How I drain and refill manual transmission fluid on my 1986 Dodge Daytona.
How I drain and refill manual transmission fluid on my 1986 Dodge Daytona.
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You'll need to pull one of the axles and let the fluid drain out. Then you have a couple of options. There is a fill hole on the diver's side end cover. You can either unscrew the plug with a pair of channel locks if it's the large metal plug style, or pull it out if it's the rubber plug style. Some people will use a funnel to fill it through that hole, and some remove the reverse switch on the top of the trans and fill through there. I think it's easiest to use a funnel on the side.
Although you're only supposed to fill it until oil starts running out of the fill hole, many people jack the car up a bit on the driver's side to get a little extra oil in there.
the square on the end of a 3/8's socket extension should fit the hex in the fill plug
a piece of hose that will fit into the hole , stuck on a funnel is the best fill "tool"
usually full isn't going to be "full" on the first try as the design of the case creates something of a dam between the transmission and differential parts of the case - so when filling you could reach the fill hole but still not have enough in the diff to be really full
to get past this fill to the hole with the car level then jack it up in the front so the oil can flow over the "dam" then put car back on the ground , check level refill as needed
then for good measure drive it around the block and recheck it once again
I've had the same funnel & hose just for this job in the top of my toolbox for 30 years
keep it you'll need it again sometime
I can't help thinking that the helpful suggestions here by members to use the side fill plug are guys thst hsvdnt viole from.the reverse light switch. Sooo much easier IMO. Pouring strait down while standing, trans style funnel with the long snout stays in place, no holding the hose etc. Just sayin when I learned about the switch a few years back, it revolutionized changing my trans fluid
AJ (no More Alan) 84 Rampage RT TIII/568 Quaife 87 GLHS dealer optioned Red 16V Masi/568/Quaife
90 Masi 16V White/Ginger/Black
89 TC Masi 16V Red/Ginger/Black
86 GLHS #110 RoadRace Built 89 CSX-VNT Recaro Car
89 Turbo Mini 'Woody' 85 GLHT 'RedBox'
2014 Explorer DD'r 3.5Twin Turbo Ecoboost AWD and 500HP
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Reverse light fill FTW ! Pull the plug from the side, dump new oil in from the top until it runs out the side. Reinstall plug and dump a little more in... done.
1994 Shadow Sedan. 2.2 N/A, A568 400,000 miles. "the science experiment"
1987 Shelby CSX #418. Long term rebuild and restore ?
I find it pretty quick to just turn the wheel and pour through the fill plug with a funnel. No socket or wrench needed. Fill plug is nice if you are in there and have air box or whatever out of the way though.
On my 02 Neon, I jack it up with the driver wheel off and fill with a transmission funnel. I use Pennzoil or Valvoline MTF and get a little extra in the case. On the Spirit, I just turn the wheel.
+1 for me. I found a skinny funnel that I can jam between the tire and the fender. Then I extended it with some clear Tygon.
I do however use the reverse light switch trick on my Neon.
Did anyone ever figure out why Chrysler never drilled/tapped the drain plugs? That round boss is obviously there for that reason.
Jon J.
1989 Daytona ES 2.4L DOHC
2003 Neon SXT - gone but never forgotten
If it ain't broke, fix it 'till it is!
I'm positive that my A568 has a drain plug. I think it was added by FWDp
Did anyone ever figure out why Chrysler never drilled/tapped the drain plugs? That round boss is obviously there for that reason.
guessing it's not because of the 5 cent plug but probably the "fixture" and added process of drilling & taping the hole for the plug
that and the trans isn't required to last longer than the warranty period so no need to ever drain the fluid
Pretty sure that hole is part of the trans handling fixture used to move these around the plant prior to installation.
Vic in Phoenix
dohcrt@cox.net
91 Spirit R/T x4
92 Spirit R/T x2
89 CSX
88 CSX-TIII
84 Rampage TII
97 Ram (Buzzin Half Dozen)
69 Dart GT 'Vert
I spoke with my dad. He had that drilled and plugged because it's a PITA to pull an axle vs a plug. He used heavy gear oil for a while before I suggested manual trans fluid.
AJ (no More Alan) 84 Rampage RT TIII/568 Quaife 87 GLHS dealer optioned Red 16V Masi/568/Quaife
90 Masi 16V White/Ginger/Black
89 TC Masi 16V Red/Ginger/Black
86 GLHS #110 RoadRace Built 89 CSX-VNT Recaro Car
89 Turbo Mini 'Woody' 85 GLHT 'RedBox'
2014 Explorer DD'r 3.5Twin Turbo Ecoboost AWD and 500HP
My profile page has over 20,000 views, I'm somebody LOL
I never thought about using sae 30. The R/T has a super heavy clutch, heavier than a Hellcat, because he likes everything firm.
heavy weight gear oil and cold weather makes for almost impossiable shifting .. had a buddy that thought he was going to "do it right "
ended up coming back the next day to change the fluid .. took an hour and a half or so to warm up enough to drive the car in the middle of winter
same guy who thought he would clean the barrel connectors on the power module plugs with my torch tip cleaner .. not knowing there is a tang inside the barrel that actually makes the contact with the pin on the module
another night spent splicing on new pigtails