The fact is that CVTs, first of all, provide improved dynamic performance, are more economical, and this gearbox is considered the most comfortable.

Note, like any other unit, the variator also has its pros and cons, while many drivers prefer this particular type of automatic transmission. The serviceability and service life of the variator directly depend on the quality of service and compliance with the rules during operation.

In this article, we will look at how to change the CVT oil, when to do it, how the oil in the CVT is changed, and what to look for when selecting lubricants, etc.

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Changing the oil in the variator: when to change and why

Let's start with the fact that do-it-yourself oil change in the variator. However, it must be remembered that the oil change regulations and tolerances for the transmission fluid itself for CVTs differ from hydromechanical machines.

So, it is important to consider that, in its design, the CVT is different from the automatic transmission and. This transmission is extremely sensitive to loads and oil quality. In fact, this means that such units are not designed for aggressive driving and harsh operating conditions.

Considering that even ordinary trips around the city in start-stop mode, slippage, sudden acceleration and stops can already be considered difficult conditions, then it becomes clear that the box needs to be given special attention.

As for oil, transmission fluid tends to lose its properties with mileage, become contaminated with wear products, additives work, etc. In other words, even if the manufacturer claims that the box is maintenance-free, this does not mean that it really is.

As practice shows, experienced specialists recommend changing the oil and variator, automatic transmission or dual-clutch robots every 40-50 thousand km. run. The main reason is that all of these units have, which is a complex and expensive device. In this case, dirty oil can disable this element.

It is also worth noting that the deterioration of properties and pollution have a destructive effect on other parts and components of the variator (belt, pulleys, cones, etc.). Given the fact that it is difficult and very expensive to repair the variator, changing the oil is a necessary and responsible procedure.

How to change oil in CVT

So, having dealt with the need for regular maintenance, let's look at how to change the oil in the variator box below. It is not difficult to guess that in this case you can go two ways:

• change the oil in the variator at the service station;
• change the oil in the CVT box yourself;

As for the replacement methods, in one case or another, they perform: partial (incomplete) oil change in the box, complete replacement (hardware), complete replacement by the spill method.

• Partial fluid replacement in the variator involves updating (refreshing) the oil. Simply put, part of the lubricant is drained, after which you need to fill in exactly the same amount as was drained before, then adjust the oil level in the variator.

To perform this procedure, you must first warm up the gearbox by driving a car for 10-15 km. Then you need to raise the car on a lift or drive it onto a viewing hole. Next, a drain container is substituted, the drain plug is unscrewed and the liquid is drained. Now the cork can be screwed on.

Then exactly the same liquid (manufacturer, properties, tolerances) is poured into the box as the one that was filled earlier. This approach will avoid the risks of mixing gear oils and possible consequences.

At the same time, it is important to understand that in this way it is possible to update the liquid in the variator by only a third or slightly more of the total volume of liquid. In fact, fresh fluid is mixed with old fluid, which is not drained from the unit through the plug.

To achieve a complete replacement, this procedure must be repeated at least 3-4 times (with an interval of 500-700 km). It is also recommended to perform a double replacement of all automatic transmission filters (after the first approach and after the last one), rinse the sump.

• A complete oil change in the variator is carried out using a special installation. All replacement involves the displacement method, when the new fluid actually squeezes the old one out of the gearbox (replacement).

The device is connected to the pipes of the radiator of the variator cooling system, then fresh liquid is supplied under pressure, which displaces the exhaust. The device has viewing windows so that you can control the pumping process, determining the degree of purification by the color of the liquid. The advantage is the most complete renewal of the oil in the variator.

Also, hardware replacement allows you to perform a variator before pumping oil into the box. Both ordinary oil and special flushing compositions can be used. Then a complete oil change is made in the variator on the device.

Do-it-yourself oil change in the variator

To change the oil in a CVT without the use of special equipment, you will need to prepare:

What is the result

As you can see, a car with a CVT is more comfortable than an automatic transmission and a fairly reliable solution compared to robots like . However, it is important to understand that the CVT box is not designed for heavy duty applications.

In practice, this means that such a unit. At the same time, changing the oil and filters in the CVT variator is an important procedure that automatic transmission repair experts strongly recommend that you perform every 40-50 thousand km. run.

Read also

Operation of the CVT variator box: features of driving a car with a variator, maintenance of the variator box. Useful tips and tricks.

How to operate a car with a variator box, features. Towing a car with a CVT variator, general rules, tips and tricks.

In the design of modern CVT transmissions, transmission fluid plays an equally important role as in. Therefore, changing the oil in the variator by all technical specialists is considered a mandatory procedure. Consider when you need to change the fluid in CVT boxes, what kind of oil to fill in and how to reset the aging counter. It is these questions that most often interest car owners with CVTs manufactured by Nissan, Renault, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Toyota.

How to check the status?

Why should you not trust circumstantial evidence?

The methods described above are the only ways to check the condition of the oil. But the color, smell, consistency, and even more so the aging counter, do not allow you to check the real physical properties of the transmission fluid in the variator. Therefore, we recommend that you adhere to the following rules:

When do you need to change?

CVT repair specialists recommend changing the oil every 40 thousand km. After studying, you yourself will understand why you should not count on a long service life without a regular oil change. In case of severe operating conditions, it is recommended to reduce the intervals to 30-35 thousand km. Negative factors include:

Transmission fluid and filters for CVTs

For CVT, we recommend using only original fluid under the brand name of the manufacturer. It is possible to fill in third-party oil only if the product meets the tolerances of the original fluid.

The physical characteristics of transmission fluids have changed in accordance with the development of the variator design. For example, in Nissan vehicles, depending on the model of the variator, fluid of class NS-1, NS-2 or NS-3 can be used. Before replacing, refer to the repair and operation manual, where you will find complete information on the filling volume and type of oil.

The design of the CVT gearbox often contains a paper filter element (fine cleaning) and a metal mesh (coarse cleaning) of the oil receiver. Along with the oil change, the fine filter should also be changed. The mesh, if possible, is only washed and must be replaced only in cases where it is tightly clogged with friction lining adhesive, coked with deposits of overheated working fluid.

We change on our own

As practice shows, after changing the oil without resetting the sensor, the variator starts to work with jerks and bumps. And the experience of repairing CVT boxes speaks of a pattern according to which the belt breaks and the cones are damaged just after changing the fluid without resetting the counter.

As you can see in the video, there is nothing complicated in changing the variator oil with your own hands.

Any motorist should know how to properly change the oil in the variator. This procedure is also known as changing the transmission fluid. It is the oil change in the variator that guarantees that it will last long enough. But before changing the oil. You need to find out what kind of oil goes into the variator itself.

There are two types of transmission fluid: HMMF and CVFT. Therefore, oil should be filled only according to the instructions. All manufacturers recommend using only original oil to avoid various incidents. And there are, for example, cars that do not accept any other liquid at all, except from the manufacturer.

So, we go directly to the oil change itself in the variator. For this you will need:

transmission fluid,

2 oil variator filters (necessarily new),

Jack / pit / overpass,

Special tool.

The first thing you should do is put your car on a pit or lift. The old fluid must be drained. It is worth noting that, as a rule, oil for boxes of the 1st and 2nd generations is changed in this way.

There are cars that simply do not have a pallet. This completely excludes changing the oil in the variator in this way. In such cars, oil change occurs according to the principle of automatic transmission.

The pan must be removed in order to gain full access to one of the large filters. The filter is usually "hidden" in a plastic protection.

The first generation CVTs have a filter that is protected by a special iron case. CVTs of the second generation - protected by plastic. There is practically no difference between their cases, but they are not interchangeable. The rest of them are all the same, and they are in the same place.

It will be useful for you to know that 1st generation pans and 2nd generation pans differ in fine filters. The filter in variators of the 2nd generation (it is called remote) is not in the pan, but in the radiator area. And the filter in the 1st generation variator is located just in the pan and has the shape of a round object.

If you are a novice driver or one who encounters an oil change for the first time, you will immediately have a question: what is this yellow strip around the perimeter of the entire pan? This is a special cardboard lining. It must be removed very carefully so as not to damage it. It is from it that some drivers can determine whether the transmission fluid was filled.

When you remove the plastic protection, you will immediately gain access to the variator block. This block can be either dirty or clean. It all depends on how old your car is.

Now you need to drain all the liquid that is in the variator and be sure to measure the volume. This is necessary so that you know exactly how much oil to fill. The amount of oil drained and the amount of oil poured must be equal.

As for the oil filter, change it every time you change the transmission fluid. Generation 2 CVTs have the function of carrying oil into the cooling system zone. It's smart enough, because unhooking it from here is much more convenient.

After all the work done, install the filters in the places where they were originally. And now you can safely fill in new oil.

If we take into account the time it took to change the oil in the variator, then this is about 30 minutes. Therefore, do not be lazy, but change the oil yourself, because in car service centers this service will cost you a certain amount that you can save.

Change the oil in the variator on time, and then your car will last for many more years.

This operation is carried out every 60 thousand kilometers (depending on the manufacturer, this figure may vary). This indicator can be adjusted in one direction or another during visual inspection. If, when checking the fluid level, you notice foreign inclusions in the oil, the oil is too dark - you can safely reduce the mileage before changing.

Do-it-yourself oil change in the variator

If you decide to replace the slurry on your own, you will need:

• Naturally original oil (2 cans of 4 liters)
• Oil pan gasket (not always needed, many people use the old one)
• Oil cooler filter and O-ring
• Toolbox and straight arms

original CVT oil

Pan gasket

Ring and filter

Set of tools

Straight arms

The oil is changed to “hot” - this means that before changing the oil in the variator must be warmed up to operating temperature.

Replacement process

1. We drain the old used slurry (approximately 6 liters are drained)
2. Removing the box tray
3. We remove and wash the coarse filter (reusable filter), do not lose the sealing ring when dismantling
4. We remove dirt from the pallet (it has magnets that must be cleaned of metal inclusions)
5. We change the gasket of the pallet and install everything in place in the reverse order
6. The next step is to replace the fine filter
7. We remove the battery with the holder and see the cylindrical body
8. We unscrew and change the filter (do not forget about the gasket of the old filter that can fly off)
9. Change the o-ring and filter
10. We twist everything in reverse order

Coarse filter

sealing ring

Maybe here

Oil cooler

Installed filter

rubber band on the filter

Radiator

Don't forget to update the CVT ECU

After changing the fluid in the CVT, you need to reset the oil aging counter. This is done so that the brains of the variator give out optimal pressure on the cone washers. If this is not done, the variator will consider that the oil is pretty old and with each kilometer traveled, the pressure in the system will increase. This operation is done at your official dealer or service using the M.U.T.-III scanner

Changing the oil in the variator is a rather complicated and very important procedure. Let's talk about it in more detail.

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Why change the oil in the variator?

It is no secret that it is different from conventional automatic transmissions and they use a special oil. As a rule, it is labeled CVT, that is, literally translated from English as “continuously variable transmission”. It is important to note that this lubricant differs from the usual one in a number of properties.

For example, at a certain temperature, its thin films begin to perform frictional actions. This, in turn, prevents the belt from slipping on the CVT cones. That is why it is not easy to add oil here, but also change it in time.

Although the manual for many of the latest models has a note that changing the lubricant in the variator is not required, experts still recommend checking its quality from time to time. For example, if the liquid has changed its usual color, smell, transparency, it is already worth changing it. Especially if solid particles are detected. This can lead to bad consequences.

How to check the oil level?

You can check what level of lubrication is possible by some signs of the operation of the car. For example, if there is little fluid, then there may be the following "symptoms":

• the car accelerates poorly or does not move at all;
• at the beginning of the movement, the car twitches;
• the engine vibrates heavily at idle.

If the oil in the variator is more than normal, then the following symptoms occur:

• difficulty shifting gears;
• the vehicle is moving in position N of the CVT switch.

So, to check how much the lubricant level in the variator is, you need:

1. Park the car on a level surface.
2. Start the engine and after it is fully warmed up, turn off the ignition.
3. After that, within 60-90 seconds, until the oil has cooled down and decreases in volume, it is necessary to measure.
4. To do this, you need to remove the fluid level probe in the variator (usually the yellow ring), wipe it with a clean, dry cloth and insert it back.
5. Remove the dipstick again and look at the mark. Depending on this, you will either need to drain the excess or add the missing oil.

When should the oil be changed?

As experts advise, it is better not to save on fluid replacement and carry out this procedure every 20,000 kilometers. According to some official data, oil manufacturers advise changing them after 45,000 kilometers, which is approximately every three years. Whether you need to replace after this period of time or even earlier, of course, depends on different situations. But still it is better to play it safe, looking at the mileage of the car.

How to make a replacement?

Before proceeding to the lubricant change procedure, remember that it requires your special care. . Make sure that various contaminants do not get on the probe, as well as in the guide tube. Even the smallest speck of dust itself can play the role of sandpaper in the variator.

So, we offer step-by-step instructions on how to change the oil using the example of a Honda Fit car.

1. Place the machine on a repair ramp or use a lift if possible.
2. Start the engine and wait for the cooling fan to turn on, then turn off the engine.
3. Now we remove the mudguard, unscrew the drain plug, substitute a convenient container and drain all the oil from the variator.
4. Wait until all liquid has drained from the device. As a rule, it is about 3 liters. At this time, prepare a funnel with which we will replace the lubricant.
5. We will fill in the oil through the hole where the dipstick stands, but since it is located in a hard-to-reach place, we will need a funnel.
6. Close the drain plug with a new sealing washer.
7. We fill the variator with new gear lubricant.
8. We check its quantity by the method already known to us (after warming up), that is, by the hot method. We look for the oil level in the variator to be at the upper HOT indicator.
9. That's it. Good luck!

Video "All the most interesting about the variator"

In this video, you will learn about the history of the CVT, its advantages, how it works, and hear other interesting facts.

Have you done a fluid change? Perhaps you have your own way? Share it with us in the reviews!