[OrangeCrush]

Oh also, I have found out there is a small filter that looks comparable to a canister style oil filter inside the housing of the transmission. This is the part that I can not do myself, should I even bother having it done by a dealer and getting bent over by the price? Or just change the fluid, maybe drop and clean the strainer.

Forum search love:
So, this was my question as well as I ponder my CVT. What about a/the filter. This is the first indication of a filter and it doesn't sit right not to change it as well. Did y'all just leave it in there and wait for the 100k service?

 

[ironman1518]

Forum search love:
So, this was my question as well as I ponder my CVT. What about a/the filter. This is the first indication of a filter and it doesn't sit right not to change it as well. Did y'all just leave it in there and wait for the 100k service?

That little paper canister looking filter is INSIDE the transmission, can not replace it without taking out the tranny and opening it up. Here is a video where it shows that filter, deep inside the tranny.

He shows that filter at about 2:25 min.

 

[Robot]

Great write up!

CVT plug gasket part number(s)?

 

[Crosstrek73]

DIY CVT Fluid Change

So let me just see if i'm taking this all in correctly If I'm going to do a CVT fluid change myself. It should go something like this.. (With everything) up to operating temp. 1: Remove drain pull and drain as much as possible. 2:Reinstall drain plug 3: Remove filler plug 4: Fill to bottom filler hole. 5: Start Engine and bring it back to operation temp. 6: (at idle) Slowly cycle thru the gears once or twice. 7: With engine STILL running. Go under car and add more fluid until its at the bottom of the filler hole. 8: Reinstall filler plug.
Good to go?
Or ...

9: Take car for brief normal driving ride. 10: (with engine still running) verify fluid lvl is to bottom of filler hole, add more as necessary.

Good to go??

Ive done 90% of my own mx. for years on both motorcycles and cars. Just haven't done any with an automatic trans, let alone a CVT. This procedure looks identical to that of most manual trans. just when its at operating temp then adding the (while its running) thru the gears then top off. Thanks guys for the info so far, I look forward to your responses.

 

[rlouie]

One of the the big differences between AT/CVTs and MT when it comes to fluid change is that you don't actually replace all of the fluid at one time in a AT/CVT unlike a MT. With a CVT, you only replace about 1/2 when you do a drain and fill. So to change more of the fluid, you need to do multiple drains and fills which means you will go through a lot of fluid.

 

[[email protected]]

I drained the CVTF when the CVTF is about room temp. Getting it up to "Operating" temp will probably burn you. A thermo gun or an OBD reader is needed to keep the CVT temp within the range when topping it off. You probably get 1/3 of the total fluid changed out. Rather than dropping the pan which is major hassle, you just do another drain and fill or two to dilute the old fluid out.

 

[kr_xv]

Good info, thank you. I'm not a transmission specialist. Is there a ballpark number of quarts I would be safe buying knowing I would have enough to refill after a single drain? Say 8 or so? I would hate to run short in the middle of the job.

interestingly my first drain takes 6 quart but the subsequent one always less than 6 quart. buy 7 is very safe if you use pressure

 

[[email protected]]

I used 4.5 4.8 quarts. That’s all it take Some reported that if you leave the draining overnight. You can get more out of it.