DIY: Changing Manual Transmission Fluid

[RANGERSi07]

Originally Posted by tukai

I have SI number 523 and I am going to do this MTF. I need a firm answer on which Amsoil I should use. Is it 5w30 MTF? Please let me know for sure because if i jack up my ride, my wife will roundhouse kick me.

I used 5W30

[Grimey]

I just got my 07 SI Sedan at the beginning of August, and have roughly 1,600 miles on her.

I've only gotten the 3rd gear "grind" a handful of times, if that. I'd say 3-4. My concern is more so the notchy shifting.

I'm hearing rave reviews of the Amsoil MTF. Should I switch over to it? And how difficult is it to DIY. Any diagrams of where the filler and drain bolts are?

Thanks!

[Grimey]

I can't find the ****** filler and drain plugs, even with those pics and diagrams....

[Zeuceone]

there to the right of the left tire

[Zeuceone]

there on the left side of the tranny

[Grimey]

found them... but i dont see how you guys got a socket up there and got leverage enough to turn it.

all im working with is 2 jacks in the front though.

also, my "bong" hose isnt long enough to reach down to the fill plug.

[Driversound]

I changed my MTF after I started having trouble shifting into third. I used Royal Purple's Synchromax and it immediately felt the difference. Shifting is real smooth and no problems on cold days. Amsoil is the best but Royal Purple is easier to get a hold of. I did it without taking off the wheel and on jackstands. Put in 1.8 quarts.

[Grimey]

Originally Posted by Driversound

I changed my MTF after I started having trouble shifting into third. I used Royal Purple's Synchromax and it immediately felt the difference. Shifting is real smooth and no problems on cold days. Amsoil is the best but Royal Purple is easier to get a hold of. I did it without taking off the wheel and on jackstands. Put in 1.8 quarts.

I just got 2 quarts of Amsoil Syncromesh today, real easy.

$17 total, not bad.

But I tried putting it in, I dunno how the hell you guys did it, but I can't seem to get enough leverage to get the fill plug off.

Gonna take it to a garage tomorrow and see if they can do it for me.

[chiguywithsi]

Originally Posted by Grimey

I just got 2 quarts of Amsoil Syncromesh today, real easy.

$17 total, not bad.

But I tried putting it in, I dunno how the hell you guys did it, but I can't seem to get enough leverage to get the fill plug off.

Gonna take it to a garage tomorrow and see if they can do it for me.

just put a pipe on the ratchet to get more leverage

[shutter13]

Originally Posted by chiguywithsi

just put a pipe on the ratchet to get more leverage

thats what i did

[Tom1222]

Are you sure you are turning it the right (counter clockwise) way?
I have changed fluids twice now and it wasn't hard at all to get that 17mm fill plug off.
I just recently switched to the new Honda fluid since I have been getting grinding in 2nd gear with the Amsoil. So far so good. The new Honda fluid works just fine and no grinding in second gear at high rpm shifts.

[tukai]

Remember rightie tightie lefty loosey

[GlxyGry06Si]

Originally Posted by Tom1222

Are you sure you are turning it the right (counter clockwise) way?
I have changed fluids twice now and it wasn't hard at all to get that 17mm fill plug off.
I just recently switched to the new Honda fluid since I have been getting grinding in 2nd gear with the Amsoil. So far so good. The new Honda fluid works just fine and no grinding in second gear at high rpm shifts.

the new honda stuff is not that good either. dont get me wrong its better than the original stuff and royal purple. i first used royal purple then the new honda stuff. i just got amsoil and have yet to put it in. with everyone's sucess with amsoil i am going to try it. hopefully it works.

[xmontx]

i just changed it over the weekend...and after 5 minutes of driving my car i can tell the difference...SOOOOOOOOO much better...I used the amsoil MTF on my civic SI...GREAT change.

[slesholdofthreep]

I changed my MTF over a month ago, and since then I have not had a single problem w/ 2-->3 shifts. BTW honda over filled it by about 8oz!

[GlxyGry06Si]

just changed to amsoil and its great so far. i will give an update soon.

[Bobbert]

So the 07's supposedly have the better mtf? I have a 07 FA5 and I have not noticed any grinding at all, but it can be very notchy at times, and sometimes it can be pretty smooth. But I am terrified, of this car grinding on me. I like to play, and when I do I shift HARD and I've had zero problems hitting gears like it's my freakin' job. So is the verdict to not change if you have a 07? I only have 700 miles on my car though.. man it would suck so much to have a brand new car grinding gears, I feel for all of you that are going through this crap.

[explorjr]

anyone know what the product # is for the amsoil MTF to be used on the SI?

[Zeuceone]

Originally Posted by Bobbert

So the 07's supposedly have the better mtf? I have a 07 FA5 and I have not noticed any grinding at all, but it can be very notchy at times, and sometimes it can be pretty smooth. But I am terrified, of this car grinding on me. I like to play, and when I do I shift HARD and I've had zero problems hitting gears like it's my freakin' job. So is the verdict to not change if you have a 07? I only have 700 miles on my car though.. man it would suck so much to have a brand new car grinding gears, I feel for all of you that are going through this crap.

give it some time it will happen. your car is still new. a couple more hundred miles then bammm you wont see it coming.

[kkim388]

Originally Posted by Bobbert

So the 07's supposedly have the better mtf? I have a 07 FA5 and I have not noticed any grinding at all, but it can be very notchy at times, and sometimes it can be pretty smooth. But I am terrified, of this car grinding on me. I like to play, and when I do I shift HARD and I've had zero problems hitting gears like it's my freakin' job. So is the verdict to not change if you have a 07? I only have 700 miles on my car though.. man it would suck so much to have a brand new car grinding gears, I feel for all of you that are going through this crap.

For peace of mind, change it. If you do the job yourself, it will only cost you $20 max and you'll know it was done right. I'd suggest changing to a synthetic gear lube... Amsoil or Redline seems to work well in these cars. I changed mine to Redline MTL in my 07 sedan.