How To: Change your Transmission Fluid (with pics)

V8Huntr · 04-14-2007, 01:08 PM

Ok I decided to do this write-up since all I could find on the subject was part numbers and discussions on which fuild to use but nothing with pictures. So here goes.

Tools Needed:
-Jackstands
-14mm Socket or wrench
-21mm socket or wrench

Parts Needed:
- 803916080 copper oil pan side gasket (Thanks to Singletrack)
- 803926070 copper clutch side gasket (Thanks to Singletrack)
- 4.3 quarts of 75w-90 GL5 gear oil (whichever brand you choose to use)

Step 1:
-Jack up the front of the car so you have enough room to work underneath the car.

Step 2:
Get under the car and remove the 21mm bolt on the clutch housing and let it drain out.

Step 3:
Once the fluid stops draining from the clutch housing, move your oil pan underneath the transmission oil pan and remove the 14mm bolt and let the rest of the old fluid drain into the pan.

Step 4:
Once all of the fluid has drained out it's time to put the 21mm and 14mm bolts back into their respective holes. Here you are going to need the 2 new copper crush washers. Remove the old washers from the bolts and replace them with the new ones.

Torque Specs:
14mm Oil Pan bolt: 44 Nm (4.5 kgf-cm, 32.5 ft. lbs.)
21mm Clutch Housing bolt: 70 Nm (7.1 kgf-cm, 51.6 ft. lbs.)

Once you have those torqued to spec it's time to get out from under the car and get under the hood.

V8Huntr · 04-14-2007, 01:17 PM

Step 5:
Once under the hood, go to the passenger side of the car and look for the gear oil dip stick. Remove the dipstick, this is where you will be filling the trans with the new fluid.

Side note: You can remove the intercooler if you want. I had mine off to work on something else but it gave me more room to work.
Link to the How To for intercooler removal: Intercooler removal / Throttle body hose install

Step 6: Remove the gear oil dipstick and place a funnel into the hole where the dipstick was.

Step 7:
Fill with 4.3 quarts of 75w-90 GL5 gear oil

Step 8:
Once filled to the proper capacity, replace the gear oil dipstick and check your level. You want it to be closer to the full line, but not over it.

Step 9:
Grab a beer and clean yourself up. You're done!

**Rac10000** · 04-14-2007, 01:39 PM

Nice write up! I have to do a major fluid change next month so I really appreciate it. Thanks!

Edit: I am going to move this to the How-To / Install section.

carl s. · 04-14-2007, 01:57 PM

nice write-up

555BLACKOUT · 04-14-2007, 02:56 PM

Great motivation to do mine, thanks!!

***QuickSilverSTi*** · 04-14-2007, 04:13 PM

Great write up - I wish everyone included part numbers and torque specs...5 stars

Just a note that the '05 and up will need a #70 torx bit for one of the plugs. You should also have the Subaru thread sealer 004403010. For filling the trans, I bought a pump and just used it to fill the trans so I didn't have to mess with removing the TMIC. You can also just get a length of rubber hose that fits inside the fill hole and attach a funnel to the other end and fill. I did mine yesterday with synthetic Motul 75W90 which meets the GL5 spec and shifts great. I replaced the synthetic Castrol TAF-X which had about 10K miles (about 5K on the autobahn) on it and was still a nice gold color (shifted wonderfully too)

RFFG · 04-14-2007, 04:19 PM

Woot! I got a transmission fluid change coming up next weekend!

Awesome write up

SubyFi · 04-14-2007, 08:58 PM

Cool write up.

You need one of these funnels next time:

sarasube · 04-15-2007, 09:59 AM

great job on this write-up.
will definitely follow this to do mine.

thanks

Minnesota01R6 · 04-15-2007, 12:26 PM

Just got done doing mine as well - 14mm bolt was on at about 150 foot-pounds from the factory - rounded it a bit (and did a number on my knuckles) when I was trying to get it off. I will be replacing it the next time I change the fluid.

I used the funnel SubyFi linked to - $5 and saved taking the intercooler off.

P.S. I used Amsoil SVG 75w90 in the tranny and rear diff - no chatter yet and really smooth shifts.

***QuickSilverSTi*** · 04-15-2007, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minnesota01R6

Just got done doing mine as well - 14mm bolt was on at about 150 foot-pounds from the factory - rounded it a bit (and did a number on my knuckles) when I was trying to get it off. I will be replacing it the next time I change the fluid.

I used the funnel SubyFi linked to - $5 and saved taking the intercooler off.

P.S. I used Amsoil SVG 75w90 in the tranny and rear diff - no chatter yet and really smooth shifts.

Should be fine as long as it is GL-5 rated.

flytojungho · 04-15-2007, 10:28 PM

does this method get all the oil out?

V8Huntr · 04-16-2007, 05:33 AM

I got 4 quarts out of it when I did it, tho I was a little low when I did the change. I put 4.3 quarts back in and it was a hair below the full notch on the dipstick.

***QuickSilverSTi*** · 04-16-2007, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flytojungho

does this method get all the oil out?

Yes. When I did mine, I had the rear jack stands slightly higher than the fronts to encourage all of the oil to drain out of the trans pan.

***SiCkSTi04*** · 04-16-2007, 02:39 PM

nice write up, i'll be sure to use this thread when i change my oil, how about doing a rear diff write up aswell?

04-14-2007, 01:08 PM	#1
V8Huntr Spec C Club Car: 04' WRB STi Fav Mod: TBE Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 1,603 Join Date: Sep 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	How To: Change your Transmission Fluid (with pics) Ok I decided to do this write-up since all I could find on the subject was part numbers and discussions on which fuild to use but nothing with pictures. So here goes. Tools Needed: -Jackstands -14mm Socket or wrench -21mm socket or wrench Parts Needed: - 803916080 copper oil pan side gasket (Thanks to Singletrack) - 803926070 copper clutch side gasket (Thanks to Singletrack) - 4.3 quarts of 75w-90 GL5 gear oil (whichever brand you choose to use) Step 1: -Jack up the front of the car so you have enough room to work underneath the car. Step 2: Get under the car and remove the 21mm bolt on the clutch housing and let it drain out. Step 3: Once the fluid stops draining from the clutch housing, move your oil pan underneath the transmission oil pan and remove the 14mm bolt and let the rest of the old fluid drain into the pan. Step 4: Once all of the fluid has drained out it's time to put the 21mm and 14mm bolts back into their respective holes. Here you are going to need the 2 new copper crush washers. Remove the old washers from the bolts and replace them with the new ones. Torque Specs: 14mm Oil Pan bolt: 44 Nm (4.5 kgf-cm, 32.5 ft. lbs.) 21mm Clutch Housing bolt: 70 Nm (7.1 kgf-cm, 51.6 ft. lbs.) Once you have those torqued to spec it's time to get out from under the car and get under the hood. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad. Last edited by V8Huntr : 04-14-2007 at 01:24 PM.

04-14-2007, 01:17 PM	#2
V8Huntr Spec C Club Car: 04' WRB STi Fav Mod: TBE Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 1,603 Join Date: Sep 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Step 5: Once under the hood, go to the passenger side of the car and look for the gear oil dip stick. Remove the dipstick, this is where you will be filling the trans with the new fluid. Side note: You can remove the intercooler if you want. I had mine off to work on something else but it gave me more room to work. Link to the How To for intercooler removal: Intercooler removal / Throttle body hose install Step 6: Remove the gear oil dipstick and place a funnel into the hole where the dipstick was. Step 7: Fill with 4.3 quarts of 75w-90 GL5 gear oil Step 8: Once filled to the proper capacity, replace the gear oil dipstick and check your level. You want it to be closer to the full line, but not over it. Step 9: Grab a beer and clean yourself up. You're done! Last edited by V8Huntr : 06-26-2007 at 08:18 AM.

04-14-2007, 04:13 PM	#6
*QuickSilverSTi* nulla poena sine lege Location: Northern VA Posts: 1,747 Join Date: Nov 2003 Trader Rating: (5)	Great write up - I wish everyone included part numbers and torque specs...5 stars Just a note that the '05 and up will need a #70 torx bit for one of the plugs. You should also have the Subaru thread sealer 004403010. For filling the trans, I bought a pump and just used it to fill the trans so I didn't have to mess with removing the TMIC. You can also just get a length of rubber hose that fits inside the fill hole and attach a funnel to the other end and fill. I did mine yesterday with synthetic Motul 75W90 which meets the GL5 spec and shifts great. I replaced the synthetic Castrol TAF-X which had about 10K miles (about 5K on the autobahn) on it and was still a nice gold color (shifted wonderfully too) Last edited by QuickSilverSTi : 04-14-2007 at 04:31 PM.

04-16-2007, 05:33 AM	#13
V8Huntr Spec C Club Car: 04' WRB STi Fav Mod: TBE Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 1,603 Join Date: Sep 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: How To: Change your Transmission Fluid (with pics) I got 4 quarts out of it when I did it, tho I was a little low when I did the change. I put 4.3 quarts back in and it was a hair below the full notch on the dipstick.

04-16-2007, 02:39 PM	#15
*SiCkSTi04* RSV2/BF2142 Player Car: Subaru WRXSTi 04 JBP Fav Mod: Fixing Subie Rattles :) Location: Boynton Beach, FL Posts: 727 Join Date: Jan 2006 Trader Rating: (7)	Re: How To: Change your Transmission Fluid (with pics) nice write up, i'll be sure to use this thread when i change my oil, how about doing a rear diff write up aswell? This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

04-14-2007, 01:39 PM	#3
Rac10000 ADMIN Car: 2005 BMW COMP ///M3 Location: Westchester, NY Posts: 28,592,024 Join Date: Jan 2004 Trader Rating: (13)	Nice write up! I have to do a major fluid change next month so I really appreciate it. Thanks! Edit: I am going to move this to the How-To / Install section.

04-14-2007, 01:57 PM	#4
carl s. Professional STI Driver Car: 04 STi Location: minnesota Posts: 403 Join Date: Jan 2007 Trader Rating: (1)	nice write-up

04-14-2007, 02:56 PM	#5
555BLACKOUT Spec C Club Car: 05 STi Fav Mod: My RallyArmor UR's!! Location: PHX Posts: 1,418 Join Date: Feb 2006 Trader Rating: (1)	Great motivation to do mine, thanks!!

04-14-2007, 04:19 PM	#7
RFFG Spec C Club Car: 1998 Impreza GF8 Location: Miami, Fl. Posts: 2,422 Join Date: Aug 2005 Trader Rating: (3)	Woot! I got a transmission fluid change coming up next weekend! Awesome write up

04-14-2007, 08:58 PM	#8
SubyFi Spec C Club Car: '05 STi in OBP Fav Mod: coilovers & www.hpdedriver.com Location: L.A. (SFV), CA Posts: 1,163 Join Date: Aug 2004 Trader Rating: (4)	Cool write up. You need one of these funnels next time:

04-15-2007, 09:59 AM	#9
sarasube STI Driver Car: 04 aspen white Location: NY Posts: 265 Join Date: Feb 2006 Trader Rating: (1)	great job on this write-up. will definitely follow this to do mine. thanks

04-15-2007, 12:26 PM	#10
Minnesota01R6 Amateur STI Driver Posts: 22 Join Date: Jul 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Just got done doing mine as well - 14mm bolt was on at about 150 foot-pounds from the factory - rounded it a bit (and did a number on my knuckles) when I was trying to get it off. I will be replacing it the next time I change the fluid. I used the funnel SubyFi linked to - $5 and saved taking the intercooler off. P.S. I used Amsoil SVG 75w90 in the tranny and rear diff - no chatter yet and really smooth shifts.

04-15-2007, 10:28 PM	#12
flytojungho Spec C Club Car: 06 STI Fav Mod: Prodrive oval tip Location: carmel indiana Posts: 1,267 Join Date: Mar 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	does this method get all the oil out?