tricky1

Let me start off with te normal disclaimer:If something breaks by your following this how to guide I cannot in anyway be held responsible for any failures, injuries, or fatalies arising from use of this guide.

On with the fun

I will happily inform you that you do not need to take the drivers side wheel off to access what many thought was the "fill plug" on the diff casing(though I took the wheel off and damn near stripped the bolt before looking topside and finding the real fill plug on top of the transmission.)

Anyway this pic includes the impact wrench which I found out is not nessecarily needed unless you just want more room to work.


1 Jack and a set of Jackstands
8mm Allen Key
2 qts Dexron 3 Compatible ATF(I went with Mobil 1)
Long Funnel(not pictured)


First jack up the car. I used the spot in the picture as a jacking point and put the jack stands beneath the engine cradle.


Next find the fill plug on top of the tranny, it is a 8mm Allen bolt and is below the coolant hoses




Using your 8mm Allen wrench and a small cheater bar crack open the fill plug and then thread it the rest of the way out by hand




Next crawl under the car and look towards the drivers side subframe(Business end of tranny) the drain plug uses the same 8mm bolt but your Allen key will need to be ground down to fit between the subframe and the plug


Let the fluid run into a oil catch pan or a coffee can if your ghetto then let it drip for about 15 mins. Then with the engine off shift through every gear to knock any remaining fluid loose then replace the drain plug as tightly as possible

Go back up top to the fill plug and take the long funnel and basically work it into the web of heater hoses and into the hole.




When your sure the funnel is in, start pouring in your ATF. 2 quarts should be just enough to fill it


When you have emptied your 2 quarts into the fill hole replace the plug and tighten down.

Pat yourself on the back and go take her for a spin, I noticed a slightly better transition between gears and it took less clutch engagement in reverse to keep it going. In all the main advantage to synthetic transmission fluid is prolonging the life of your transmission but there are few if any performance gains from it.
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Added per the OP request:
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The F23 is the 5 speed Manual in the LS/LT/ SS/NA Cobalts.

I also have a VERY IMPORTANT
UPDATE
You MUST use DEXRON III ATF ONLY

NOT Dexron III COMPATIBLE it WILL cause problems and is what I believe to have taken out my 2nd gear about 5000 miles ago but didn't realize it until now.

ALSO in response to the above quote I will explain the reasoning for ATF in the F23.
Since the oil sump is at the bottom of the transmission in the F23, ATF is lighter in comparison to standard gear oils therefore ATF is able to be carried from the bottom of the transmission up, lubricatiing all the gears more efficiently.

mkulrey13

iTrader: (39)

How often is this recommended? Im up to 31k

Florida 76

good how-to



.

NP05Cobalt

it was recommended to me every 30k

Bika

iTrader: (3)

im pretty sure thats not an F23 tranny. thats a Getrag.

silver06cobalt

sweetness. as soon as i can find someone with a jack/ jackstands i will be doing this!

32k mile of delivery driving and i just kinda have the feeling that i may need to do this soon.

Nice how-to

zinner

excellent how to!

joeworkstoohard

someone correct me if i'm wrong, but i thought the f23 WAS a getrag?

Tomtwtwtw

Yup, they're one in the same.

Bika

iTrader: (3)

my bad. thought f23 was the code for an SS/SC tranny. while im in here.... what is the tranny code for the SS/SC?

NP05Cobalt

awesome how to and i am doing this this weekend... did you use Synthetic ATF?

Dustin

What about auto's? Same? Not really familiar with tranny's yet.

thedubsack85

the ss sc trans code is F35. its a saab transmission...not a getrag.. and if you have an lsd its a qualife lsd.. i doubt chevy put any getrag tranny's into any cobalt. and if you think im wrong bout the f35 lsd bieing a saab trans go pull off your driver side wheel and look to the the left off the trans seal where the axel goes into the trans..

Dustin

Erm... Is it just me or did I just read my original dealer "Standard Equipment" sheet that read:
GETRAG 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANS.



(Which is then replaced by: 4-SPD AUTO. TRANS. W/ OVERDRIVE... which I sadly paid $850 more for :\)

thedubsack85

i was told the ss sc/IRL had a getrag to.. but when i saw the saab symbol on my transmission i knew it was a saab.. equipped with a qualife lsd.. cause i got the comp pack redline.. do you honestly think chevy would put a getrag into a cobalt? its just not money smart.. maybe into the ss sc/IRL but a regular cobalt..cmon..?

R33P3R007

you pour from the quarts wrong. just to let you know. but nice write up

tricky1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getrag_F23_transmission

Also on top of my tranny it has "F23" Stamped into the casing.

CTCOBALTSSS

Exellent How-To. Nicely done. Thanks for taking the time to do this for all of us.

potatoe

The fill plug is actually on the side of the diff. It does take 1.8 quarts though so pouring it in the top would be faster.

This is what it says about the MU3:
Important: The manual transaxle is filled with fluid at the manufacturer and requires no routine oil changes. If it is determined that the fluid needs to be changed due to contamination or a similar issue, follow this procedure.

Important: To ensure that all sediment within the transaxle is suspended in the fluid, the fluid should only be drained after it has reached a normal operating temperature of 88-93°C (190-200°F). Normal operating temperature is reached after approximately 25 km (15 miles) of highway driving.

tricky1

Yeah, I tried the "fill plug" on the diff but it was on there so tight that it stripped out the allen head trying to get it out.

jsscooby

Did the mobil 1 quiet down gear noise when shifting (not refering to grinding, just general engagment noise). On mine I've noticed the tranny makes more noise when warm out and the tranny is warmed up. i've got the 2.4ss 5 speed

BallsoutBalt

Nice write-up and informational pics. I will be doing this over the next weekend.

Tomtwtwtw

That write-up is based off the 2.2 / 2.4 tranny - just make sure you pull the right plugs, and check your owner's manual in case it takes more or less fluid.

But I'm sure you knew that already.

Brian MP5T

Manual Tans axles should Delete this from your Bookmarks.

Can someone Please Change The Title To A Less Confusing..

"How to: Changing F23 Transmission Fluid (ATX ONLY)"

BallsoutBalt

Ah! Good catch tommy! I did not realize that. I owe you a beer my friend. THX