Automatic Transmission Fluid Change

Tubaryan12 · 08-28-2010, 01:00 PM

Well, I just crossed 32,000 miles, so I figured I'd do a trans fluid change. I normally only do the half change (drop what's in the pan and refill). Job was uneventful. It actually took longer to take these pics and post them. Drain plug, before and after. I saw no reason to get into the whole "which fluid should I use" debate. I just went to the dealer and bought the Hyundai / Kia SPIII. The most I could have saved on 5 quarts was $12.95 total anyway, so it wasn't worth the worry. Less than $9 per year to not have to worry about them denying a claim.

Puddleglum · 08-28-2010, 07:05 PM

Makes sense to use Kia's oil. Is that the first recommended change interval? Here it's every 32,000Km (20,000mi.) or 16 months.

Tony_K · 08-28-2010, 07:54 PM

Tubaryan12

very good pics. Reminds me of the way mine looked too. Perhaps we can compare drain plugs in 30k more miles and see how they look. I went the other route and got a compatible synthetic blend AT oil.

Hope we still have these cars in another 30k more and compare drain plugs in the future.

Tony

Tubaryan12 · 08-28-2010, 08:12 PM

I can tell you this: In one afternoon, I can tell it shifts better. I put my car in neutral a lot when I'm at lights, and it enters and leave gear a lot smoother today than yesterday. Too afraid to try anything but Kia fluid. After 100k miles, then I'll do it. Just don't want the hassle if something goes wrong.

Tony_K · 08-28-2010, 08:58 PM

I cant blame you about hassle avoidance.

My only reason for using something other than kia oil was the sight of the drain plug ! Made me feel as if this fluid was an abraisive rather than a lubricant.

I had pulled the plug and was planning on getting kia oil up to the point of seeing the ferrous particles on the magnetic plug. I am not keen on pure synthetics and when I saw the blend, I figured what the heck.

As with you, shifting is improved and perhaps its my imagination, but the overall loudness of the engine / trans which is really quite quiet, became even quieter to the point my wife even noticed.

Looking forward to another 30k or so before next oil change. I am at 35k now.

Just did front brakes and rotors yesterday I need to log in the record book. New tires too, one had a tread seperation a week ago, Optimos.

Tubaryan12 · 08-29-2010, 10:44 AM

Abrasive? No. This is a common sight on transmission drain plugs. I've never pulled a plug or dropped a pan that didn't have this type of stuff on it. The way I put miles on a car, I only have about 3 years to go before I can do what I want.....lol

PLP · 01-10-2011, 08:24 PM

I thought I would bump in here.

As 30k is getting closer I decided to call dealer to ask for 30k service cost. Well, they call for about 500 USD. Sounds a lot for me...
Anyway, they claim transmission oil must be changed, while my manual does NOT. It says to change it at 105k miles...

So - who is right?

I was going to change it anyway myself, so questions.

Tubaryan12,
did you change oil filter too? How was the whole process? did you get the tranny hot first? Or you did it on cold?
How much did you pay for oil?
Anything else, what you think may be important...

Paul B · 01-11-2011, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PLP

I thought I would bump in here.

As 30k is getting closer I decided to call dealer to ask for 30k service cost. Well, they call for about 500 USD. Sounds a lot for me...
Anyway, they claim transmission oil must be changed, while my manual does NOT. It says to change it at 105k miles...

So - who is right?

I was going to change it anyway myself, so questions.

Tubaryan12,
did you change oil filter too? How was the whole process? did you get the tranny hot first? Or you did it on cold?
How much did you pay for oil?
Anything else, what you think may be important...

PLP, the owners manual does indeed say that the only mandatory fluid change is at 105,000 miles with only "inspections" till then. The dealers, though, follow the "severe service" guidelines on the next page. My personal usage does not fit any of the severe service guidelines but had mine changed at 42K as they said it was getting dirty. I believe all the dealers latch onto the severe service guidelines as this is a very high profit procedure. With the right equipment they can change the fluid in a few minutes and bill for hours. You cannot talk to them about this, though, as all you will get is the threat of voiding your warranty if you don't do what they say.

By the way the dealer I used charged $195 and changed all the oil using a machine that even replaced the oil in the torque converter. The rest of the maintenance was pretty easy to do myself and/or with a local shop.

Tubaryan12 · 01-11-2011, 06:31 AM

I never believe a fluid service that recommends waiting that long on an automatic. It costs less than $50 every other year for peace of mind. I will do 3 half fluid changes before I reach 100k miles. There is no user serviceable filter for this transmission. That's just one more reason why I try to change it at 30K. Last month, I did my wife's Optima transmission fluid for the second time. The magnetic plug was covered, once again, like the pictures above. One less thing to worry about.

At the rate of $195 per flush, I could afford to do $50 half changes every year and still be better off.

PLP · 01-11-2011, 07:33 AM

I found procedure of changing tranny oil.

Disconnect cooler line (from tranny of course) and start the car (selector in N). Wait for all oil to drain, but not longer than one minute. If oil is drained, stop engine and remove the oil drain plug.
Clean, put it back.

Refill oil and repeat procedure. After second time refill and you are all done.

EDIT:

C - Driving on rough, dusty, muddy, unpaved, graveled or salt-spread roads. page 7/12 of manual

Maybe I am retarded... but what salt, mud, sand has to do with transmission fluid? There is no way for sand to get into the system, is it?
I do understand all other points (A, E, F, G, H, I), but not C.
Can someone explain me that?