DIY: S13 transmission Oil Change

[andrave]

just a quick tip: I f'in hate taking off the shifter, so I avoid it. You put a piece of aquarium hose on the end of the gear oil bottles (conveniently barbed for just such a purpose?) and hole it up and squeeze it in there. Alternatively, if you hold the bottle higher than the fill hole just jab a knife in the bottom and it drains it quick. cause squeezing pisses me off too.

[Touchdown038]

Man, taking out the shifter is like 2936587 times easier than doing it that method.

The only problem of course is when you're not careful and you end up dripping a tiny bit of gear oil on my floor mats. Ugh.

[Touchdown038]

Oh, and don't buy the o-ring pliers that ricebike put in one of his links. Those little things break so damn easily, even the carbide tipped ones.

[marshun]

for the snap ring i used two flat tip screw drivers. one to push it out. set other one in. and use the one that isnt set to work around the ring to pop it out.

good write up. putting a hose onto the oil bottle works good for the differential. cause i know i had to sit a while and think how i'd put in the diff oil.

[Naro182]

is it just me or is anyone else not able to see the pics?

great write up fiznat...i gotta alot some time to do that...

[Kaioshin1982]

is it me or are non of the pics working ;(

[ricebike]

"Oh, and don't buy the o-ring pliers that ricebike put in one of his links. Those little things break so damn easily, even the carbide tipped ones."

i didn't break 'em yet, & if they do... i gotz my receipt for an exchange <lifetime warranty>

pic links don't work anymore? here's some when i did mines' 2 weekends ago...

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....=2935

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....=2929

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....=2928

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....=2925

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....=2924

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....=2923http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....=2922

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....=2921 oops, i forgot i had this tool after i finished my transmission gear oil change <doh>

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....=2920http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....=2919

[Touchdown038]

I must have gotten the crappy ones then. Right after I throw my receipt away too.

[240marcuSX]

in my service manual it says that i need API GL-4 certified gear oil. i accidentally bought GL-5. so, do i need to take it back for some GL-4, or is the GL-5 certification surpassing that of the GL-4? I would appreciate some clarification on this. thank you.

[turboICE]

The GL-5 classification is a later (more recent) one - but with transmission fluid it does not mean it would be better. In this case absolutely do not use the GL-5 in your trans, it will eat your synchros. Take it back and get a GL-4 gear oil.

[240marcuSX]

Thanks man. Ill do that today.

[Gladius]

What would be the best possible place on the top of the transmission for a fluid leak? My transmission is leaking a little bit of fluid and it seems to be coming from the top ot the transmission. Any bolts or other orifices that might leak?

[Poatree]

i did this an noticed huge improvement in shifting smoothness

[ricebike]

agrees w/ poa... even w/ cheapo pennzoil dino fluid, will do the synthetic redline on the next fluid change interval.

mobil 1 GL-5 80W90 synthetic gear oil @ the rear differential is good enuff for me.

B4 i found pennzoil GL-4 gear oil @ the local parts store (ABC discount @ pennsauken nj) I purchased a gallon of Autozone's Coastal gear oil w/....GL3,GL4,GL5 classification... WTF??? does that mean it doesn't have enuff additives to eat the transmission's synchro's???

[el5y]

I had mine done at jiffy lube, but they definately used cheap stuff, it doesn't grind anymore when driving, atleast not as badly but shifting into second is really stiff for some reason, I'm thinking its the fluid they used, either way it does make a big difference, next thing up is the seafoam

Eric

[turboICE]

ricebike - do not use a syn that is GL2-GL5 classed. It means it meets those standards. The additives that eat synchros are still there. Most syns that sell the GL2-5 classed lube will say not meant for gears that the manufacturers require GL4.

[ricebike]

turbo- yea i knew there was something fishy w/ Coastal's dino gear oil <it's not synthetic>; that's y i returned it...

just lucked out that the ABC discount store,across the street, recently got the pennzoil GL4 in stock.

"...that sell the GL2-5 classed lube will say not meant for gears that the manufacturers require GL4."

yep, i saw it on some bottles while shopping, but not for this one brand. Just a heads-up.

& i tend to stay away from quickie-lubes; sometimes, not all, they'll put the GL5 in thurr.

[turboICE]

Yeah I personally like Amsoil syns - but definitely would stay away from any that don't point out their meets all GL-2 to GL-5 standards are not suitable for GL-4 required gears. My best guess is that they can meet all the standards some how even with the additives. Amsoil points out in all their spec sheets that the 2-5 is not suitable to GL-4 specific gears.

I don't think most quickie places even carry anything other than one dino and one syn gear lube and it isn't likely either one will be gl-4. An occassional oil change because I am lazy is one thing but a gear lube change I wouldn't go to them.

[deCksy]

well since i'm not gonna have my car leveled when i change my transmission oil... about how many bottles did you use?

[Charlie240sxt]

2.5

[matt4pl]

i know what bolts you mean. there are 4 bolts that hold the boot to the frame of the car right under the plastic and leather boot. then there are 6 bolts that hold the shifter and plate to the top of the transmission. those were a pain to get to when i did my B&M install. just use an open ended wrench and a lot of muscle. they're kinda tight on there. you will not be able to get to them from the top. gotta get under the car and feel around for them. when you're installing the new shifter, make sure to put those 2 bolts in the hole on the shifter before you put it in. its impssible to fit them with the shifter plate in place. i gotta do my transmission fluid ASAP. my transmission makes funny sounds when it gets warmed up. kinda gurgly and stuff. great write up. this should be made a sticky. all info should be the same for the S14, right? same trans, and all

[L0sT]

sorry to bring this thread back lolfiznat, could you post the pics again if you have them, they're not working for me