We check the oil level in the automatic transmission on a Chevrolet Cruze with our own hands. Self-oil change in the automatic transmission chevrolet cruze Problems with checking the oil level in the automatic transmission on a chevrolet cruze

Some car manufacturers say the oil in an automatic transmission is designed for life and does not need to be changed. But this is not the case. At high mileage, parts wear out, technical fluid and filter elements become clogged with metal shavings. As a result, lubrication deteriorates and parts wear even more.

Level check

Checking the oil level in the Chevrolet Cruze automatic transmission is a rather complicated undertaking; you will need an inspection hole and tools for it. But without this, it is impossible to know how much fluid is missing and what is the reason for the shortage. You should periodically inspect the underside of your vehicle to make sure there are no leaks of technical fluids.

Warm up the car first to see the objective level. As you know, cold liquid is compressed and does not give an objective picture. Do not turn off the engine, rearrange the gear shift knob in different modes. This is necessary to lubricate all parts.

Stop at the inspection hole and with the engine running, put the gearshift lever in the "P" position. Take the 11 open-end wrench and find the inspection plug on the gearbox. It is located at the exit from the checkpoint, on the back of the mechanism, from the end.

Take a clean container, place it under the stopper. Unscrew it carefully. If the liquid runs off in a thin trickle, then the level is normal. If nothing flows, then the amount is insufficient. You need to watch the video to understand how to add oil to a Chevrolet Cruze automatic transmission. This is done under the hood via a breather. You need to fill in until it goes through the drain hole.

If the level was sufficient, all the spilled oil from the Chevrolet Cruze automatic transmission must be poured back after you screw the plug. It is recommended to keep the level increased by 0.5 l.

How often do you need to change the oil

When refilling, you need to check the color of the liquid. Dark, deep black indicates replacement is needed. If the oil becomes cloudy, it is recommended to change it. If these signs showed up after a recent replacement, this indicates a breakdown in the mechanism.

The replacement period depends on the operating conditions of the vehicle. If you often drive at high speed or travel on unpaved roads, the interval can be reduced to 60 thousand km. Remember that at speeds above 150 km / h, the box heats up to 120 degrees, at this temperature the grease loses its properties.

Partial replacement process

The first thing you need to change the oil in a Chevrolet Cruze automatic transmission is a viewing hole. Warm up the car by driving 5-10 km before work. Park your car in a garage or street pit. In winter, it is recommended to carry out work in a warm room.

Required tools:

  • a set of keys;
  • capacity;
  • clean rags;
  • funnel;
  • new fluid.

The container should be large enough, as 5-6 liters of liquid will pour out. It is best to work with gloves so that the technical liquid does not come into contact with the skin. It is better to put on work clothes on the body, which are not a pity.

How to change the oil in a Chevrolet Cruze automatic transmission:


Check the transmission fluid temperature sensor. Check the box while driving, all gears should shift smoothly. Do not forget to note the oil change date in the Chevrolet Cruze automatic transmission, so as not to forget.

Pros of partial replacement:

  • All work can be done independently;
  • The old oil is mixed with the new one, the composition is renewed;
  • Less risk of disrupting the operation of the box;
  • Low oil consumption.

The downside is that you still won't be able to completely renew the roster, even if you do it several times. But with this method, you will save on liquid and on the work of the masters.

Complete replacement in service

You cannot carry out a complete oil renewal on your own, as this requires special skills and equipment. With the help of a special device at the service station, the new oil pushes the old one and a 100% renewal takes place.

The tube of the apparatus is connected through the radiator of the box, the engine starts. At the same time, the old fluid is drained and a new one is filled. The wizard controls the color through a special window. As soon as the shade of the oil becomes normal, the procedure is completed. The cost of the work is not very high - from 1000 rubles, depending on the city.

The advantages of the method:

  • You control the whole process and see how the color of ATP changes;
  • The consumption of gasoline after replacement is reduced, since the power losses in the torque converter are reduced;
  • Shifts become smoother, the automatic transmission responds better to driving style;
  • The professionalism of the craftsmen excludes the possibility of mistakes.

But full replacement has its drawbacks:

  • The auto-technician can give a guarantee for his work, but he will not give a guarantee for the smooth operation of the box;
  • On a car with high mileage, the device can wash out useful deposits from the mechanism, which will lead to breakdowns;
  • Not every service has the right device;
  • The cost of the service is higher than for a partial replacement.

How to choose oil and filter

Important! For a complete oil update in a Chevrolet Cruze automatic transmission, you will need 7.5 liters of fluid. If you only drain it from the pallet, then you need to buy 5.5 liters.

At the Chevrolet Cruze plant, the Dextron GM VI is poured. You can choose another manufacturer if you change the oil completely. For refilling, it is better to buy the liquid that has already been filled.

Pay attention to the markings on the packaging. The inscriptions must be present:

  • Class VI.

If you do not know what kind of oil is in the Chevrolet Cruze automatic transmission, choose from the official manufacturers:

  • Mobil;
  • Havolin;
  • Chevron.

These brands are poured into GM cans, so you can take any. If you have one of the listed brands in your motor, you can fill the box with the same one.

Interesting fact! The hydraulic booster is filled with the same fluid as in the transmission.

You will also need a filter that will remove harmful impurities from the liquid. It needs to be changed every 80 thousand km, you can do this without renewing the oil. But it is most convenient to combine these actions. The filter in the automatic transmission is freely accessible; you do not need special tools.

If you do not know what kind of oil to fill in the Chevrolet Cruze automatic transmission, read the reviews of motorists and choose the appropriate brand. Focus on how you feel from different brands. If you partially renew the fluid, make the second replacement after 1-2 thousand km.

Some car manufacturers say the oil in an automatic transmission is designed for life and does not need to be changed. But this is not the case. At high mileage, parts wear out, technical fluid and filter elements become clogged with metal shavings. As a result, lubrication deteriorates and parts wear even more.

Level check

Checking the oil level in the Chevrolet Cruze automatic transmission is a rather complicated undertaking; you will need an inspection hole and tools for it. But without this, it is impossible to know how much fluid is missing and what is the reason for the shortage. You should periodically inspect the underside of your vehicle to make sure there are no leaks of technical fluids.

Warm up the car first to see the objective level. As you know, cold liquid is compressed and does not give an objective picture. Do not turn off the engine, rearrange the gear shift knob in different modes. This is necessary to lubricate all parts.

Stop at the inspection hole and with the engine running, put the gearshift lever in the "P" position. Take the 11 open-end wrench and find the inspection plug on the gearbox. It is located at the exit from the checkpoint, on the back of the mechanism, from the end.

Take a clean container, place it under the stopper. Unscrew it carefully. If the liquid runs off in a thin trickle, then the level is normal. If nothing flows, then the amount is insufficient. You need to watch the video to understand how to add oil to a Chevrolet Cruze automatic transmission. This is done under the hood via a breather. You need to fill in until it goes through the drain hole.

If the level was sufficient, all the spilled oil from the Chevrolet Cruze automatic transmission must be poured back after you screw the plug. It is recommended to keep the level increased by 0.5 l.

How often do you need to change the oil

When refilling, you need to check the color of the liquid. Dark, deep black indicates replacement is needed. If the oil becomes cloudy, it is recommended to change it. If these signs showed up after a recent replacement, this indicates a breakdown in the mechanism.

The replacement period depends on the operating conditions of the vehicle. If you often drive at high speed or travel on unpaved roads, the interval can be reduced to 60 thousand km. Remember that at speeds above 150 km / h, the box heats up to 120 degrees, at this temperature the grease loses its properties.

Partial replacement process

The first thing you need to change the oil in a Chevrolet Cruze automatic transmission is a viewing hole. Warm up the car by driving 5-10 km before work. Park your car in a garage or street pit. In winter, it is recommended to carry out work in a warm room.

The container should be large enough, as 5-6 liters of liquid will pour out. It is best to work with gloves so that the technical liquid does not come into contact with the skin. It is better to put on work clothes on the body, which are not a pity.

How to change the oil in a Chevrolet Cruze automatic transmission:

  1. Leave the engine on, and put the checkpoint into the "Parking" mode.
  2. Remove the crankcase protection.
  3. Place a container under the drain plug.

Check the transmission fluid temperature sensor. Check the box while driving, all gears should shift smoothly. Do not forget to note the oil change date in the Chevrolet Cruze automatic transmission, so as not to forget.

Pros of partial replacement:

  • All work can be done independently;
  • The old oil is mixed with the new one, the composition is renewed;
  • Less risk of disrupting the operation of the box;
  • Low oil consumption.

The downside is that you still won't be able to completely renew the roster, even if you do it several times. But with this method, you will save on liquid and on the work of the masters.

Complete replacement in service

You cannot carry out a complete oil renewal on your own, as this requires special skills and equipment. With the help of a special device at the service station, the new oil pushes the old one and a 100% renewal takes place.

The tube of the apparatus is connected through the radiator of the box, the engine starts. At the same time, the old fluid is drained and a new one is filled. The wizard controls the color through a special window. As soon as the shade of the oil becomes normal, the procedure is completed. The cost of the work is not very high - from 1000 rubles, depending on the city.

  • You control the whole process and see how the color of ATP changes;
  • The consumption of gasoline after replacement is reduced, since the power losses in the torque converter are reduced;
  • Shifts become smoother, the automatic transmission responds better to driving style;
  • The professionalism of the craftsmen excludes the possibility of mistakes.

But full replacement has its drawbacks:

  • The auto-technician can give a guarantee for his work, but he will not give a guarantee for the smooth operation of the box;
  • On a car with high mileage, the device can wash out useful deposits from the mechanism, which will lead to breakdowns;
  • Not every service has the right device;

The cost of the service is higher than for a partial replacement.

How to choose oil and filter

At the Chevrolet Cruze plant, the Dextron GM VI is poured. You can choose another manufacturer if you change the oil completely. For refilling, it is better to buy the liquid that has already been filled.

These brands are poured into GM cans, so you can take any. If you have one of the listed brands in your motor, you can fill the box with the same one.

You will also need a filter that will remove harmful impurities from the liquid. It needs to be changed every 80 thousand km, you can do this without renewing the oil. But it is most convenient to combine these actions. The filter in the automatic transmission is freely accessible; you do not need special tools.

If you do not know what kind of oil to fill in the Chevrolet Cruze automatic transmission, read the reviews of motorists and choose the appropriate brand. Focus on how you feel from different brands. If you partially renew the fluid, make the second replacement after 1-2 thousand km.

Watch an interesting video on this topic

Chevrolet Aveo cars are very popular in Russia and abroad. This is an inexpensive but practical car with decent technical characteristics. If you choose a version with an automatic transmission, you should know about the nuances of operating the automatic transmission, checking the lubricant level and changing it as needed. in an automatic transmission in a Chevrolet Aveo T300 it takes a little time, but it requires mandatory compliance with certain rules and recommendations. The main ones are the frequency of replacement and the correct selection of a new lubricating fluid.

Before changing the oil in the Chevrolet Aveo automatic transmission, check the level of the old one.

Replacement frequency

The oil in the engine, like the oil in the gearbox, has its own shelf life. This is the period of time during which the lubricating fluid retains its operational and physicochemical properties. Usually, engine oil changes several times more often than transmission oil. This is due to the severity of the conditions in which the oils are located and the intensity of their operation. If we talk about when to change the oil in the automatic transmission of the Chevrolet Aveo car, then you need to look at the operating manual. The automaker also advises updating the transmission lubricant every 60 thousand kilometers traveled.

But in reality, this may happen a little more often. The more intensively you operate the car, the faster the oil in the gearbox wears out. Severe conditions require tighter fluid control and shorter drain intervals. Therefore, some car owners have to drain and pour oil into the automatic transmission every 30 - 40 thousand kilometers.

Oil selection

To purchase a new transmission fluid for your Chevrolet Aveo, refer to the official vehicle manual. It indicates that for the T300, an engine oil with technical characteristics designated as Dexron VI is used. It is an optimal transmission oil in terms of its technical and physicochemical properties, suitable for automatic transmissions. Oils with appropriate characteristics and markings are produced by different companies. Therefore, start from the designations on the containers. Among the most preferred manufacturers are the following:

  • Petro Canada;
  • S-Oil;
  • Havoline;
  • ConocoPhillips;
  • Exxon Mobile;
  • Kendall;
  • Chevron;
  • Petronas;
  • Sinopec.

Each of the oils presented with the corresponding characteristics are suitable for Chevrolet Aveo cars, on which an automatic transmission is installed. Use only high quality oil that has all the certificates and approvals. There are also fakes on the market that can harm the automatic box.

Preparatory activities

In order for the oil change in the gearbox to be successful, and you did the job correctly with your own hands, preparation and a set of some tools are required. For "Chevrolet Aveo" with automatic transmission, when changing the lubricant, you need to take:

  • set of tools;
  • several keys and heads;
  • Empty container for old gear oil;
  • metal brush;
  • new pallet gasket;
  • new oil filter;
  • degreasers;
  • dry rags;
  • new transmission fluid;
  • special oil filler neck.

This is a standard set of tools and materials that will come in handy when changing gear oil on the Aveo.

Checking the status

To assess the current state of the transmission fluid, you need to check how much oil is in the Aveo box at the moment. Estimate the available volume in the gearbox, the level and take a closer look at the fluid itself. It's easy to figure it out. For this, a special automatic transmission dipstick is located under the hood. It is used in the same way as an engine oil dipstick. Therefore, keep a dry cloth on hand and be guided by the "Min" and "Max" marks on the long dipstick of the Chevrolet Aveo checkpoint.

If the dipstick shows a deviation from the normal level, do not rush to just add some fresh oil. Take a white cloth and put a few drops of liquid on it. If it differs in color from fresh oil, has inclusions or particles of debris, dirt or metal dust, this indicates that it is worn out and dirty. Better completely. Previously, it will be useful to find out why the oil in the Chevrolet Aveo automatic transmission was exhausted ahead of time, if there are any leaks or any breakdowns in the automatic transmission.

Replacement

If the check indicates that the transmission oil needs to be changed, get to work. It can be done by hand, saving a lot of money on car services. Plus, practice shows that not all service stations are capable of better quality than the car owner will do it on his own.

Follow the instructions so that during the procedure there are no unnecessary questions and difficulties:

  1. To begin with, dismantle the protective part of the pallet, if such is provided on your Chevrolet Aveo. The protection is held by three bolts, which could have become attached during the operation of the machine. If they do not lend themselves to simple force from the key, use the WD40 and wait for the converter to operate. The bolts should now give way. Additionally, it is recommended to remove the brace from the subframe, otherwise difficulties will arise when dismantling the automatic transmission pallet.
  2. Use a coarse metal brush to clean the surface of the sump and the plug itself, which opens the way to the transmission fluid drain.
  3. Before unscrewing the plug, place an empty container of 3 - 4 liters under it. If you plan to refill existing oil, then use a clean container. The used oil can also be disposed of in dirty containers, since it is then disposed of anyway.
  4. After unscrewing the drain plug, wait until all the transmission fluid has drained out. This will take some time. The rear of the machine can be raised slightly with a jack to allow the oil to drain slightly faster. The removal of the filler hole located under the hood will also speed up the process.
  5. When all the grease has come out of the Aveo automatic transmission, put the plug back in place. Find the mounting bolts along the edges of the pallet. They need to be unscrewed. If you get used to it, use the WD40 again.
  6. Now dismantle the sump and get rid of the remaining oil that is on it.
    Be sure to remove the gasket. Use cleaners to thoroughly rinse all components, magnets, and the pan. It is better to immediately change the rubber seal to a new one. Regular gasoline is also suitable as cleaning fluids, or you can use special formulations from automotive chemistry stores.
  7. Unscrew the bolts that hold the automatic gearbox oil filter. As standard on the Chevrolet Aveo, 3 of them are used. This will allow you to easily remove the filter element.
  8. Estimate the current state of the filter. If the automatic transmission has been in operation for a long time and the transmission oil has not changed before, then the filter will be very dirty. There is no point in trying to clean it up. Better to buy a new one. Replace the old transmission oil filter.
  9. Place the magnets on the cleaned tray according to their original location. Next, a new sealing gasket is installed.
  10. Degrease the clamping part of the automatic transmission and clean it with a rag. This now allows you to return all the parts to their places.
  11. Then you can start changing the oil in the Chevrolet Aveo automatic transmission. To do this, go to the engine compartment and look for the hole where the dipstick is inserted to check the transmission lubricant level.
    Make sure the drain hole is closed. Using the filler neck, start gradually pouring fresh oil into the box.
  12. For Chevrolet Aveo, the volume of lubricant in an automatic transmission is about 3 liters. We make an error for the remaining oil in the system. You should purchase a minimum of 4 - 5 liters of suitable gear oil. Fill in 2 liters first.
  13. Get in the car and switch the automatic transmission lever to different positions one by one, but you do not need to start the engine. After that, another 1 liter of grease will enter the system.
  14. After filling in all the required amount of oil, start the engine. Put the automatic transmission in the Parking position and check the current level with the power unit running.
  15. Shift gears at short intervals while the engine is running. Finish manipulations at position P.
  16. It remains to thoroughly warm up the engine to operating temperatures. If you see an insufficient level of lubricant on the dipstick, add some more oil.
  17. When the level has reached the correct marks, look under the bottom of the machine and make sure there are no leaks. The crankcase and brace can be installed in their rightful places.

Although the procedure for changing oils in automatic transmissions on a Chevrolet Aveo has its own characteristics, there is nothing complicated about it. Therefore, most car owners prefer to do the work with their own hands. The main thing here is to follow the instructions, follow the safety rules and choose the oil that meets the requirements of the automatic transmission of your Chevrolet Aveo.

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The compact sedan Chevrolet Cruze appeared on the automotive market of our country in 2009, a year after the world premiere. The production of this car has been established at the factories of the transnational corporation General Motors in the United States of America, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of Kazakhstan and in the Russian Federation at the plant in Shushary.

Despite the fact that the entire line of engines installed on this car consists of 4 gasoline and 2 turbodiesel power units, the majority of cars produced for the markets of the CIS countries are equipped with two gasoline aspirated engines: F16D3 and A18XER. Depending on the type of engine, the Chevrolet Cruze is equipped with a 5 or 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic gearbox (automatic transmission) Hydra-Matic 6T30.

The procedure for replacing engine oil in the F16D3 power unit is no different from replacing it in engines of domestic cars. Changing the oil in the Chevrolet Cruze manual transmission is not recommended by the manufacturer. Changing the oil in the Hydra-Matic 6T30 automatic transmission and the A18XER gasoline engine is not a complicated procedure and, with the necessary tools, can be performed without the help of specialists.

The Chevrolet Cruze Hydra-Matic 6T30 automatic transmission is a joint development of the American corporations General Motors and Ford. In the factory operating manual, this automatic transmission is designated as MH 9. Technical characteristics of the automatic transmission when installed on a gasoline engine:

  • maximum engine power - 140 hp. With.;
  • the highest torque - 175 Nm;
  • the greatest weight of the car - 1935 kg;
  • production material - aluminum;
  • diameter of the torque converter clutch - 22 cm;
  • type of switching - by means of solenoid valves;
  • gross weight - 71.5 kg;
  • the total volume of oil in the automatic transmission is 7.6 liters;
  • the amount of oil to be filled in in the event of a partial replacement - 5 liters.

Gear ratios:


Highest speed in gears:

  • 1st - 7000;
  • 2nd - 7000;
  • 3rd - 7000;
  • 4th - 7000;
  • 5th - 5880;
  • 6th - 4364;
  • parking - 3000;
  • back - 3000.

According to the manufacturer's requirement, the oil in the MH 9 automatic transmission must comply with the ATF Dexron VI standard. Transmission oils that do not meet the specified standard cannot be poured into the Chevrolet Cruze gearbox, since they are guaranteed to lead to early wear of the gearbox mating units.

Level check and partial replacement


Draining old grease from the box

Many owners of a Chevrolet Cruze car are interested in how to check the oil level in an automatic transmission, because there is no special dipstick or any other indicator. The answer is simple: from the point of view of General Motors, this is a rather dirty procedure, and it should be done by employees of specialized services. However, if you're not afraid to get dirty, read on. To carry out work on checking the level and partial oil change, the following tools and accessories are required:

  • key for 11;
  • bucket for 5-6 liters;
  • funnel-oil can.

The automatic transmission oil level should be checked as follows.

  1. First you need to drive 5-10 km to warm up the box.
  2. Then you need to drive the car into a hole or lift, set the handbrake and move the gearshift lever to neutral or parking position.
  3. Further, without turning off the engine, you need to get under the hood and unscrew the control hole plug located on the side of the gearbox. In this case, a bucket should be substituted under the hole so that the oil flows into it.
  4. When the liquid stops flowing out, it is necessary to screw the plug back.
  5. After that, you need to measure the amount of leaked oil. If the bucket contains less than 1.5 cups, then add 2-3 more cups of the Dexron VI transmission to this amount and pour everything back into the unit through the filler neck located on top of the gearbox.

  1. First you need to drive the car into a hole or lift, turn off the engine and wait a few minutes for the unit to cool down.
  2. Then you need to crawl under the car, substitute a bucket under the drain hole located in the bottom of the unit and unscrew the plug.
  3. After the oil has drained, it is necessary to tighten the drain plug.
  4. Then you need to move to the engine compartment, unscrew the gearbox filler cap by hand and pour 5 liters of transmission oil through an oiler.

That's all, it remains to tighten the filler cap.

Changing the lubricant in the A18XER engine

The lubrication system of the 1.8-liter 141-horsepower Chevrolet Cruze engine is somewhat different from the 1.6-liter F16D3 power unit popular in our country, which is installed mainly on Daewoo Nexia and Daewoo Gentra cars. In particular, a non-removable oil filter with a replaceable filter element is installed in the lubrication system of a 1.8-liter gasoline power unit. List of required tools:


  • wrench for 24;
  • special torx T45 key;
  • keys for removing the crankcase protection;
  • 10 liter bucket;
  • funnel-oil can.

List of consumables required.

  1. ACEA A3, C3 or API SM, SN oil.
  2. Oil filter (filter element) GM 93185674.
  3. O-ring for drain plug GM 90528145.

Algorithm of actions.

    1. First you need to start the engine, warm it up to operating temperature and drive the car onto a lift or pit.
    2. Then you need to turn off the engine, turn on the parking brake and remove the crankcase protection.
    3. After that, it is necessary to substitute a bucket under the drain hole and unscrew the plug of this hole using a T45 wrench.
    4. When the used oil is drained, you need to unscrew the oil filter cap with a 24 wrench and carefully remove the old filter element. In this case, it is important not to burn yourself.
    5. After that, wipe off the leaked fluid from the surface of the cylinder block, insert the filter element into the oil filter and screw its cap back.

  1. Next, you need to replace the old sealing ring of the drain plug with a new one and screw it into place.
  2. After that, you need to pour new engine oil through the filler neck. In this case, the volume of the poured oil should not exceed the volume of the spilled mining.

The replacement is complete. It remains only to check the lubricant level in the crankcase with a dipstick.

The level should be just below the "swing" mark. After that, you need to start the engine, and if the emergency low oil pressure light goes out after 5 seconds and there are no leaks anywhere, you can replace the crankcase protection and enjoy the result of the work done.

Many Cruz owners repeatedly ask themselves how to check the oil level in the automatic gearbox. Immediately, I would like to note that the automatic transmission does not have a check dipstick, so we measure the oil level using a control plug.

The procedure for checking the oil level of the box automatic Chevrolet Cruze

  • Before checking, the box must be warmed up. It is better that the warming-up process takes place while the vehicle is moving, in which case the clutch and valve block will be filled with oil.
  • After stopping on, we switch the gear selector over the entire range, while making a delay of 5-10 seconds at each position.
  • Then, without turning off the engine, using a key 11, unscrew the control plug. In a previously prepared container, let the oil drain.
  • If the oil, after turning the plug, does not flow, therefore, we have a low level and it needs to be topped up. It is recommended to maintain an increased oil level in automatic transmission Chevrolet Cruze an average of 500 grams more.
  • Oil is added to the automatic box through the breather, which is located on top of its body, until it begins to flow out through the control hole. This is if an automatic transmission oil change is not required.
  • Then we twist the cork and add about 500 grams more.

During check automatic transmission oil level Chevrolet Cruze pay attention to its color. If the oil is dark or completely black, then there is a breakdown that must be diagnosed and repaired. Then make a complete oil change of the gearbox automatic Chevrolet Cruze.