2012 Outlander CVT fluid change
 

Does anybody know when to change the CVT fluid? I've heard it should be done at 20K but want to know for sure before I start this project! My 2012 has the 4 cyl motor in it and does NOT tow anything. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Chris

I have a 2011 Four cylinder. From what I remember in the Owner's manual, it says change at 30,000 miles. People have told me here to use only the Mitsubishi fluid, not a generic substitute. Does anyone know if that is still true?

my 2012 outlander has 31k miles and the dealer told me its recommended at 30k.
they want 270 to drain and fill the tranny fluid.
Anyone knows the procedure since its a CVT because i have a buddy whos a mechanical but he said if its complicated, let the dealer do it.

I did a drain and fill on my 2011 MOS cvt and used Valvoline CVTF with no problems. I drove around for a few miles to get the fluid warm. Parked on a level surface and drained the fluid. Should be a 19mm socket. Drained till nothing came out, which was about 30 minutes. Installed the plug and filled with what I removed (5.25 quarts). Test drove and rechecked the fluid level.

if you did not drain the trans axle as well you did not do it correctly you should have had to do a bit over 8 qt, you need to remove the top line going to the trans cooler, run it for about 1 min, should pump out 3-5 qt, then you drain the pan on the trans with the 19mm wrench, add about 5qt to the trans, start and run for about 1 min with the top hose off you should have about another 3qt dirty fluid before the clean stuff starts coming out, then you just top off the trans, close everything up and test to ensure you are at the correct levels. Mario all you did was add some clean oil to already dirty stuff bud

that sounds like an awful lot like the procedure for changing ATF fluid. Are you sure that is the same procedure for changing CVT fluid??

For what its worth, when you go into a stealership for a "fluid change" for the ATF...that's all they do. A drain & fill that only gets 2qts. blegh.

the process are basicly the same... and no when you go to the dealer they pump, but do not flush as the fluid is subject to contamination, and fill, total of 7.5qt. no idea where you saw a 2qt fill, but i know on all of my friends that have had the CVT serviced their parts list had 9qt list on the break down (2 different dealers i will add) when i took him to pick up his truck went over the prev mentioned process for my CVT and the tech told me that would be perfect.

I believe what you are thinking of is the AWD service, they use 2 things of gear oil, as each axle gets about 1/2 qt

if i am mistaken on this i hope someone will chime in as i plan on doing mine this holiday weekend

The 2qt drain/fill was what I got the first time I had my transmission fluid "changed" at the stealership. After it was done, I asked them if they changed it all or just some of it...since it said 2qt. They said drain/fill. So for very similar cost, I can either have them change out 2qt or I can buy the fluid myself to "flush" it all out. I asked them if they do change it all out, they could, but the price would reflect all 8qts of fluid plus an hour of labor.

The service manual also states a drain/fill changes out 2.1qt.

Changing out the t-case and rear diff only takes 1 qt of gear lube.

glad i found this thread sounds like i was about to do it all wrong. sorry for the confusion and thanks for the help! looksl ike i have about 8qt of lube to return!

Two quarts? My impression was when I went to the dealership was that the drain and fill was four quarts. I went to the dealership because of advice that use of non-Mitsubishi fluids would lead to trouble, but based on marioweldinginc's post I'm not so sure. Anyone else use the Valvoline product?

I can't tell what transmission you have. I stated that was for my transmission, which is ATF...and that was only brought up as JRK possibly was confusing procedures between the two types of transmissions.

I believe there is a 2011 service manual out there for the CVT that would tell for sure what the drain/fill on a CVT would be.

mine is a 2010 with a CVT trans

Sorry, I should have specified. I have the 2011 Outlander ES 4 cylinder with CVT.

So based on this discussion, If someone were to use the AMSoil or Valvoline CVT fluids that are supposedly certified for the Mitsubishi CVT, how long would it be before one would sense that something went wrong (assuming something did go wrong)?

Right now I think I will stay with the dealer as long as my vehicle is under warranty.

so has anyone done the CVT trans swap themselves? i just need to know if it has to be drained and filled or the cooler method like the AT trans. ill do pics and full write up when i do mine as well

...here's your part of the service manual. http://faq.out-club.ru/download/outl...009500-23A.pdf Page 23A-140.
you get to do a straight drain/fill, takes about 6qt.

thank you so much

So how did it go?

went great actually... was just as simple as draining the oil, 4.89 qt came out, the fluid that came out was actually really really clean. it took 5qt to fill back up, smooth shift, better MPG, all around nice. much easier than i was expecting. i think next time i will still drain at the cooler as well to get that last qt out of there, but i saw how clean the fluid was in there this time and i was not to worried. thanks for all your help

Which fluid did you put into the CVT system, genuine Mitsubishi or something else?

i did valvoline CVT, it is good for mitsu trans. I called a few dealer and spoke to the service mechanics that said it is basicly the same stuff also the reviews that it had where really good. I like the idea of hitting up the local auto store for the fluid rather than paying out the ass at the dealer for it

Before I start, let me state that I drive 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander ES 2.4 L AWD with CVT transmission. Yesterday, I did transmission change by drain and fill method and I used 4 Qts of genuine Mitsu CVT fluid (J4) which I bought from the dealer. I think I might have to add another qt later on since 4.5 qts came out during drainage.
Most folks on forum and experts strongly advise against using other brands of CVT fluid. Hell, even Amsoil recommends that we use Genuine Mitsu CVT fluid.