of oil and the oil is "sticky" so when the gears spin the bring oil with them. (and basically fling it everywhere inside so everything stays good and oily) There is no pressure inside the tranny, and therefore no way to run an oil cooler. Manual tranny's do not have oil coolers, you would have to install a pump of some kind.



there might be a couple reasons you couldn't get 4.2 qts in there. Oil hang up is one. everything in the tranny is covered in oil and the EP additive makes the oil stick to gears to create boundary protection. spread oil all over all the gears you'd probably add up to .2 qts easy that you won't get out. Also the location of the drain plug. If the car isn't tilted towards the hole to drain every last drop, some oil will remain on the flat level surface of the trans bottom.

So if you got 4 qts in there and it calls for 4.2 you have nothing to worry about that's perfectly normal. Happy driving!

[8ty8 ls1]

why is this in the engine section? i'm pretty sure this a transmission thread, and should be in the transmission section??

[J-Rod6410]

Quote: Manual tranny's do not have oil coolers, you would have to install a pump of some kind.





Look again There are cooler lines coming off the M6 tranny going to the radiator. I don't know if there is a pump in there but the cooler lines are there

On the other hand I wouldn't worry about the .2 or .3 fluid in the lines. It wont make any difference. If you really wanna get technical you could disconnect both lines at the tranny, blow compressed air through one of the lines so it comes out the other, all while making a big ass mess then reinstall the lines, drive the car, then topp it off again. Damn that's just too much shit to do

[Ject]

Originally Posted by v6sonoma

Um does the M6 even have lines? I thought it was a sealed system?

I'm not a tranny guy so i have no clue. I don't even know where the cooler would be for the trans. I'm use to them being in front of the radiator.

Originally Posted by wylde1

There is no pressure inside the tranny, and therefore no way to run an oil cooler. Manual tranny's do not have oil coolers, you would have to install a pump of some kind.

So.. manual have no cooling device at all?

Originally Posted by jrrod6410

Look again There are cooler lines coming off the M6 tranny going to the radiator.

Doe they really? I don't have a manual to look up under and see.