changing manual trans fluid; important?

[trey]

I'm not exactly sure how and what the transmission fluid lubricates in a manual transmision so i was just curious as to how important it is to change it at the specified times?
I have a honda civic that says to do it every 30k or 24 months. I'm at 33k since my last one.

thanks

 

[zstalker]

honda uses regular 10w30 motor oil for their manual transmissions. just like motor oil in a motor, the additives wear out, and the oil can get sheared pretty badly, since it's under a lot of mechanical stress, what with all the gears meshing. yes, I would change the fluid...get a funnel and a tube that fits the end, and you can do it from under (draining) and above (filling) the car without too much trouble.
The drain (uses either a 17mm wrench/socket, or just the squate 3/8" drive wratchet, depending on the year) is on the bottom passenger side of the differential housing on the transmission (the part sticking out towards the rear of the car, with the axles coming out of it), and the fill/check plug is directly above that, up on the passenger out-side of the differential housing (should be a 17mm wrench/socket).

 

[rpn453]

The transmission oil lubricates the bearings and the gears in the transmission.

I recently bought a Pathfinder with 100,000 miles that hadn't ever had the transmission oil changed. The oil was very black and dirty when I drained it and it shifts much better with the new oil. I'll be changing it every 60K miles, as recommended by Nissan. If Honda recommends every 30K, you should get on it. It's cheap and easy to do, and a transmission isn't an inexpensive part. I wouldn't worry about the 24 month interval though. It's not going to degrade from short trips and cold starts like engine oil.

 

[johnd]

My Chevrolet says my car's manual transmission fluid does not ever need to be changed but they don't know how long I usually drive cars. I changed it at 30K and will probably do 60K interval after thatn. Ths particular manual uses Dexron, not motor oil like my wife's Honda did. I've heard it is because the synchronizers are carbon fiber.

 

[mechtech]

Change it.

 

[Zesty]

I changed the unknown fluid in my car recently with some Redline MT-90.

I definitely could feel a difference for the better.