How to: change your own CVT fluid / oil

[jdollatari]

I just want to be able to use idemitsu fluid whether I do the change or not

[Deobulakenyo]

I replaced my fluid the other day and the cartridge filter. I'll change the pan filter at the 60k mark. The first drain and refill took 3.0 quarts. I drove it for a day and did a drain and refill again. This last time was 3.5 quarts. If you jack up the rear passenger wheel, you will get more to drain. So, mathematically ;0, 2 drain and refills with the amount I filled would now lead my CVT to have 5.08 quarts new fluid (68.65%), and 2.32 quarts (31.35%) original fluid. That's if there was the correct 7.4 quarts from the factory. I also installed a Fumoto Valve F103, to make it less messy and easier at the 60k mark, even though it wasn't too terrible with just the plug.

Fumoto installed:



I also used Eneos Eco CVT Fluid, claims compatibility with the J4 CVT, less than $10 a quart.

Two questions:

1. Isn't this dangerous as the drain plug is now protruding quite a bit with the Fumoto valve installed? I think it protrudes below the plastic skid plate.

2. Would the thread inside (which I guess would be sticking out above the level of the bottom inside the drain pan) prevent fluid and gunk on the bottom of the pan to come out?

[Alex1a1f]

Two questions:

1. Isn't this dangerous as the drain plug is now protruding quite a bit with the Fumoto valve installed? I think it protrudes below the plastic skid plate.

2. Would the thread inside (which I guess would be sticking out above the level of the bottom inside the drain pan) prevent fluid and gunk on the bottom of the pan to come out?

1. It does not stick out past anything. So no, it's not dangerous.

2. Also no. The natural suction and tilt of pan will get debris out. Plus, there's still a magnet in the pan, plus a screen, and a side filter to catch debris.

[Top_Fuel]

2. Would the thread inside (which I guess would be sticking out above the level of the bottom inside the drain pan) prevent fluid and gunk on the bottom of the pan to come out?

We had a similar discussion (with drawings and everything!) in another thread. Check out the thread starting with THIS post.

[Alex1a1f]

We had a similar discussion (with drawings and everything!) in another thread. Check out the thread starting with THIS post.

Exactly.

https://mirageforum.com/forum/showth...l=1#post102011

[Top_Fuel]

I forgot this was a CVT thread.

If you look at where a CVT drain plug is installed, it's not even at the lowest point in the pan. So whether you remove the drain plug or open the Fumitomo valve during a CVT drain operation, you are not removing all of the fluid in the pan or any of the stuff that has settled to the bottom of the pan anyway.

[Deobulakenyo]

Thank you all for your answers.

I got another question.

My wife's mirage is a low-mileage car that just averages 2000 miles per year. It is just an alternate car (number coding here in the Philippines). It is on it's fourth year now. I do engine oil change every six months regardless of mileage. Now, my question is about the CVT fluid. For low mileage cars, do we need to change fluid every year? every two years? How often?

I have searched the web and normally the discussions revolve around mileage.

Do CVT fluids deteriorate like engine oil does?

[bcressy1987]

I have a question for those who change their filters. I want to get as much old fluid out as possible. I am considering draining the pan, refilling it, driving it a bit to mix the old and new fluid, and then repeating the process. Is it better to change the filters on the first fluid drain, or after the second one? Reason I'm asking is I won't have the filters for a few days and am considering doing two rounds of fluid exchange to take advantage of a long drive I have to do before the filters arrive ;-)

[Fummins]

That'd work. I'd change the filters after the second drain not before.

[Eggman]

Filters would have cleaner fluid to work with if you change them on your second fluid exchange.