2013 Mini Cooper S Automatic Transmission Fluid Change - Easy Filler Location
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- fatal mistake - I removed the Auto Transmission Drain Plug instead of the Oil Drain Plug.... luckily I saved the reddish brown elixir so I could easily measure the amount to replace. BIGGEST PROBLEM - FLUID IS CONSIDERED LIFETIME - THEREFORE NO DIPSTICK AND NO ACCESSIBLE FILLER HOLE!!!!
Forums pointed me to the top of the transmission housing adjacent to & behind the oil filter location. However, mine a Cooper S had multiple tubes, hoses, and wires in the way. Honestly, i couldn't get my hands down in there to check what kind of torx bit without fear of losing it.
Ultimately, my last resort was removing the drivers side front tire, i found a nice 12mm bolt i could remove and out leaked that now familiar red fluid!!!
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Thank You! I can't believe there are others who mistook the trans pan for the engine pan! I couldn't figure out why I only had 2 liters of fluid after draining my oil. I did the same as GCE with the pump. It worked perfectly, but none of the tapes I tried would stick to the irrigation hose (I had a roll of swamp cooler hose), and it got messy, so I shoved the long siphon hose that came with the pump into the hole and held it in. I only needed to return the 2 liters to the trans at this time. Shifts fine.
That’s great! Pity it’s not labeled on the bottom…. I’m now at 59k miles and no indication of any problems. It’s good you had an exact measure of what came out… 👍🏼
Love your humility and ability to laugh at yourself a little, while getting creative to solve the problem! Necessity is the Mother of invention! Thanks for the tips!
Many thanks!
To date this is the best way. Now there is one guy that fills it from top but he almost takes everything a part to do that.
Thanks!!! Best I could do, don’t want to get in more over my head than already…. Been running great ever since!!!
I love that a guy who can't tell the difference between an engine oil pan and a transaxle pan is giving UA-cam advice!
But yet you’re watching my vid! Thx for the watch
@
Hillary Levenworth - You can learn a lot from a dummy!
@@gottacopem634 - Pay no mind to those dummies !!! THANK YOU for the peep hole location !!!
There’s a reason she’s watching
Thank you for this video. I needed to replace the trans fluid in mine and this was an easy process to do so (at least the majority of the fluid). It made a god awful mess by the time I was done, but trans fluid is a much easier clean then engine oil!
Mine also... stoopid tax for me!
This is the definition of DIY. I love it.
This is one I'm looking for it. I got it, but i just make sure it is this. For many videos were showing refill on the top. Again, thanks for the video.
looks like you might be able to reach it from under the car always nice to have an easier route, they should have stuck with the sticks to check an fill the level. I think they try to make things harder so people wont do it themselves.
I believe you need to fill from the recommended FILL plug location. Also, after filling until it overfills from the open fill plug, you need to run the engine (need a lift for this) and put the auto transmission through all of its gears in order to add fluid until it begins to again overfill/drip. At this point the transmission is full and the fill plug reinserted and torqued to spec. Engine/fluid should be at-op temp warm during the process.
Good notes 📝
I work on these cars for a living. The forums and such turn alphabet soup into college thesis. As long as the unit is in good working order (no leaks etc) just measure what you capture during the drain, and put the same amount back in. Fill plug location preferably, but there are other areas that can be used to refill the fluid.
The above way is the sure fire way to get the fluid level to spec. With zero issues. It's the way most of us do it at the dealer. Saves time, and gets good results. 🤷♂️
@@LynxStarAuto are you on Facebook? I could really use help as I think I’ll be doing this for the first time in a few weeks.
Agree with Gabriel. I've been changing ATF, CVT lubricated trannies for years. I drain them from a cool engine, measure, and replace the exact same amount with room temp lubricant. No issues. Do it a couple of times a year when you're changing the oil and filter.
If you put back in the same amount that was drained, that should be pretty close to optimal.
If that is the 09G or the TF60SN a fluid change is good for these really. in the early ones there were a lot of valve body problems. I don't know if they solved that problem yet but there was an extended warranty on a lot of vehicles that had that transmission.
I love this guy ! He uses the word fiasco in the opening line. Thought it was me only who had these problems....
👍🏼 sometimes diy backfires
Great Video. Never would have known of this alternative of filling the MINI with tranny fluid. If you have an air compressor, another way of pumping the fluid in to your vehicle is to drill a hole in the tranny fulid contain cap large enough for the tube to be snaked into the container.. then drill another hole for your air compressor nozzle. Making sure your cap is on tight with the fill tube set in the tranny fluid container set your compresssor to about 5 psi. Blow the air into the second hole you created fro your air compressor nozzle. The air will force the fluid into the tranny. I used this before to fill differential fuild into my truck. It worked flawlessly. I heard about this on your tube from 65 Ford.
Saved my ass!!!!! thank you . Mine happened after I thought I drained the oil. (first time I swear) then I put more oil in, and of course my car was smoking white from the back because I put double of the amount of oil n the car. Had only one thing that saved me....Yoour video!!! thank you I will be sue to share!
THANK YOU for the peep hole location !!!
I used Valvoline MaxLife Multi-Vehicle Automatic Transmission Fluid = Works AWESOME + SAVE $$$$ !!!
Thank you very much. Great video.
I'm guilty of it. I caught it before I actually got the plug completely out so very minimal loss. It would help if it was embossed on the pans either oil/atf.
Man…. I went thru some troubles… they really ought to make that with a non standard plug so we fools don’t have access without purchasing a special key
Holy moly. Is there a dipstick for this???
Real men of genuine
I did it. I did it I did it....😊. Thank you for helping me.
Very nice…. This one gave my nightmares… not a hiccup since so I believe that remedied the deficit
Hi, Just curious, since I assume you only removed the drain plug and not the overflow pipe, there should have been very minimal fluid to come out. Most likely due to the front of the car being raised and the pan being uneven. Approx how much fluid came out?
Looking at various videos, I think that, from some time around 2012/2013, the automatic transmission was fitted with an additional level plug in the sump, rather than the plastic insert.
Thanks for the neat video! I was just wondering if you experienced any transmission problems after this.
Seems to run the same!
Same mistake...about to tackle this. I unfortunately don't know exactly how much fluid came out.
+Stephen Lynerd darn.. it hurts right? I think you can fill until fluid drips back out..
Gotta Cop Em indeed. That's what I did, and so far so good, a few days later! Thank you for posting this.
The most you can drain from the transmission pan plug is 2.5 quarts. My local Mini dealer charges $399 to just drain and refill.
Gotta Cop Em hello! Did you fill yours from the side like shown in the video or do you have any better suggestion? Thanks
Awesome video! Is it available for mini cooper s R58?
Ha! I did the same thing. Went to drain the motor oil but drained the ATF.
Good luck! I’m happy to report no problems, now at 57k mileage
thank you very moch
Hello guy! I’m about to change my r56 ATF. This video is very helpful, however before I do I would like to ask if anyone out there knows a better or easier way to fill her up. In the video where the hose is attached, is that also where the ATF should start to dribble back out when full? Thanks
I searched the forums.. this is the best method I could easily implement on short notice and with minimal disassembly
hanged my ATF on a Mini 2007 R56. Why use the hard to get at fill opening? I just filled it through the drain!
Used Castrol JWS-3309 (the stuff made for Hondas and Toyotas).
Not sure why you’re here, just make a video: show me how to do it better pls!
I thought it was obvious. I filled my mini through the drain plug while cold. Then set the level with engine running to right type. I'm here to state a lot easier way to fill fluid.
Victor Silva how do you fill it upwards? The drain points down. Doesn't the stuff just flow right back out?
@@bluewker there is a small tube that is in the transmission where the drain plug is. You pull the tube out with the trans cold and all the fluid pours out. Then reinsert the tube without the fill plug and there is a pump that you attach to the tube. Pump fluid back into the pan, the run the vehicle to get the transmisson up to operating temperature, and check for the proper fluid level. Basically pump fluid in, until it comes back out, which means that it is full. Then reinsert the drain plug.
@@LaSuaFamiglia How I did my VW Golf TDI DSG trans fo 8 years!
What type of transmission does Cooper S r56 2011 have ?
thanks for sharing....i would like to know how the car drove after you were done?
+Salah Sharief drives fine.. like usual
I'm happy that it worked...the fill plug you were referring to (the one by the shifter mechanism) would have made a mess for you. It connects to an internal pipe that is about 1/8" diameter. the actual fill plug is the one in the back facing the ABS module :) also pain to get to.
+Salah Sharief yeah, really no easy options... I figured it'd be tight since it is a tiny vehicle, but did not anticipate such a hassle
Gotta Cop Em this plug gave me so much back pressure. all my fluid just came right back out as I tried to put it in. No idea why .
That's a pressure port...not a good place to refill the transaxle.
Just fill it up by using the manufacturer of the gearbox's method? Right back in the drain plug, with the stand pipe in place. Run in neutral till box hits 100 deg F. Install drain plug, all done!
Why not? Explain
@@gottacopem634 Filling it there can introduce containiments directly into the post filtered high pressure hydraulic circuits. Also the fluid level is still an unknown since you still haven't checked the fluid level while running at the proper temperature.
Are you supposed to run it in neutral while filling it?
@@bluewker Yes. Fill it up over the stand pipe and run it in neutral till the transaxle hits the specified temperature, open the drain with the standpipe in place, let the overfill out and reinstall the drain plug. Done.
Makes sense to me. Mystery solved and much less complicated!
hi there, I need help diagnosing my Automatic Transmission on my 2008 R56. I recently got the ATF completely changed after 65,000 miles. After the change I noticed it feels like gears slipping when going from stop to go. (From 0mph to x speed). If the car is already running At consistent street or highway speeds I have no problem. When the vehicle isn’t slipping it feels extremely smooth and silky. It’s only from start to go. How do I know if I have too much atf or need more? Side note: I didn’t feel comfortable after my mechanics job, so I went ahead and drained what I could removing drain plug and overfill plastic tube. When doing so I realized plastic overflow tube is broken, so I have no reference point of when it overflows. Looking forward to your response. Thank you!
I haven’t a clue - sorry, I just tried to put back what I lost. Been running fine since
Did you ever figure this out? My 2nd gear is currently slipping and its started happening after the car was sitting for 2 years so I'm hoping after running it for a while or after I take it to a certified shop for a trans fluid change, it will get better.
I emptied it completely, but it was not possible to know the quantity of oil come out. I used your method to fill it, but after 4 liters was not yet full, how many liters is needed? thank
*2013 Mini Cooper D LCI Automatic
Thank You
Did you have trouble pushing fluid in through the side hole? My fluid just immediately pours out of the side-hole as I pump it in... even after draining the oil!
The filler plug is under the air filter box.
Sir, how to check and know mini Cooper R56 auto transmission oil is over fill or less ?thank you.
Pull the top bolt that I showed... that is the next level, so fluid should drain out if overfilled, nothing if under
Gotta Cop Em dear sir I still have a question, when I fill the transmission oil to my r56 mini Cooper gear box is over flow from the nut ,after that, is it still need to start the engine running to fill until it flow out again? because I see some model need to running the engine to add more until the oil flow out again.Thank you.
"Lifetime transmission fluid" is such a crock of shit. Like any other fluid, it needs to be replaced at certain intervals. I suggest at least every 50-60k miles.
+Blinknone 👍
We did the same thing to my car 😂😂🤦♀️
Would it be similar to a R55?
What year is that? Same generation and auto trans?
was that a CVT transmission????
Trying to do this now but that hole is giving me back pressure and I can't push any fluid into that side hole. Any ideas?
Hmmm... full already? There are some holes on top but I already took apart more than I bargained for.. any more and I be getting into deep water
The refill tube MUST be smaller than the hole. You are creating pressure if you plug it all.
Jordan Bronson interesting. I made a huge mess of atf trying to deal with this.
@@bluewker - I know, that hole is small. I use a little 12V DC Oil Pump and pump it there. The Tube is 1/3 smaller than the hole. I insert extra hose, about few inches down. My 12V DC Pump helped a lot and I can feel the Air coming out, but it was easier than taking all the stuff out from the top. I watched a few videos until I found this "Peep Hole". I wasn't going to change it, but I just got this Used Mini and it's 90K+ Miles on it, I didn't' trust the previous owner so I decided to change all the Oil, including Trans Oil. NOTE: Once the Trans Oil is full, it will leak out and that is when you know it's full.
@@JodBronson I saw someone else posted a video where they got a pump and pushed fluid back up through the drain hole. I wonder if that works well. Their video is here.
ua-cam.com/video/apHC06gpMJk/v-deo.html
Hi! How do you know when it’s full?
Should spill over out of the holes
Thanks for the reply (months after). Finally did mine then. I used the stand pipe method to attain the proper level. I filled it up using a hand pump back into the drain plug hole.
It all went great! Car shifts better and more connected (no lag). I used Valvoline’s fully synthetic all vehicle (universal) ATF from Walmart T-IV compatible. $22 for a 4-quart jug
Gotta Cop Em do you just keep filling it until it comes back out of the hole you are filling it in?
@@Itslukeylukes Please go to Peligan Parts Mini service Bulletins , they will tell You the proper way to do this Job.It is Complicated Fluid needs to be Warm to Drain&Fill.
Lol another thing to keep in your car for it just in case! Dang
i got the same stupid problem :(
Good luck! I’m happy to report no trouble, now at 57k miles
haha what a mess !
Tough lessons but perseverance pays - at 50k miles with great performance
I almost did the same thing.
Top bolt is a T55
Best thing to use is a brand new pesticide sprayer
Good tip!!