Manual Transmission Fluid Change How-To

[k-huevo]

Although the manual transmission fluid for the MINI is called a “lifetime” fluid it’s far better to change it at not longer than 50,000 mile intervals. It’s not so much that there will be a viscosity break down, but that it will be saturated with wear metals. There is no filtration system in the manual transmission only a magnetic disc to capture the large debris.

Tools needed:
8mm allen wrench or socket
Breaker bar
Torque wrench

Equipment:
Funnel
Tubing
Fluid receptacle
Ramps
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Operate the vehicle to warm the transmission and suspend any particulates, raise the front of the vehicle either by driving onto ramps or lifting and placing on stands. In this photo I backed the MINI up an incline before driving up ramps in an attempt at leveling the vehicle as much as possible.
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Loosen the upper fill plug on the transmission case, then loosen the lower; I recommend a breaker bar and allen socket because often the plugs are over tightened from the factory. Once loose the plugs unscrew easily by hand; then drain the old fluid into a wide mouth receptacle.
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[k-huevo]

Screw in the lower fill plug and hand tighten. Attach a tube to a funnel and feed through the top of the engine compartment near the exhaust manifold into the fill plug opening. A 3/8ths ID/1/2 inch OD tube is just about right; the length of the tube will be determined by the type of funnel used.
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http://www.lonestarminiclub.com/gallery/files/2/0/DSCN0656.JPG

Add 1.75 quarts (or until fluid flows out of the fill plug) of your favorite transmission fluid. Screw in the top fill plug and torque both top and bottom plugs to 32ft-lb for the MCS, 22 ft-lb for the fill and 30 ft-lb for the drain plugs on the Cooper.

I had the stock MTF-94 transmission fluid analyzed after a 14,000 mile change interval and the results were outstanding; the stock fluid is a quality product so there’s no need to loose confidence in it. Many prefer Red Line MTL and that’s ok too.
Analysis
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