Hey guys I am interested in changing out all of my fluids in my car but was wondering how to do a few of them. I have already done a coolant flush on my car recently, so I don't need to do that. I of course know how to change my oil, which I am doing soon too. I was wondering how do I go about flushing the clutch, transmission, brake, and power steering fluids, since I have never flushed or replaced the fluids since I have owned the car, and I have owned my car for about 3 years now. I know that has to be bad for my car, but I never got around to figuring out how to find the drain plugs for each fluid, and any filters associated with the fluids, etc. I was also wondering, I have grinded my gears when shifting TONS of times since I have owned the car, and since I have never replaced the tranny fluid, I was wondering should I unbolt the tranny pan and clean it out when I go to flush the fluid because I am sure there is a lot of metal shavings in there from everytime I have grinded a gear over the course of 3 years. I'm not asking for an in depth procedure on how to do each of the above fluid changes, what I am asking is for information on the locations and different things I have to do for changing out each fluid. Thanks in advance.
fill out your registry so we can help you better. you mention the clutch fluid, and unbolting the tranny pan. thats two different transmissions, the stick doesn't have a pan.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Wednesday, May 20, 2009 5:35 AM
JBO Stickers! Get yours today!
Really? I thought we had pans for our manual trannys. Hmmm, guess I'm wrong. Whoops lol. I have a 2002 Cavalier LN2 2200. Its the base model, not sure if that matters or not. I was just wondering how to go about flushing out the tranny, clutch, power steering, and brake fluids.
Just to point out some things here.On manual transmissions u simply drain and refill the transmission with the proper gear oil.You may want to drive the car briefly this helps the fluid drain quicker b4 u change it this helps it drain quicker versus being cold..As for the power steering (I do NOT recommend changing) only bc unless you have a leak the system is sealed and does not get contaminated like the other fluids in most cases.I have never changed power strg fluid in vehicles and my 85 and 87 models have the original and are not discolored.As for brake fluid u have to pull the wheels off makes it easier and start at the right rear whl, bleed it then the left rear, then right front,then left front, and u need two people normally and u have to keep the resevoir topped off and bleed all the air out.This is short of it a manual can better do the book version,and takes about 20 minutes approx,.I just do not want to write a book on the brake stuff.
Ron Love wrote:Just to point out some things here.On manual transmissions u simply drain and refill the transmission with the proper gear oil.You may want to drive the car briefly this helps the fluid drain quicker b4 u change it this helps it drain quicker versus being cold..As for the power steering (I do NOT recommend changing) only bc unless you have a leak the system is sealed and does not get contaminated like the other fluids in most cases.I have never changed power strg fluid in vehicles and my 85 and 87 models have the original and are not discolored.As for brake fluid u have to pull the wheels off makes it easier and start at the right rear whl, bleed it then the left rear, then right front,then left front, and u need two people normally and u have to keep the resevoir topped off and bleed all the air out.This is short of it a manual can better do the book version,and takes about 20 minutes approx,.I just do not want to write a book on the brake stuff.
I have to disagree on the power steering fluid. Power steering pumps get very hot, and there is a lot of shearing going on. That said, I agree on keeping that system sealed. I changed mine by buying a meat flavoring injector at walmart. It's essentially a big syringe with measuring marks on it. I could suck up exactly "X" ounces, inject it into an empty coke bottle, and then suck up and inject a corresponding ammount of new PS fluid. I did this each morning before driving the car until I had used up the new quart of fluid. It was nice because each time I sucked out that first pint of fluid, it got cleaner (redder). This won't "flush" the system, but it will increase the % of new fluid (by decreasing increments) as you go along.
