Instructions for changing the oil in a Hyundai Solaris manual transmission yourself

High-quality and regular maintenance of a car is the main condition for its uninterrupted functionality and long service life. One of the areas of car maintenance is changing the transmission oil. Effective operation of the transmission guarantees controllability and maneuverability of the vehicle on the road and acts as a guarantor of vehicle safety. In this article we will talk about changing the oil in a Hyundai Solaris manual transmission. Namely, we will consider the recommended frequency of oil changes in the Solaris manual transmission, on what factors the interval between box maintenance depends, features of the selection of transmission fluid and the required volumes of lubricant for the procedure, we will tell you how to make the replacement yourself, at home.

Instructions on how to change the oil in a Hyundai Solaris manual transmission.

When to change the gearbox oil on a Hyundai Solaris

Regarding a Hyundai Solaris with a manual transmission, owners have a question: when to change the oil, and is it necessary to do it at all?

In fact, this question is not as meaningless as it initially seems. And all because the manufacturer in the user manual states that this procedure is unnecessary and guarantees the service life of the oil for the entire life of the vehicle. However, when focusing on the user manual, it is worth understanding that in European countries and in the domestic sense, the phrase “operational period” is perceived differently.

The manufacturer of Solaris means by its period of operation a time period of no more than seven years, with an approximate mileage not exceeding one hundred and seventy thousand kilometers, subject to the condition of using the car under favorable conditions, including on European-style road surfaces. As practice shows, the condition of domestic roads is far from ideal, plus the service life of the oil can be negatively affected by such factors as a harsh climate with sudden temperature changes, extreme driving style and forced traffic jams and traffic lights that require frequent, sharp gear changes . In such operating modes, the manual transmission is subjected to enormous loads, as a result of which the transmission oil more often becomes unusable and ceases to protect the transmission components, which, in turn, affects the service life of the box itself.

Although the manufacturer does not regulate the need to change the transmission fluid, domestic experts recommend performing scheduled maintenance of the gearbox at least every sixty thousand kilometers traveled by the vehicle. In difficult operating conditions of the vehicle, as well as when it overheats frequently, more frequent replacement may be necessary. The need for an unplanned replacement can be determined by unnatural, strange sounds from transmission units, deterioration in the smoothness of gear shifting and vehicle mobility on the road, or visual inspection of the oil for wear and contamination when checking the lubrication level.

Use of automatic transmission on Hyundai Solaris cars

Hyundai Solaris is equipped with four-speed automatic transmissions A4CF2 and A4CF1 or a six-speed automatic gearbox A6GF1.
A four-speed transmission was used on vehicles until 2014. Since 2009, parallel to this, cars began to be equipped with six-speed gears. The A4CF1 began its history in 2006. The A4CF1 automatic transmission showed the presence of a large number of “childhood diseases”. For this reason, the manufacturer had to carry out significant modernization. The new automatic transmission model is called A4CF2. Most of its components and parts have been strengthened. This made it possible to transmit more engine power while maintaining a good resource.

To maintain the competitiveness of the Hyundai Solaris, it was necessary to replace the existing four-speed automatic transmission with a six-speed automatic or CVT. The employees carried out a complete assessment of the market and a review of the automatic transmissions being installed. As a result, the six-speed A6GF1 appeared on the Hyundai Solaris.

You can see the breakdown of the installed automatic transmission models in the table below.

Table - Decoding of Hyundai Solaris automatic transmission indices

Among the automatic transmissions used on Hyundai Solaris, in addition to indicating the above indices, you can find the letters L or M added to the model. These symbols indicate the ability to transmit torque of 400 Nm or 200 Nm, respectively.

When developing the A6GF1 automatic gearbox, a number of features were used, the main ones being:

• the bypass valve body can change the linear pressure, which has a positive effect on fuel economy;
• the shock-absorbing clutch is mounted directly on the torque converter;
• the service life of the unit is increased, and the noise level is reduced due to the use of face grinding of the teeth of the driven power take-off gear;
• improved lubricant pressure control for smoother gear transitions;
• increased control range of the shock-absorbing clutch;
• outputting data to the tachometer directly from the automatic transmission electronic control unit.

How to check the volume and condition of the oil

It is important to check the oil level in the Hyundai Solaris manual transmission at least every fifteen thousand kilometers traveled by the car. Owners often have a question about how to check the oil level, since the factory does not provide for a replacement procedure; the manufacturer guarantees the service life of the oil in the Solaris manual transmission throughout the entire period of operation of the car, and therefore, in fact, does not equip it with a standard dipstick.

You can perform this task as follows:

1. Place the car on a flat, horizontal surface and let it stand for several minutes to lubricate the glass after driving from the gears and other structural elements of the system.
2. Next you need to find the inspection opening, which is located in the Hyundai Solaris manual transmission on the gearbox housing, located closer to the engine.

3. Next, you need to unscrew the plug using a car key. The norm for a Solaris manual transmission is the level when the oil reaches the lower edge of the threaded edge of the opening. If it is not visible visually, then the oil level is too low; you should try to remove it with your finger or a screwdriver and evaluate the quality of the lubricant.
4. If the liquid has a dark tint, uneven consistency, or obvious foreign impurities, these are clear indicators for changing the oil.

If the oil volume is within normal limits, the lubricant is light, without impurities and a burning smell, then you don’t have to worry about the functionality of the manual transmission until the next scheduled check of the transmission fluid level. Otherwise, an immediate replacement of the lubricant will be required. Let us further consider which oil should be preferred if it needs to be replaced, and how many liters of fluid will be needed to fill the Hyundai Solaris manual transmission.

Recommendations

The manufacturer recommends pouring only original oil into the Hyundai Solaris manual transmission because:

• it is designed specifically for this type of automatic transmission and vehicle;
• has a special chemical structure that protects parts;
• the technical and technological properties of the oil meet the plant standards;
• prevents rapid wear of parts.

The oil in the gearbox is designed to cool the elements and lubricate them, but due to heating it loses its original properties, which is the reason for replacing it.

What kind of oil and how much is poured into the Hyundai Solaris gearbox

The most important task before replacing transmission fluid is purchasing the lubricant itself. At this stage, car owners find themselves faced with the difficulty of choosing which oil is best to buy for their car and how much. Professionals answer this question unequivocally: the best option is to purchase original lubricant from the manufacturer, filled into the transmission from the factory. The manufacturer fills the Hyundai Solaris manual transmission with oil that meets the GL-4 standard according to SAE, marking 75W85 according to the API classifier under the MTF brand. As for the required volumes, the mechanics of a Hyundai Solaris of any modification requires 1.9 liters of lubricant for full operation. When replacing, this indicator may vary downward, depending on the quality criterion for draining the waste liquid. To fill, you will have to buy two liters of lubricant, since the minimum capacity of commercially available transmission oil is one liter.

In situations where it is not possible to buy the original lubricant, you can choose a similar transmission fluid. The optimal analogue, which is recommended to be poured into the Solaris box by professionals, is fluid from Shell marked GL-4 75W85; in addition, lubricants for transmissions from ZIK, MOBIS, Ravenol and other popular manufacturers have approvals from the Hyundai concern.

When selecting oil for your car, it is important to be guided not by the principles of economy, but by compliance of the quality, standardization and lubricant tolerances with the technical requirements of the car manufacturer. The quality of operation of the main transmission elements and their performance characteristics depend on what kind of oil is poured into the box. It is better to fill in high-quality products right away, since savings can result in unforeseen expensive repairs and the repeated need to change the lubricant.

What oil should I fill?

Here are the brands used in our work. Articles and numbers of 1 liter canister are given. How to save money when buying online, see the section below.

Several times I came across a situation where the seller offered the GL-5 as a full-fledged replacement for the four when the GL-4 was not available in the store.

Factory oil 04300-00140.

04300-5L1A0 original with extended temperature range.

ZIC 132626.

Shell Spirax, article number: 550027967.

Rosneft Kinetic and Lukoil TM-4. Some people distrust these brands. And in vain: there are many cars in taxi fleets, they have already exceeded 500 thousand km.

75W90-40817932, 75W85-40817132

Article: 19531

Hyundai XTeer 1011435. Has nothing to do with the original, despite the general word.

I would also like to say something about Castrol and Liqui Moly. The prices have become somewhat unreasonable. The difference reaches 2.5 times for the above listed brands. In my subjective opinion, the price does not include improved properties and characteristics, but simply a premium for the name.

There are no laboratory tests specifically for the transmission. The conclusion was formed while studying the results of motor oils at the Oil Club. I could be wrong, of course, but we no longer use these brands.

Tools and materials for replacement

To carry out a full change of transmission fluid, you will first need to prepare the following tools so that you don’t have to look for them during the work process:

• a set of car keys, including sockets, with heads for seventeen and twenty-three;
• a technical syringe, which will be needed to directly fill the gearbox with new oil;
• a container for waste liquid with a volume of about three liters;
• protective clothing, since you will have to perform the procedure with the engine warmed up to operating temperatures;
• clean rags.

Among the purchased materials for changing the oil in Solaris mechanics, in addition to fluid, you need to purchase a new plug for the gearbox housing or an O-ring for this cover and for the drain plug.

How to change the oil in a Hyundai Solaris manual transmission yourself

Changing the oil fluid in a Solaris manual transmission is considered an important part of car maintenance. The quality of the gearbox depends on the quality of the new product.

An excellent quality lubricant will extend the operating life of the mechanism and ensure smooth operation of the gearbox. Today there are many types of oil. You can buy the one you want.

If you don’t know much about it, the stores will help you choose the right brand of lubricant.

Changing the oil in a manual transmission Hyundai Solaris

Required volume of product and brand

It is better to fill the gearbox with original oil; do not forget that it must be new. The novelty of the lubricant is the key to success in this process. Take a type of oil for the Solaris manual transmission such as DIAMOND ATF SP-III or SK ATF SP-III. Pay attention to the label, it indicates the brand of oil that is used

Diamond ATF SP-III 1l semi-synthetic transmission oil

The lubricant level in the gearbox is filled to the minimum and maximum marks. You need to pour in as much oil product as required. Check the level once a week. When there are drops from an oil product on the gearbox, then you have added a large amount of oil.

To prevent the oil from foaming, drain off the excess. Pay attention to this to prevent it from happening again, because it can affect the poor performance of the gearbox. There is a chance of air getting in, and it is difficult to get rid of it.

A small amount of oil causes wear of automatic transmission clutches faster. If you notice that the oil has become dark and smells like burning, quickly replace it. A quick oil change can save your car from various negative situations. Replace this fluid as needed, and not just when the car has driven the required number of km.

The mileage when it is necessary to change the oil may be reduced if the car has been used in poor conditions. For example, driving on poor, poor-quality, dusty roads, towing, driving at high speeds of 160 km per hour or more, driving in mountainous areas.

Tools

To change the oil in a Hyundai Solaris gearbox, you will need to have the following tools on hand:

• New oil.
• Funnel.
• A clean cloth.
• Container into which waste should be disposed.

Stages of changing the oil product in the gearbox

First check the lubricant level in the gearbox. Remember to check every 7 days and during replacement. Do the following:

• 
  Hyundai Solaris on an overpass The car must be placed on a surface that is free of flaws (flat). Fasten and check the fastening.

• The engine must be warmed up to a certain temperature. You need to drive from 5 to 10 km.
• Then wait until all the oil fluid flows into the crankcase compartment. Turn off the engine for 5 minutes.
• Take the dipstick that lies under the hood on the right side. Wipe with a cloth to keep it dry. Then install it again until it stops.
• Take the dipstick out again and see how much oil is in there. Typically the level is between F and L. L is the minimum level, and F is the maximum.

Be careful with the radiator hose. When the car is running, it heats up quickly and strongly, do not touch it during operation. Once you know the level, you can proceed to further work. Before replacing, check whether you need to completely change the oil or just top it up.

Regulations for self-change of transmission fluid

The procedure for changing the oil in a Hyundai Solaris gearbox does not require the performer to have any special technical experience or special knowledge. To successfully carry out this procedure, it is enough to act in accordance with the regulations, consistently performing the assigned tasks:

1. Provide yourself with access to the bottom of the machine by installing it on a pit or overpass. Work should begin after the engine has warmed up: when the system warms up to operating temperatures, the transmission oil will also warm up and become more liquid. This, on the one hand, will speed up its drainage, on the other hand, it will allow the system to be better cleaned of waste liquid.
2. Next, you need to unscrew the inspection hole plug, after which you can proceed to work from the bottom of the machine. To get to the plug, you may need to remove the air filter housing.
3. The next step is to find and unscrew the drain plug.

   
   To do this, you need to remove the protection of the power unit from the bottom side. The plug itself is located on the bottom edge of the gearbox. Before unscrewing it, it is important to place a container for used oil prepared in advance under it.

4. After the liquid stops draining, you need to wipe the neck, screw the plug back in, and always replace the O-ring.
5. The next stage of work is the direct filling of new oil.

   
   It is necessary to fill using a technical syringe through the test hole in a volume of no more than 1.8 liters. After this, let the car sit for a few minutes and check the lubricant level, adding fluid if necessary.

When the oil level has reached normal, you need to tighten the check plug and install all the parts removed during the work in their places. Next you will need to start the car, let it run for a while, and then check the connections for transmission oil leaks. At this point, the oil change in the Hyundai Solaris manual transmission can be considered completed. During normal operation, the next replacement will be needed after about sixty thousand kilometers. Having completed this task once yourself, it will be easier to perform it in the future if necessary.

The process of changing the oil in a manual transmission

Changing the oil in a Hyundai Solaris manual transmission is quite simple with your own hands. The process is a little similar to changing the oil, but has some subtleties and nuances of the procedure. So, let's start changing the oil in the Hyundai Solaris manual transmission:

In fact, it would seem that everything is simple, like all cars, two plugs, drained and filled, but no. But that’s not about that now. We buy oil.

1. Remove the engine protection.

   We change the oil in a manual transmission on a Hyundai Solaris. To do this, we place the car on an overpass or on a lift. Then unscrew the protection.

2. We are looking for the drain and fill plug.
3. Drain the oil. Be sure to buy 2 liters of oil.

   Little by little we begin to unscrew the oil drain plug. The mechanics contain approximately 2 liters of oil.

4. Why two liters? 1.9 liters were drained from the car.

   Also, at the same time, slightly unscrew the plug where we will fill the oil, but not completely.

5. Having tightened the drain plug, we move to the bay. Next, we place a previously prepared container under the oil drain plug, now unscrew it completely and drain the oil. At the same time, unscrew the oil filler plug. We wait until the oil drains.
6. To fill the oil, unscrew the filler plug.

   After the oil has completely drained, tighten the bottom plug.

7. Using the control screw, we measure the oil level in the box. We begin to fill the oil into the upper (filler) hole. Using a syringe or making a device using a funnel and a piece of hose. We tighten the plug.
8. Everything is ready and the oil has been changed, now we put everything back together as we took it apart. It is worth noting that for orientation purposes, so as not to pour in more than 1.9 liters. The gearbox has a level. After filling the oil, we begin to slowly unscrew the bolt that is responsible for controlling the oil level in the box... ... if the oil flows, this may mean that the level is set, otherwise the oil will need to be filled to the required level. Then we tighten the bolt back and the procedure for changing the oil in the Solaris manual transmission can be considered complete.

Choosing Hyundai Solaris oil

It is recommended to fill a manual transmission (5-speed or 6-speed) with gear oil with a viscosity grade of 75W-85 or 75W90 Gl4/GL5. To replace, you need to purchase 2 liters of oil; the box will take approximately 1.8 liters. Here is a list of oils that are exactly suitable for the Solaris gearbox: Hyundai MTF 75W-85 Gl-4 - considered the original Shell Spirax S5 ATE 75W-90 GL4 GL5.

Why do you need to change the oil in the box?

The automatic transmission oil needs to be changed for the following reasons:

• loss of chemical properties;
• loss of technical and technological properties. Since the automatic transmission parts heat up, the oil also heats up, which means it loses its original properties;
• loss of lubricating properties.

All of the above indicators are reasons for changing the oil and you should not allow at least one of them to lead to damage to the parts located in the gearbox, since changing the oil is cheaper than changing the entire unit.

Recommendations

The manufacturer recommends pouring only original oil into the Hyundai Solaris manual transmission because:

• it is designed specifically for this type of automatic transmission and vehicle;
• has a special chemical structure that protects parts;
• the technical and technological properties of the oil meet the plant standards;
• prevents rapid wear of parts.

The oil in the gearbox is designed to cool the elements and lubricate them, but due to heating it loses its original properties, which is the reason for replacing it.

Conclusion

Having considered the process of replacing and selecting oil, it is worth noting that in this case the manufacturer of the Hyundai Solaris is right that it is better to pour original oil, even though it is more expensive. You should not skimp on protecting manual transmission elements and neglect all technical safety measures.

Source: https://koreanautoreview.com/hyundai/solaris/zamena-masla-v-mkpp-solyaris.html

Let's sum it up

Replacing transmission fluid in manual transmissions is almost always a task that is easy to do at home, even if you own a modern class car. To do this, you just need to be patient and determined, purchase the necessary materials and strictly follow the step-by-step instructions for performing the procedure. At a normal pace of work, this procedure takes no more than three hours, and the saved budget is calculated at a decent amount.

When changing transmission oil, special attention should be paid to the choice of lubricant and combustible material intended for filling into the system. It is on its quality and compliance with the requirements of the automaker that not only the operational period of the transmission depends, which is important for the car, but also the controllability, safety and reliability of the vehicle on the road.

Required volume of product and brand

In a gearbox, oil is used to reduce friction between parts of its design. The choice of oil fluid depends on many factors. For a manual transmission, according to the car's passport data, about 1.9 liters will be required.

The automatic transmission is more capricious in operation, and it is more difficult to choose a technician for it. liquid and determine the required amount.

There is an opinion that the manufacturer at the factory sometimes does not add oil in the required volume. If it is possible to check this, then you should top it up. The same must be done if a leak appears. The standard volume of product in an automatic transmission system is about 6.8 liters. The peculiarity of replacing it for the complete process will require about 8-9 liters.

If there is any doubt whether the oil has worn out before reaching the specified mileage, it can be checked for quality. This can be done with a clean napkin. The working fluid will have a bright red color. The darker it is, the closer it is to wear.

More on the topic: Automatic transmission, manual transmission on Hyundai Solaris: fuel consumption, reviews

As a standard, the machine is supplied with synthetic oil of standard SP III at the factory. Instead of Korean, you can use “Shell” or “Chevron”, ensuring only that its choice complies with the standard. For a manual transmission, the manufacturer recommends using semi-synthetic oil of the GL-4 75w85 standard. When choosing a technical fluid, it is necessary to take into account such parameters as:

• frost resistance. For Russian roads, brands are needed that do not freeze at minus 45 degrees;
• compression ratio;
• rate of decomposition into fractions when used.

For automatic transmissions, it is better not to deviate from the manufacturers' standard. An automatic transmission is more capricious than a manual transmission, and the wrong choice of technical fluid can damage it.

Main technical characteristics

The main technical characteristics depend on which engine and gearbox are included with the vehicle. You can familiarize yourself with the parameters of the Hyundai Solaris in the tables below.

Table - Technical characteristics of Hyundai Solaris with automatic transmission

Table - Main technical parameters of Hyundai Solaris with manual transmission

Reviews from owners indicate that fuel consumption is slightly different from what is stated. The reason for this is that fuel consumption largely depends on how you use the car and under what conditions. Aggressive driving style and difficult weather conditions can lead to an increase in gasoline consumption by 1-2 liters relative to the standards stated by the manufacturer.