Thanks for forging the path - great info. Just bought a '14 with 66k. Changing some fluids just to make sure. I took the overflow plug out and it was the same size and threads as the drain. Cleaning around the fill port is good idea - I found an old nest of some sort around mine!
It's a little funny that everyone looks at the transmission fluid and thinks it doesn't look bad - forgetting (or not realizing) that there's a transmission filter inside the transmission. You can't really replace that filter unless you drop the transmission and take it apart. But if the filter did its job, the transmission fluid you take out won't look very bad. You'd need to have it chemically compared to spot the differences, but changing the fluid like this was definitely a good idea. Also, there's a process for changing the oil involving a lot of gear changes. If this is the first time the fluid has been changed (probably is) then the equal quantities method is probably fine. But supposedly getting the level of fluid right is trickier than that, and fairly important for the life of these transmissions. You did a pretty good job of showing the plug locations - thanks!
Nice video. The holey jacket raises the authenticity, and thus the credibility by at least a factor of 10. As a chemist, I'd recommend using a tall, very thin glass, or a shot glass with a flash light on the side to compare the colors. Thanks for the video, I'll be doing this soon!
Bruh I got one of these from my dad with 200k miles and I’m just now changing the transmission fluid 😭😭 thank you for the video though saves me the pain of getting chewed out by my dad.
what year is your volt ? how’s she running so far ? i’m looking to buy a 2013 with 200k as well but no service records for the transmission. owner says it runs strong tho
You mentioned checking the filter requires the transmission to be removed? So should I skip that? My car has 140k miles and I don't know if the transmission fluid has ever been changed. I think it may have been done by the dealership at some point since records indicate the car was sold by a dealership with 62k miles on it? Plus there was some oil residue near the fill port.
I have a 2013 with about 250,000 miles. Not sure if it’s ever been changed. Still drives smooth. Should I change it or flush it or just leave the fluid? I recently bought it.
Hello, just a quick question. You said there’s a level check plug. Do you think I could pump the fluid in through there instead of going through the top? That’s usually the case on older cars, you pump in fluid till a bit dribbles out and you know it’s full.
Yeah I read the manual and it’s just to check level. Unfortunately I’m not really getting a clear answer of how much to fill it with. It goes from 6.5-9.4. Guess I’ll put 7 and wait till it drips from the level check.
So I got it done. Car runs fine. Drained the car, about 6.7 quarts came out put 6.7 exactly back in. 9.4 quarts are supposed to be inside. Followed the procedure to make sure it was at an the proper 9.4. There is a dampener somewhere that uses trans fluid so my assumption is that i took 6.7 out but the other 2.7 are somewhere in the trans. But upon correct level check procedures about 1/2 a quart came out that was overfill. I thought maybe at 40k when the dealer did the job they could have over filled by 1/2 a quart but the car ran fine till 90k so I just put back in the 1/2 quart and called it a day. So there’s 3+ quarts of 50k old oil in the system but it was pretty pink. Much thought went into it, my resolution for my feeling of unease knowing there’s old oil in there? Do the trans oil change again every 35k.
I think when I did mine it was about 7 quarts. As for the additional fluid it would be in the torque converter probably. Without removing the transmission it will stay inside. Changed mine at 100k seems to just start being burned smell. I guess depending on how hard u drive car. Glad I could help.
@@doransignal the Volt doesn't have a torque converter, it is a planetary gear set directly driving to the road. Thanks for your helpful and informative video.
Anyone know how to determine when exactly does the volt need a transmission fluid change? Going by the mileage is not the most accurate means to determine how much the transmission has been used on volt. For that matter, is there a way to determine the actual mileage it's been on the engine? The MPG on the display is useless in finding the exact mileage driven under the engine. Even then, volt wiki says the computer decides how the electric motor is used even after the battery is drained from engine/electric to engine/transmission power.
Whether the generator is running or not has no effect on the trans fluid, as long as the car is moving the fluid is being circulated. So using the miles, or time is still an accurate way to keep fluids changed. My 2015 has like 36k on it and I'm getting ready to change the fluid today, not because of mileage but because of it being almost 6 years old already.
Just drained the transmission fluid when car is on ramps. Drains about 5 quarts instead of 6 when on ramps. Oops, slightly over tightened drain bolt not difficult to do!
did your car run fine after changing it after over 100k miles? i am at 90k and a little scared to change as i dont want my transmission to die..little scared as i have heard stories for transmission dying after changing tranmsission fluid.
You heard correct. But in this that wouldn't happen. That only happened in conventional transmissions where the new fluid is low viscosity, whereas old fluid has viscosity buildup. I add a bottle of Lucas trans treatment to new fluid for that reason.
So in the GM maintenance schedule, it lists changing the electric drive unit fluid only under severe conditions. That schedule runs to $150, 000 miles. What made you decide to change it?
I just got an 11 model 170k miles I'm assuming they were mostly highway I was thinking since that was the case this volt is really pushing a 120k hypothetically lol we will pretend Any tips on this volt
@@cgletts I sold her the car went crazy one morning and wouldn't come back even the gm dealership couldn't save her but the guy who bought her claims that he changed the 12v battery and it started bare in mind it had codes thrown and reset by gm
I just subscribed, I have a 2013 volt, I noticed I had a coolant leak I tock it to my mechanic and he said its a stress leak, but my reservoirs levels are fine and the car is running fine with no check engine light or error codes. Any suggestions on what should ai do. Thank you
@@doransignalHello I was told it was on the radiator, Ive been checking the levels and I had to add some coolant last night, I want my car to be in tip top shape but $1850 is a lot of money
I'm getting a leak in my 12', 85k, never changed, what could be the cause? Its pink color still, I park aiming uphill. Could it be the level plug just overflowing? Is there any seal to worry about? thx
bashar Alasouli I put about 6 quarts I believe in mine. So a quart is a little more than a liter. So 6.5 liters should work. There is a full bolt on the transmission so you don't overfill
They don't have a "transmission", it's an electric drive unit. WeberAuto has some good vids that explain it in very good detail. It takes Dex VI, though.
@@GrandPrix46 my volt lasted 1 month than died the guy I sold it to sait it was the 12v battery but GM said otherwise I got half my money back it was definitely a learning experience
@@AOG_ETH dude that sucks, these cars are generally rock solid. The 12v can cause all sorts of issues when they start to go bad, I plan to just change mine every 3 years for peace of mind. Glad you were able to get half your money back, though.
Can we talk about your use of the word transmission? I didn't think the vault had a transmission. I didn't think it had gears, other than the planetary gear, so no transmission. Am I wrong, or is this why you couldn't find any other videos about this procedure?
SpecR is correct, it not intuitive but pouring with the open side up allows air to reach inside the bottle without having to pass through the liquid. This avoids the glug glug and change of flow of doing it the other way, making the pour much more consistent. Learned it from my father as a kid working on cars.
@@doransignal Not a question. It is a statement of automotive fact. Late model vehicles have SO MUCH electronics under the hood, most vehicle manufacturers advise against engine washing. EV or PHEV, even worse. I was in the Auto repair Industry since 1973 and of course, have seen tremendous evolution, of the automobile. Engine washing is asking for trouble, on modern vehicles.
PS The proper way to remove the grit around the filler plug, would be to use an air hose to blow the debris away, before removing the plug. In a pinch, if you don't have compressed air, use something like "Carburetor Spray" (cleaner) FOLLOWED BY A USE OF A SHOP TOWEL, OR BRUSH. You are correct about one thing, you do not want grit going into the trans.
Really it should never smell "burnt".. used yes, but not burnt.. a hybrid drive train like the volt has no clutches to burn*, it is just gears in oil... *there is one clutch pack in the volt, but its always locked except in the instance of a over power condition.. and that shouldn't ever happen.. its a safety device. Hybrid drives like the volt are so simple mechanically .. compared to traditional transmission , one gear ratio no shifting or clutches or belts to wear out.. direct drive directly to the wheels.. that is why I will only ever buy a hybrid type car... ALl hybrid systems are pretty much the same.. traction motor direct tot he wheels and a 2nd generator/motor attached to the gas engine witht he power split device ( a differential) that either generates electricity or pushes rotational forces from the gas engine into the drive line.. its a brilliant and elegantly simple design, that has no wear parts to wear out.
Like a rear axle, should be changed periodically. There is still friction in motion, so it costs a little every 5 years or so, it will wear out but the newer fluid will help it last even longer.
