How Many Liters of Oil Are Needed for a Transmission Fluid Change?
4 Answers
Approximately 4 liters of oil are needed for a transmission fluid change. Here is some additional information: 1. A flush machine oil change is performed while the vehicle is running. During the transmission fluid change, the flowing oil will carry out contaminants from inside the transmission. Typically, 12 liters of transmission fluid are required for this method. 2. Transmission oil is primarily composed of petroleum-based lubricating oil or synthetic lubricating oil, blended with extreme pressure anti-wear agents and oiliness agents. It is an important lubricant used in various gear transmission devices to prevent gear surface wear, scuffing, and seizing, thereby extending their service life and improving power transmission efficiency. 3. Transmission oil has excellent anti-wear and load-bearing properties, as well as suitable viscosity. It should also possess good thermal oxidation stability, anti-foaming properties, water separation performance, and rust prevention capabilities.
Last time I went to change the transmission fluid, the mechanic told me that manual transmissions generally require about 2 to 4 liters, while automatic transmissions need more, ranging between 4 to 10 liters. My Honda Civic took 5 liters, and my friend's Highlander, with its larger transmission, used a full 8 liters. The variation mainly depends on the transmission type, displacement, and specific design. Gravity fluid changes can save you 2 to 3 liters compared to using a flush machine, but the cleaning effect isn't as thorough. A reminder to everyone: when changing the fluid, it's best to refer to the maintenance manual or have the mechanic use a specialized tool to check the fluid level. Adding too little can lead to insufficient lubrication, while adding too much increases resistance and fuel consumption. Regular fluid changes are crucial for transmission longevity—don't cut corners.
Our shop performs transmission fluid changes daily, and we've observed that manual transmissions typically require around 3 liters, while automatic transmissions need at least 4 liters. For example, the Volkswagen Lavida manual takes 3.5 liters, while the automatic version requires 5 liters. Rear-wheel-drive vehicles like BMW are even more demanding, often needing 7-8 liters. When using a flush machine, the quantity doubles because the entire fluid circuit system needs to be cleaned. We recommend vehicle owners pay attention to three points during fluid changes: first, verify the specific fluid quantity for your vehicle model; second, consider the changing method—whether it's a gravity drain or a machine flush; third, always check the dipstick level after the change. If you experience gear shift hesitation while driving, it's likely due to low or degraded fluid.
There's no one-size-fits-all answer for transmission fluid quantity. From my experience, it mainly depends on three factors: whether the transmission is manual, automatic or CVT (generally 2-4 liters for manual, 4-8 liters for automatic); the engine displacement (a 1.5L compact car may need only 4 liters, while a 3.0L SUV often requires over 7 liters); and the oil change method (traditional gravity drain uses less fluid but leaves more old oil, while flush machines need about 12 liters for complete replacement). My Volkswagen Golf 6 with 1.4T DSG transmission takes exactly 5.2 liters per change. If you're doing DIY, always check the recommended amount in the maintenance manual first.
