DIY - Transmission Fluid Change

[Ira]

Hi Guys!

First off, I'm posting this because I couldn't find a DIY for this, on any site that included pictures. Yes I know the wiki has the PDF of the service manual and the text based instructions, but I thought photos with step by step "how-to" of sorts might come in handy. At any rate, if anything is wrong please let me know! I am NOT mechanically inclined in the least but I can usually follow directions pretty well.

Tools and supplies needed;
3/8" ratchet
17mm socket
Liquid pump
3qt of your favorite transmission fluid. (I used Acura MTF...whitecap)
2 Crush Washers (14mm drain and 20mm fill)
Jack
2 Jack Stands

For my generation NSX, the transmission fluid is supposed to be replaced every 120,000 miles or 6 years. My car has just over 20,000 miles on it, but it's also 11ish years old, so since I just bought the car, I thought it would be a good idea to swap. Apparently the NSX uses a pump to circulate the fluid throughout the transmission and the differential, which is a wet-clutch type limited slip unit. I kept looking for how to do a diff change as well, coming from an s2000 where we had to, but realized the NSX doesn't have a separate differential housing. Score!

Anyway

1. Jack up the drivers side of the car using the Jack point located here;
   
2. Place jack stands under designated jack stand locations behind and in front of the jack point;
   
3. Locat the filler and drain plug on your transmission. They should be vertically above each other. This is what you're looking for;
   
   
   You can remove your rear drivers side wheel if you want, however it was not necessary for me.
4. Remove the fill bolt first. It's important to remove this first...just in case you can't get it off, you haven't emptied all of your fluid out through the drain plug and stuck. This is a close up of the fill bolt;
   
5. Next remove the drain plug;
   
6. Remove Jack Stands and lower car to level so all the fluid will drain out; (Ideally you want to do this with 4 jack stands to ensure a level stance to allow the proper fluid to drain out)
7. 
8. Jack car back up and insert the drain plug with new 14mm crush washer;
   
9. Fill the transmission with 3qt of transmission fluid with the fluid pump. (Bought from any auto parts store, screws onto the transmission fluid bottle and has a hose to wind up into the fill hole)
   
10. Lower car until level. This allows the proper amount of fluid to remain in the transmission and any excess will run out.
    
11. Raise car one more time, insert jack stands, and tighten the fill bolt with new 20mm crush washer. Done.

All in all it was really simple and easy, however there was one mistake I made, thinking this large round circle bolt was the fill bolt...IT IS NOT and don't try to get it off. It has locktite on it and requires an immense amount of force to get off.

DISCLAIMER: If you follow my guide to perform your own fluid change, you do so at your own risk. I am not liable for any resulting damage, injury, or expense. I am not mechanically inclined nor claim to be a mechanic, this guide is solely for informational purposes on what worked well for me. If you're not comfortable with any of the steps to leave it to the professionals.

 

[ALwAyS4SaLe]

nice write up....

 

[B2FiNiTY]

very nice write up, thanks for the share!

 

[Computron]

Great write up! Can you show a pic of the pump you used?

 

[The King]

Don't forget about the transmission screen filter!

 

[OddJob]

Fluid pump's a great idea...I used a funnel from top with an extension hose, was a major PITA. Only advise I'd add is, consider buying a form-a-funnel. I find mine useful in nearly every fluid-changing scenario.

 

[Ira]

Great write up! Can you show a pic of the pump you used?

Thanks! I used something similar to this from auto zone; http://www.autozone.com/autozone/ac...nsfer-pump/_/N-26df?itemIdentifier=94647_0_0_

But they do have disposable plastic ones made for the opening on an oil bottle.

Don't forget about the transmission screen filter!

What? Is that an automatic thing? I read the service manual and spoke with a friend who is a technician at Acura, that was not mentioned once.

Fluid pump's a great idea...I used a funnel from top with an extension hose, was a major PITA. Only advise I'd add is, consider buying a form-a-funnel. I find mine useful in nearly every fluid-changing scenario.

That's a great option too if you don't want to get a little fluid hand pump. Like you said, I could imagine it being a pain to work with though.

 

[shawn110975]

!7mm fill bolt not 15mm like you stated its ok though LOL

and the huge round bolt is for transmission housing removal to access the gears.





- - - Updated - - -

edit: there had been many posts about this with pics I cant find them in the Wiki or search since the search button hasnt worked in 4 years.

best way is to google the question but add nsxprime at the end of the search string and it finds it most of the time

- - - Updated - - -

heres a few when I searched good write up though

http://www.nsxprime.com/forum/showthread.php/126937-Oil-filter-and-transmission-oil-change-questions

http://www.nsxprime.com/forum/showthread.php/117283-transmission-oil-change
http://www.nsxprime.com/forum/showthread.php/179266-motor-and-transmission-oil-change
http://www.nsxprime.com/FAQ/Maintenance/fluidfilter.htm
http://www.nsxprime.com/forum/showthread.php/2497-Transmission-Oil-Change
http://www.nsxprime.com/wiki/Oil_Change
http://www.nsxprime.com/forum/showthread.php/104499-Automatic-Transmission-Fluid-Change

 

[TyraNSX]

This has been in the wiki for at least several years & I know because I wrote & edited parts of it. There is no need to jack up the car. Everything can be done from below for draining & above for filling.

http://www.nsxprime.com/wiki/Changing_Transaxle_Oil

 

[Ira]

!7mm fill bolt not 15mm like you stated its ok though LOL

and the huge round bolt is for transmission housing removal to access the gears.

View attachment 112919

View attachment 112920

- - - Updated - - -

edit: there had been many posts about this with pics I cant find them in the Wiki or search since the search button hasnt worked in 4 years.

best way is to google the question but add nsxprime at the end of the search string and it finds it most of the time

Haha updated the mm size socket to 17 and I LOL'd at your red X on the bolt for the access gears. Totally agree. X that thing.

This has been in the wiki for at least several years & I know because I wrote & edited parts of it. There is no need to jack up the car. Everything can be done from below for draining & above for filling.

http://www.nsxprime.com/wiki/Changing_Transaxle_Oil

I'm a visual person, the wiki resource is great, but I wasn't able to follow that as well as I had liked. Like I said in my first post, this is what worked for me.

 

[cousindeagle]

I like this write up! The more the better!

 

[shawn110975]

also you said get tran oil at any autoparts store................. NOPE............... Only Acura whitecap, or what everyone that trys it and will never go back to whitecap is

2 QTs GM SYNCROMESH FRICTION MODIFIED and 1/2 QT GM SYNCROMESH its called the " Cocktail " I put this in ALL my vehicles and all my customers NSX.

 

[Ira]

also you said get tran oil at any autoparts store................. NOPE............... Only Acura whitecap, or what everyone that trys it and will never go back to whitecap is

2 QTs GM SYNCROMESH FRICTION MODIFIED and 1/2 QT GM SYNCROMESH its called the " Cocktail " I put this in ALL my vehicles and all my customers NSX.

No I said the fluid pump can be purchased at any auto parts store.

On the next one I'm going to try your mixture Shawn, I read a lot of your posts prior to this and I have seen the positive responses.

 

[robbiedawg]

i just put the synchromesh cocktail in my car,and it shifts great, butter smooth.on the recommendation of angus,who works on lots of nsx's, i did half regular synchromesh,and half friction modified.

 

[The King]

Thanks! I used something similar to this from auto zone; http://www.autozone.com/autozone/ac...nsfer-pump/_/N-26df?itemIdentifier=94647_0_0_

But they do have disposable plastic ones made for the opening on an oil bottle.



What? Is that an automatic thing? I read the service manual and spoke with a friend who is a technician at Acura, that was not mentioned once.



That's a great option too if you don't want to get a little fluid hand pump. Like you said, I could imagine it being a pain to work with though.

The screen filter is is in the manual transmisson.

 

[ftuhy]

Not mentioned is what size crush washers to buy: 14 mm for the drain (same size as oil pan drain) and 20 mm for the fill.

 

[jaja]

Not mentioned is what size crush washers to buy: 14 mm for the drain (same size as oil pan drain) and 20 mm for the fill.

Thanks for that addition.

Great write up and critiques along the way!

Lucas

P.S. Am I seeing things or is the underside of your NSX also blue ?

 

[RagingAngel]

The screen filter is is in the manual transmisson.

http://www.hondapartsunlimited.com/...housing-6mt-scat/?part_name=strainer-oil-pump

It's part number 3 in this diagram but I don't think it was removed or requires servicing during a regular flush?

 

[The King]

http://www.hondapartsunlimited.com/...housing-6mt-scat/?part_name=strainer-oil-pump

It's part number 3 in this diagram but I don't think it was removed or requires servicing during a regular flush?

If this doesn't need to be serviced, why is it there and able to be removed?

 

[RagingAngel]

If this doesn't need to be serviced, why is it there and able to be removed?

I based my assumption on the DIY and it wasn't shown when the OP made the post.

Not only was it not shown, it was not mentioned until you brought it up.

 

[ftuhy]

I don't recall where I bought this funnel (at least 5 years ago), but it was someplace like Pep Boys. Its 22 inches long from the top of the funnel , with 5 flex joints. Its long enough that you can flex the end into the trans and pour the oil in from the top with no spillage. Its even simpler than using a pump.:biggrin:



As to the filter screen, at an NSXPO 2013 tech session, Larry B had a trans there and showed how to remove the filter screen. If I recall correctly (not guaranteed! ) there was no need to clean it during normal maintenance. And, its not even covered as a maintenance item in the shop manual.

 

[Ira]

Thanks for the updates! I added the crush washer sizes to the original post. As far as the screen filter goes, I can't speak for how or when it needs to be done other than it doesn't come out during a normal fluid change. It is not included in the Acura Dealer pdf for transmission changes, nor is it something commonly practiced at either local Acura dealer here for a fluid change (I asked). If anyone feels better doing this, please by all means, service that filter.

 

[MaxGeek]

I did my transaxle fluid change today. I had the car jacked on the passenger side when filling the transaxle. Then once it started overflowing I lowered the car level and waited for the leaking to stop. When I raised the car again it started leaking quite a bit again though. Why is that? Does the car need to filled when level?

Edit: I topped it off with both sides level. I was able to fill it up a bit more before it overflowed.

Edit: meant driver side.

 

[Larry Bastanza]

If you jacked it up on the passenger side, it was like you tipped a cup of coffee..........

 

[nsxspdfreak]

Great write-up. I use a Penzoil pump available on Amazon for $9