How to change manual transmission fluid

[murcod]

Redmed, I'll second not bothering draining any out. The difference in the actual oil level would be minimal and better slightly too much than not enough (except if it's over filling an engine past the max level!)

[redmed]

I took off the air filter box and reached down to open the fill plug from above, no problem. Took about five minutes to open the plug. Not much oil came out, but now I know it is correct.

[redmed]

Drove about 80 miles today and did not notice much difference in shifting. Might feel the gates better, not sure. Most of the drive was freeway so not much shifting. Used MTL maybe should have used MT-90.

[KuroNekko]

I posted a reply earlier but it was lost in the server transition. This is a repost on the same thing.

I took off the air filter box and reached down to open the fill plug from above, no problem. Took about five minutes to open the plug. Not much oil came out, but now I know it is correct.

Good to know one can access the fill hole from above. I thought that was not possible due to clearance and access issues. I'm not too concerned about overfilling, but this may be worth a try.

Drove about 80 miles today and did not notice much difference in shifting. Might feel the gates better, not sure. Most of the drive was freeway so not much shifting. Used MTL maybe should have used MT-90.

You need to drive it enthusiastically on roads that call for more rapid upshifting and downshifting than a freeway. This is where you will notice the improvement in gear engagement.
Also, given you live in Michigan with its very cold winters, you're better sticking with MTL than MT-90. As Bootymac and Murcod pointed out, the ideal gear oil weight for the Kizashi's MT is 75W-80 which is what MTL is.

[kentman4]

Will switching to redline Mt-90 void my warranty?

[KuroNekko]

Will switching to redline Mt-90 void my warranty?

Unlikely. Much like changing your own oil doesn't void the warranty under the Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act, I can't imagine how changing the transmission fluid to something within Suzuki's recommended spec can void it. Keep in mind that MT-90 is a 75W-90 weight oil that Suzuki explicitly writes in the Owner's Manual as an acceptable weight for the manual transaxle. However, the recommended weight is a thinner 75W-80. If you live in an area that gets below freezing in the winter, stay with 75W-80 instead of going with the thicker 75W-90. While I have had no issues with MT-90 in my transmission, I think I'll try Red Line MTL next. It's a 75W-80 much like the factory fill.

[Swiss_Kizzy]

Hi everybody, just bought mine 2013 6MT Kizashi 2 weeks ago. The car have only 40.000 miles. Excellent condition. It was only 3,5 years on the road and 1,5 in the garage at the dealer place. Regarding gear oil change, I had some funny expirience this evening engaging reverse gear, it came some funny whirly noise. The car runns smooth and shifter is like a butter. At first I thought "Oh no, this is not happening". I was almost certain that the tranny or clutch produced this noise until a have let the car rolles reverse with no engaged gear. It was bloody rear brake chirpin on a disc
About Oil grade, Im going to change gear oil soon, even if it so smooth shifting gears due to 6 years has been past and almost 45thmiles. If your car is staying outside on a low temps, I would take 75w-80. But if you have the garage and the car is overnight there, make no sense why not use 90weight.I also have Toyota Auris 1.4vvti and changed first time oil after 100tmiles, there was no change regarding shifting. Im gonna go for Castrol 75-90W. Only issue of a weight90 are minus temp lower than -15 °C and if the car spends hours in those conditions. Oh and regarding engine oil, try Liqui Moly 4300 5W-30. On my Toyota Auris this oil did not burned even a drop after 15.000 miles.

[Tom Kizzie]

Possible you drove a lot of short trips?
"The possible damage arises from the engine never reaching operating temperatures or not at operating temperature long enough. Repeated “short trips” in a cold environment can result in excessive condensation in the crankcase. While oil and water don't mix naturally, they do combine when put under pressure"

[KlutzNinja]

While I have had no issues with MT-90 in my transmission, I think I'll try Red Line MTL next. It's a 75W-80 much like the factory fill.

Are you still using this Red Line fluid, Kuro, and have you since made the switch to MTL? How had everything held up?

And yes, I’m aware my post here contradicts a previous post of mine about thread resurrections, but I’m too curious to care (despite not even owning a manual Kizashi).

[KuroNekko]

While I have had no issues with MT-90 in my transmission, I think I'll try Red Line MTL next. It's a 75W-80 much like the factory fill.

Are you still using this Red Line fluid, Kuro, and have you since made the switch to MTL? How had everything held up?

And yes, I’m aware my post here contradicts a previous post of mine about thread resurrections, but I’m too curious to care (despite not even owning a manual Kizashi).

My opinion is this site is too small to be worried about thread resurrections and it's better to keep topics going over time here for more content.

Yup, I still use MTL and currently on my second fill of it. I changed it to the current fill sometime in 2018 or 2019. I only used MT-90 while I was in the east coast. Overall, MTL feels lighter than MT-90 in the shift feel but not all that different. I don't think it matters all that much which one is used unless in extreme temperatures.

I'm also happy that my odd clutch bearing noise went away after a while. My release bearing (I think) was making a whistling noise intermittently for a while but it stopped doing so a few months ago. I was hoping to not have to deal with it until I replace my clutch so I'm glad the noise went away and there is no difference in clutch performance.