Transmission fluid Change

[Cory 3]

This CVT for the spark has the capacity of 6.2 quarts. BUT if you do  drain and fill you will not drain the torque converter and the fill will be about 4.5 quarts. To drain, remove the pan bolt then there will be an over flow tube that you use a 5mm allen wrench to remove from the same hole as the drain bolt. That will drain the pan (4.5 quarts) but not the torque converter. then put the over flow tube back in the drain hole. Do not put the drain bolt on yet! (The internal over flow tube will drain any excess fluid with the drain bolt off) Now add 3 quarts of fluid. Start the engine and go through all the gears with foot on brake. Do 5 seconds each gear (Drive, neutral, reverse and low)

Warm up for ten minutes on level ground. Ad more fluid until you see it drain from the drain plug hole. Once it drips out and stops streaming out put the drain plug back on.  If you want to do the next best for old nasty fluid then remove the pan to clean the magnets on the bottom of the pan and replace the fluid filter. Rock auto sells the filter. It's a triangular shape. If you want to drain the torque converter check this out: https://gm-techlink.com/?p=10118

 

Torque specs from service manual:

 

Fluid Strainer Mounting Bolt (Transmission filter) 8 N.m (71 lb in)

Transmission Drain plug Overflow Tube 15 N.m (11 lb ft)

Control Valve Body Cover Bolt (Transmission pan bolts) 6 N.m (53 lb in)

transmission Drain Plug 34 N.m (25 lb ft)

 

Use Valvoline CVT, Amsoil CVT or Lucas CVT for synthetic fluid versions.

Edited February 21, 2022 by Cory

[Rowdy45466 0]

Is there a manual page or video of doing this so i can get it right? Any chance anyone has access to a detailed procedure mainly filling it to the right level. Checking the level via the port on the pan?

[miniman 0]

Do you keep the engine running while adding fluid to the correct level?

[Tripp 0]

Going to give it a shot. 2021 spark LT. 68000 miles. Owners manual says take it to the dealership and you can't buy maintenance manual. Dealership wants $300 to drop the pan and replace the filter and fluid. I'm going to just pull the plug and replace the fluid this go. I've never done trans fluid change on a car that didn't have a dipstick or a fill plug. Wish me luck.