How do you change the fluid in a 1986 Honda CRX 5 speed transmission and what kind of fluid does it use?

Answer 1

Beings it is a manual transmission it will take a gear oil which is considerably thicker than ATF fluid (75 to 90w). You should have no problem finding it at your car parts store. Your owners manual should show you where to install it but typically there is not a fill tube like an automatic transmission.

Honda does things differently from other manufacturers. Many manufacturers use 80W90 hypoid oil; Honda just uses motor oil. I like 5W30, but use the same thing you use in the engine.

How it's done: You first need to make a fill tube. Auto parts stores sell an oil filler which consists of two feet of PVC tubing with an adapter for an oil bottle on it. Buy one of these and a funnel. Remove and trash the oil bottle adapter, and push the tubing over the tip of the funnel to complete the transmission oil filler. While you're at the auto parts store, get three quarts of Mobil 1 oil in the weight you've chosen, or live it up and go to Honda for MTL manual transmission lubricant. Anyway, you need three quarts of it.

Clean the end of your transmission before you start, to keep crud out of it.

Next, turn the steering wheel all the way to the left. Look behind the front passenger-side tire at the end of the transmission and you'll see two plugs, one above the other. The one on top requires a fairly good-size socket to remove. I don't remember which one, but your basic Craftsman 1/2"-drive metric socket set contains the right one. You will need a bunch of extensions, though--I use an 8" and a 6". Screw it out, clean it, wrap it in a cloth and set it aside. That's the fill hole.

Now put a drain pan under the end of the transmission and remove the bottom plug. This one is weird to get out: you get a 3/8" drive extension, or a 3/8" to 1/2" drive adapter if you're like me and don't have any 3/8" drive tools, and stick the drive in the end of the plug. Pretend it's a socket. Turn it out, make sure the oil's draining into the pan, then clean the plug. After the oil quits dripping, put the plug back in.

Stick your filler hose into the fill hole, and very slowly add oil to the funnel. I generally fill the funnel about halfway, let it drain into the trans, count five and add a little more oil. This has to be slow to prevent air pockets from forming. Anyway, about two and a half quarts of oil will fit. I put in a bit more, then let it drain out the fill hole until no more comes out before putting the plug back in. Torque both to 25 lb-ft, or just get them tight. Then clean the end of your transmission, and you're done.

just to add on, penzoil or gm syncro mesh are the best stuff for the tranny. and of cuz oem Honda fluid too. i have a JDM Y1 LSD tranny, they are know to have syncro griding problem, syncro mesh quiet it down and most of ppl that race Honda use that. so give it a try. do not use synthetic oil. Honda tranny don't like it for some reason.