JDog

I have a 2001 Civic EX with 5 speed trans. Any body know how to change the transmission oil in it.
And can I replace it with synthetic. Thanks JDog

PESTLNC

Check your owner's manual for directions and specifications. 5-speeds take gear lube, not transmission fluid...I think GL-5. I believe you can use Mobil 1 75w90, but I'd double check the manual first. Also, remember the clutch fluid and gear lube are two different things.

DarkCivic

iTrader: (1)

Yikes. First off, it's tranmission fluid. Are you trying to change your tranmission fluid or your motor oil?

JDog

PESTLNC

Whooops, my bad. Was recently reading too much about differentials. Honda wants you to use their "special" manual transaxle fluid, but you can use regular 10W30 motor oil. Amsoil makes a grade SH 10W30 that should work.

As for clutch fluid, Honda again wants you to use their "special" DOT 3 fluid, and warns that other brands will cause corrosion. Any DOT3/4 should also work.

JDog

I just looked at my owners manual. Says to use Honda Manual Transmission fluid OR 10W-30 OR
10W-40. My problem is where is the drain bolt. You know the bolt or thing like when you change the motor oil. How do you get the old oil out of the transmission. Thanks JDog

PESTLNC

Not sure, but it's probably under the car in the same area/side as the filler bolt.

HeRbaLuS

the drain is on the passenger side you still see a bolt that has a slot for a 1/4inch ratchet and you look directy above you will see a 17mm bolt that is the FILL .....crack the fill first b4 your drain .

PESTLNC

HeRbaLuS, is the bolt on the differential?

Ronin

The trans fluid shouldn't need to be replaced until 60k miles under the severe schedule (120k for the normal schedule). Are you at 60k miles already?

PESTLNC

With all the talk about the auto trannys failing at 30K, I don't think a 60K interval is wise. Keep in mind, Honda's idea of severe is Mommy driving the kids to school in cold weather. Most of us "drive hard" which Honda considers cause for voiding our warranties. We should all be following a scheduel closer to Ford's recommendations for police and fleet vehicles.

PESTLNC

OK, I finally got it right. I was originally correct in thinking that it takes gear oil. For example, you can use Red Line Manual Transmission Lube which is a 75W/80W GL-4 gear oil. That turns out to be the same as SAE 10W30 engine oil viscosity.

Grey

iTrader: (61)

Ah, good to know. Yeah, my engine oil was as bad as my sister's at 3,000miles compared to her 5,000 miles. That's 3/5ths as long as it takes while driving mildly, so I would say that it's a good idea to change your transmition fluid at 36,000 miles. I guess that's what I'll do.

megacivicfan

Not many posts on 5spd trans oil changes! I don't drive mine too hard, and I'm at 67,000 miles. I noticed that someone said there was a weight specification to the trans fluid. I have the owner's manual, plus the BIG service manual I ordered from the dealer, and I could not find anything about what the viscosity of the fluid was, it just said to use Honda MTF. I'd like to change it soon, because late winter, even up to now with the weather warming up, the shifter movement doen't seem as smooth, maybe it's a shifter deal, but regardless, I want to change the MTF and move to something synthetic, like Amsoil like I use in my engine.