Chevy Cruze Transmission Fluid Change (Automatic) 

Thank you for this video. My father-in-law, who is 90 years old, thought he was draining the engine oil, but instead emptied the transmissionfluid. So I'm going over to his house to help him put new trans fluid back and change the engine oil too.

If anyone wants to avoid jacking up the car and removing the tire, this job can be completed without doing so. If you have a low enough pan to drain the fluid into, you will have enough clearance under the car. Also, if you turn the tires all the way to the right, you can reach in the wheel well to reach the bolt for the oil level without removing the tire. An extension on your socket wrench will make this easier.

Thanks for the video, very informative. Didn't need to lift the car or remove the tire. Was able to remove the drain plug from the front and pull the level plug by turning the steering to the right.

Great video, these are the types of videos that are very helpful for DIY guys. Thanks for posting

thank you for super useful info! there's so clean under the hood

Great video on how to change the ATF on the Cruze. I found that when refilling the tranny with new oil that by the 3rd bottle it started to pour out the side bolt already. Looking at what came out I had at least 4 quarts drained to the pan. By the way, the original ATF oil looked like motor oil (34k)...smh. By starting up the car for a few seconds seem to help circulate the fluid in the tranny while trying to refill using all 4 quarts. Anyhow, I just went ahead and closed the side bolt and poured in the rest of the 4 quarts and it was OK. The recommended ATF oil mentioned in the video was what I went with and noticed a much smoother acceleration through the gears now.

That is the proper way to do a transmission fluid change. However, when I drained my original fluid out at 53,000+ miles (I bought the car used from a relative) and found how filthy the fluid was, I decided to first clean out the transmission. The oil looked pretty much the same. So while I had it up on jackstands doing an oil change, I also drained out what transmission fluid would come out. I carefully measured what I drained out, and put the exact same amount back in. I did this 4 times in 4,000 miles. I did the same thing with the oil. Finally both the oil and trans fluid started coming out cleaner. At that point I changed to a full synthetic oil, and will change it every 3,000 miles. I did a proper transmission fluid change like you did, and will do it again in 10,000 miles, then every 24,000 miles. IMO, the maintenance schedule on these cars is seriously inadequate. If you follow the recommended schedule in the manual, your engine and transmission is not likely to last very long. At least follow the severe service schedule. But I believe 3000 miles for oil and 24,000 miles for trans fluid is what it should be for all late model cars.

Works on Chevrolet Orlando 100%. Thanks for the detailed video.

Thanks for the video. Might be worth noting that the Cruze doesn't have a serviceable filter (I saw this from your answer to someone else). Great Video!!

For those of you saying that the owner's manual says you can drive with the original fluid until 97,XXX miles, I suggest you don't. If you drive short distances regularly, drive in cold or hot weather, or do not drive strictly highway miles, you should always follow the severe maintenance schedule. Better to be safe than sorry.

I could do this if I had a level area to change out the fluid. For real, I'm in the mountains everything is steep rolling mountains. I have to pay the mechanic about 125.00 for this job. Burns me. Love your channel.

Good one......awesome and clearly spoken.Thankyou so much from Alberta.

Thank you❗️our local mechanic told me I had a bad TCM & that I needed to take it to Chevy for them to fix it…. Long story short I had almost no transmission fluid

Thank you so much for this video

Im proud to have the stick shift in my cruze. Just added 8 oz of fluid to mine & im good!

Good information. Thank you

Thanks brotha. Appreciate it.

Great info! Thanks! :)

Nice video man with great detail. You should put the models covered in the title description though it threw me off a bit.

I am contemplating getting one of these cars (2015) and was apprehensive about doing the maintenance myself after the remainder of the warranty is up. After seeing this video, as well as ones regarding oil and filter changes, spark plug replacement, air filter replacement, I feel confident enough I can perform the needed maintenance. The only one I am still unsure of is the timing belt, idler pulley, and water pump, recommended at 97,500 miles for the 1.8 engine.

Nice video, supposedly the new transmission fluid that GM puts in its vehicles has a rust inhibitors in it that cause it to turn black fast even though the fluid is still in good condition.

This is a great video. Very well done. However if you are pressed for time or just lazy like me ,two short cuts..1) Leave the wheel on and jack the car up a little (jack stand always) drain into a SHALLOW pan and then lower the car onto its wheels over the SHALLOW pan and let it drain. Jack back up and install the plug. Now just add 4 quarts and 6 oz and call it done. 2) With enough extensions and possibly a u-joint you can remove the "indicator plug" if you decide to check the level by just turning the wheel far to the right. I have changed the fluid in my Cruze more times than I want to admit to, trying to make sure the original black fluid got flushed. I have measured the drained fluid, used the "indicator plug" etc. etc. Now I just drain and add the above mentioned amount and call it good..

great video thank you

My 2014 Chevy Cruze has 135000 miles on it.Ive owned it since it was brand new.7 years.Ive never changed the transmission fluid even once.Ive never had a problem with the transmission.

This video is very helpful and you gave a very good and a lso nice presentation

Hey thanks for the help bro. Do appreciate it very much

2:48 6:44 I hate when that happens.. Thank you for the video, I find it very helpful. I'm about to do this on my wife's Cruze with 68k miles. Oops... a little late, I know.

Thanks for your help

impressive... nice job!! Sir is there any chances to adjust the parking brake for chevrolet cruze, because it has no adjustment into the interior parking brake lever, and it was self adjusted and defend to the thickness of rear brake pads, even in a low mileages of the car the parking brake lever is to high?

Hi hope all is well just check your video good job, only question do yo need to do this at running temperature (engine running and hot) or with the car off hot or cold.

Thanks for the video , may I know why you didn’t do the flush with cooler line disconnected so we end up cleaning the entire fluid , coz this way you showing will only clean part of it

Thanks for the video is very useful, excuse my English is not very good, in total are 5.5 liters? I do not understand the process of putting the first 3 quarts and the start up. Thank you.

Video was mad helpful while still under the car

I had to change a transmission line on my Chevy cruze. After doing that I only out half a quart of fluid in before it started to drain out. When you say it needs to be in gear, so you mean just have the car running and in park or have someone hold the break with it in drive while filling the fluid

Good video thanks

When you recheck the level with the car running, do you also remove the filler cap? Or leave the filler cap on? I ask because under pressure when the cars running, wouldn't it be bad to remove the filler cap?

Thanks for the video, it,s very helpful. I own a small used car dealership, I've heard before that if you don't know if any car has had any transmission fluid work done, it,s best not to mess with it, but since I buy used cars from auto auctions it's very difficult for me to know the past maintenance history in my cars. I currently have to 2012 chevy Cruzes at my lot that feels a little hard gear shifting, one is at 108,000 miles, and the other one about 130. I am considering changing the transmission fluid on them, I may do one first and later the other one just to see if I can notice any improvements in the first, then do the second one. Any suggestions before I go ahead and do that?

If it's a licensed DexronVI fluid they're all the same. GM has a very tight spec on the fluid and they all have the same additive package and a small list of approved base oil suppliers, so why there is some minor differences depending on which company made the base oil they're all essentially the same if it carries a GM license number.

I wonder if Ford still uses dipstick levels. Not the same chevy from yesteryear. Thanks for the great info.

For the transmission fluid that you used, does it matter if it's synthetic blend or full synthetic? Thanks for the video!

Hello.. I bought a Cruze with a 168k on it. I don’t think the ATF has ever been changed according to the previous owner. The car runs excellent and shifts excellently. I’m in Tammy forbes boat. Nervous to change it. Not wanting to start a new problem. Any opinions or suggestions?? Should I swap out 2 quarts for 2 fresh ones to begin with and see what happens??

Dezam you pretty much broke everything down till Ebonics my wife has a 2013 Chevy Cruze Turbo going to do a fluid change on her car as well soon as she hit $56,000 I have a 2013 Chevy Malibu I noticed they don't have filter that needs to be changed when you change the fluid thanks for the video and like to hear back from you😎😎

I READ ON AMSOIL'S SITE THAT THE "INITIAL" FILL IS 4.2 QTS.- TO RUN ENGINE AFTER DRAINING, AS YOU"VE DONE . HOW MUCH MORE OIL DID YOU HAVE TO PUT IN TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS?? THEY SAID "ACTUAL" FILL IS 4-6 QUARTS?? THANKS BIG GUY!!

Thanks muchas Garcia's

Bro that voice crack when you said tire 😂💀

You definitely dont want to put the check plug in then add another quart or more. If youre adding that plug should be out engine running at operating temp. Also worth noting there is no need to ruin the trans by test driving it low, it will get to operating temp by simply idling for 10 or 15 minutes.

Here in Brazil our Cruze uses the GF6 transmission and our owner's manual says that we should never change the transmission fluid but only check the level and complete. I out of curiosity I looked in the American owner's manual and there it expressly says that the exchange is made with 45 thousand miles or 72 thousand kilometers. My question is whether there in the United States uses the same model of automatic transmission as here in Brazil. Here in Brazil there are several complaints regarding the automatic transmission break but the network dealers and automakers do not recommend the exchange of fluid. Thanks for sharing this video. PS: I used google translate

I see videos showing changing the Fluid. But have not seen any information on maybe changing the transmission filter. I am at 45,000 . Is there a filter? Or the best option is to change only the fluid?

the last service they use an dexron 3 fluid ! so I should change it to dexron 6 ? Did you recommend the Castrol Transmax Dex VI or acdelco fluid? Thank you for this helpful tube :-)

Not sure if you still have the cruze or if you already took care of it as this video is older but I noticed that you still have the defective negative battery cable in the video, should upgrade it if so.

Have your tried Mobil-1 ATF Dexron VI before and is the Valvoline good as well.

I would say it is your transmission filter that would need to get replaced as well, that should remove the dark color of the trans fluid. Since new trans fluid is mixing with old. My2cents.

Hi there, im from brazil and here there isnt much (almost nothing) information about automatic transmissions, and the few specialized garages are so much expensive!! So Im looking for directions and It seems to me that both Cruze use the same transmission. Thanks a lot for the video and I would like to know if this process changes the whole fluid, or only part of It. If not, this process needs a machine to change all the fluid? How much fluid does It takes?! About steps 6 and 7, do I do It whith engine running just like steps 10 and 11? Sorry my english and so many questions. Thanks again!!

Hi good evening can you tell me one question how many quarts goes on the regular transmission fluid change

I understand checking the level while the engine and transmission are warmed up to temp but shouldn't you check the level with the engine off so the fluid dosen't get pumped out by the transmission?

Does the Cruze in this video have the 1.4 or the 1.8? I realize everything is the same except maybe getting to the fill port.

if you check the fill plug for the tranny fluid level after driving it its gonna be way too hot and your gonna dump out a ton of fluid because it's too hot, im pretty sure the temp for the fluid when you check it is around 120f or something around there so that's way under normal operating temperature if I'm remembering correctly

i changed the chevy cruze 2016 1.4 transmission oil.I drained 4 liters and i put in 4.7 lt.Did i over filled it ?

Thanks

hey gus i have a chevy cruze 2013 lt so my cuestion is how 1/4 the oil is for make a change but is manual transmicion keep you help me thans

So the 4 quarts is all that needs to be done every 45k miles ?

Just my comment about the color of the fluid when first changing it ::: Mine was totally black!!. No pink or red coloration at all!! I mistakenly went to 65,000 miles but holy cow ! I have never ever seen trans fluid that black. If only they had a dipstick then I would have seen the color and maybe read the owners manual more carefully. My 3 prior GM vehicles called for 100,000 miles if driven normally( no towing or taxi use). My '07 Silverado w/45,000 miles and original fluid, is still nice and pink.That's 9 years ..Cant understand why the Cruze was so black in only 4 years ??

Will this work for the AF-40 6 speed in the 2014 diesel model. Because I dont think the gas and diesel have the same 6 speed.

be also careful with the 10mm oil plug,they strip very easy.i replaced mine with a 17mm head,so much better.

Question. Before pulling the drain plug on the bottom of the transmission I pulled the fill check plug. I got about 2 quarts that came out. I then drained the tranny and refilled with 4.2 quarts. Went for a drive then pulled the check plug again. I got about 2 quarts out. Thoughts?

After you changed the fluid did it seem to shift better?

great video man, just a question i am worried about mine (gen2) and might have over filled it. i let the car run and took off that overfill bolt, fluid starts coming out continuously. should i wait for the fluid to stop flowing so that i know its at the right level? pls help thanks!

My 2013 chevy cruze 1.8 says it requires 9 quarts but i believe it has the same transmission as this cruze which you said takes 4 quarts, im confused ?

Hey buddy. Great video, very informative. I have a question..I recently got a trans fluid change for the first time on my 2012 chevy cruze base model 1.8 at 66000 miles..Got it done at a local dealership and they told me that the filter in this particular car doesn't need to be changed, or at least didn't need to be changed now, but they were acting like it was not necessary to ever really change it. They just said to keep coming back every 30 to 40 thousand miles for a fluid change. I called another chevy dealer and they confirmed what they had said but I always thought you should change it..If anyone can confirm that this is indeed true and I should be fine it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Have problem with transmission at cruising speed shifting down to 5th and locking down and staying in 5th until pull over stop and restarting engine , engine light stays on but back to to normal for few miles and locks up again in 5th

Hi, I have a Chevy Cruze 2011 I have a problem with it, car won’t backup but it only goes forward...it has transmission lake...idk if the transmission doesn’t work anymore or it just needs transmission liquid.

My 2011 Chevy cruise has a kick to it...could it be needs a transmission oil change ...or spark plugs

So all I have to do is drain the Pan and put exactly the mount Floyd this and the transmission drain Pan so if it drains out 4.2 courts put exactly that inside the car

After you drain the fluid do you have the car running when you replace it??

Hello, do you know what the torque is for the two bolts? thanks!

I have a 2015 Cruze with 1.4L Turbo and automatic transmission. The manual says transmission fluid should be changed at 97,000 miles, not 45,000. Evidently, not all Gen 1 Cruzes are the same.

If you jack it up and take the tire off you should still be able to let it down to level out on the jack

hey bro i have chevy cruze ltz vcdi 2.0 automatic transmission 2013 model in india ,how much fluid required in transmission chamber please help.

well I have never changed the transmission oil. my car has 120k. do i have to change it? actually my transmission now has a problem. the 2nd gear is now not working.

IS it the same steps for a transmission in a Cruze Diesel 2.0?

I drive a 2014 Cruze LS automatic. How many quarts of fluid does it take?

I changed my wifes 2011 cruz,it came out black.i don't smell a burning anymore.

i have chevrolet cruze 1.6A (2010) 1 gen and i dont know the specification for ATF, any idea?

The manual says there is no need to change it.. I don't understand why they say it and now I don't know.. is it really necessary?

Someone please do a video on changing the transaxle fluid in the 2011-2015 Chevy volts.I found out it takes Dexron VI and should be changed with heavy use at 45,000 miles. I'm going to replace mine with royal Purple Max ATF It's completely compatible ,but GM won't honor the warranty with it;s use at this time. I'm pretty sure this is just a drain and fill similar to the Prius but there are no videos for the Volt. The dealer wants over 200 dollars for a 30 min. job tops.

Mines got 121k idk if the fluids ever been changed should I not chance it and not change it?

How much the quantity gear oil change? 4 ltrs or more than 4 liters?

Everything I've read shows 5.8 quarts -- and that the level bolt is a 12mm. Can you confirm?

Can anyone tell me what that rubber plug is for on top of transmission closer to the engine kinda hidden

Isnt this applicable to severe weather only @ 45k miles? under normal weather it says every 97.5k miles? can anyone clarify?

Will this same process work for 2011 Chevy Cruze ECO

Anyone on here know if the bottom two plugs (oil drain, oil level check) are the same on a 2016 Impala? I've gone through numerous forums, and can always call the dealership (since its the weekend). Thanks.

There great cars much better than the cobalt it replaced

How many quarts came out?

How to change oil transmission Chevrolet optra 1.8 (2005) And how to do to top up the oil transmission Chevrolet optra can you give me some of video to top up the oil where are the plug I open

I put a4 ft level across my core support.

can you add lucus transmission stop slip to a 2011chevy cruze ??

I have a 2017 Chevy Cruze how can I change the transmission fluid in it cause the dealership want me to pay $220 just to flush it out

Does it have to be cold when you change it

Is it recommended to do it at the 30,000 miles like my dealer told me? Someone please answer me