Changing the oil in the Mitsubishi Outlander 3 variator with 2.0 and 2.4 engines

The Mitsubishi Outlander is a compact crossover, first introduced by the Mitsubishi brand in 2001. However, official sales were launched only in 2003.

Below we will look at how to change the oil in a variator on a Mitsubishi Outlander 3, talk about the frequency of work, and highlight the main brands of oil and their features.

We will pay special attention to the replacement procedure, as well as subtleties and nuances that are not indicated in the manufacturer’s manual.

Motors and gearboxes installed on Mitsubishi Outlander

The first generation car was equipped with two gasoline engines of 2.0 and 2.4 liters, and in 2004 a car with a turbocharged 2-liter engine with a power of 202 liters was released. With.

From 2005 to 2012, the second generation Mitsubishi Outlander was produced with a 2.0-liter manual transmission engine and a CVT, as well as a 2.4-liter power unit with a CVT only. As for the most powerful 3-liter version with 223 hp. s., it was equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

In 2012, the third generation Mitsubishi Outlander was introduced, but sales began only at the end of 2013.

In 2014, the car underwent a restyling, in which the appearance and a number of technical components changed.

The car is offered in three engine options: 2.0, 2.4 and 3.0 liters with manual transmission, automatic transmission and CVT.

Namely:

2.0 4WD 4B11 146 hp
2.4 MIVEC 4B12 167 hp
3.0 4WD 6B31 230 hp

We will dwell on the option with a continuously variable transmission in more detail.

List of works during maintenance 4 (mileage 60,000 km)

After a run of 60 thousand km on TO-4, it is necessary to repeat the work carried out during TO 1 and TO 2 plus two more procedures:

Replacing the fuel filter. The gasoline filter is replaced with a new one without replacing the electric fuel pump. For replacement, an original kit is used, which includes coarse and fine filters. For 2.0 with front-wheel drive - a Mitsubishi 1770A250 fuel filter is used - 10,800 rubles. For everyone else - Mitsubishi 1770A251 (MR514676) - 9950 rubles.
Replacing engine coolant. Mitsubishi motors Super Long life Coolant premium is poured at the factory. This antifreeze can be ordered under the number MZ311986, the cost of a 4-liter container is 5580 rubles.

The original coolant is manufactured using LLC technology - Long Life Cooliant, which means carboxylate antifreeze consisting of organic acids and phosphates. When selecting analogues, you can use any Japanese LLC liquids, blue or green, without silicates. There are no analogues among European brands, as they are made using a different technology. The liquid is produced in finished form and is not diluted with water.

For replacement, original antifreeze is recommended: Mitsubishi Super Long life Coolant, green MZ320712 - 4l - 3800 rubles, and MZ320291 - 1l - 880 rubles.

CVT oil change periods

Changing the oil in the Mitsubishi Outlander 3 CVT, like any other car, is a mandatory stage of operation. This is due to the high load on the gearbox and the need to reduce the degree of wear of its elements.

Transmission fluid helps in solving the following issues:

Elimination of overheating of parts and mechanisms of the variator by removing excess heat.
Removing accumulated wear products that have appeared in the transmission.
Protection of mechanisms from rust.
Transmission of torque to the chassis.
Creating a friction clutch in a variator box.

If nothing is done, the lubricant ages and loses effectiveness. It accumulates wear products that damage the gearbox. The “garbage” in the lubricating fluid acts as an abrasive substance and further accelerates wear.

The creators of the Mitsubishi Outlander 3 claim that the variator is capable of operating throughout its entire service life without replacing the lubricant. But that's not true.

In their assessment, the company’s experts did not take into account the operating realities in our region, which are more severe.

To avoid negative consequences, it is better to change the oil in the variator every 75-80 thousand kilometers.

If you miss the above deadline, negative factors may appear:

Extraneous sounds in the transmission area (humming, knocking, grinding, etc.).
Reduced dynamics when accelerating.
Jerks even with a sharp increase in speed.
Slipping when accelerating.
Vibrations, etc.

The above symptoms indicate the need for an urgent visit to a service station to replace the lubricant and, possibly, repairs.

Necessity and frequency of replacement

The transmission fluid in the Mitsubishi Outlander CVT needs to be changed. The operation of the box is associated with conditions of increased loads. The task of lubrication is to minimize loads and make the wear process as small as possible.

Functions performed by the liquid:

Elimination of overheating of parts and mechanisms of the box by removing excess heat;
Elimination and removal of wear products formed in the box;
Anti-corrosion protection of mechanisms and box parts;
Filling voids at the junctions of box parts;
Conversion and transmission of energy through the box;
Creating a friction clutch in a box.

Correct performance of these functions leads to the fact that the lubricant ages and becomes unusable. Increased temperatures and friction forces are the main enemy of transmission fluid, which saturates the oil with wear products. An excess of particles turns the lubricant from an ally into an enemy of the box. Inclusions act as an abrasive, accelerating the wear process of the mechanism. Changing the oil in the Mitsubishi Outlander automatic transmission avoids negative impacts and extends the life of the variator.

The Japanese designers who developed the variator claim that the unit is capable of working out its design life without replacing the transmission fluid. This statement does not correspond to the realities of our region in which the vehicle is used. Experienced mechanics regularly change the oil in the Mitsubishi Outlander variator at least once every 80 thousand kilometers.

Brands of oils and their analogues, filling containers for the Mitsubishi Outlander 3 variator

It is important to pay special attention to the choice of lubricant for the Mitsubishi Outlander 3 variator. Errors in this matter can lead to deterioration of the mechanism and additional malfunctions.

To avoid such consequences, it is important to buy only original oil from proven developers.

Mitsubishi Dia Queen CVTF-J1 lubricant is poured at the Mitsubishi plant.

Subsequently, you can use an improved version of the composition for the variator - CVTF J4.

This brand of transmission fluid is indicated on the dipstick.

For a full range of activities, about 12 liters will be required (including washing). But it is important to know that the filling volume of the CVT, according to the manual, is 5.5 liters. And after a major overhaul of the transmission, it increases to 7.1 liters. But we will dwell on this issue in more detail.

To avoid counterfeiting, buy liquid only from an official representative of the company. If there are none, you can contact the dealer through the official website and order the product online.

4 liters of original transmission fluid, at the time of writing, will cost about 4,000 rubles.

Replacement procedure

The algorithm of actions consists of several stages - removing old oil, washing, replacing the filter and filling in a new lubricant. Let's look at each of the steps in more detail.

Removing old grease

Procedure:

Warm up the oil in the variator; to do this, drive for several kilometers.
Place the machine on an overpass/pit or lift it using a lifting device.
Remove the front transmission protection, if it is installed (information for those who do not have it - number 2306 V2).
Pull out the transmission fluid dipstick.
Place a watering can to remove the waste liquid, and lower its end into the prepared container.
Wear rubber gloves to avoid getting burned or use a rag.
Unscrew the drain cap with a 19mm socket.
Wait until the oil is completely drained. This volume should correspond to 6 liters.

Note that you can do without a watering can, but in this case the container must be brought directly to the hole.

Cleaning the Mitsubishi Outlander 3 variator (with complete replacement)

For this:

Tighten the gearbox drain hole (use a plug and washer).
Fill 6 liters of clean lubricant.
Place the dipstick in the variator hole.
Start the power unit and keep it running for two to three minutes.
Move the automatic transmission knob to different modes. At each stage, take a short break in switching every half a minute.
Perform the switching process at least 10 times.
Stop the engine and drain the fluid according to the diagram above.

Replacing the filter and cleaning the pan

Follow these steps:

Remove the air duct. To do this, unclip the clips and pull them up (there will be two of them).
Remove the variator housing and drain the remaining dirty oil.
Inspect the crankcase and gearbox magnets for damage, clean them from dirt and metal shavings. At the same time, inspect other elements of the variator (at least visually).
Replace the pan filter or wash it (use a 10mm socket, you need to unscrew three bolts - one long and two short). Be careful because it also contains oil. If you decide to just rinse, then use any liquid, for example, to clean the carburetor. After this, wipe the filter and its mounting bolts with a clean rag.
Change the pan filter gasket 2824A005 to prevent air leaks.
Clean the magnets from dirt.
Before installation, wipe the pan thoroughly and use something degreasing.
Remove the battery and its support. The stand is fixed using four bolt connections. To unscrew a wide bar, you may need a long arm for the key, because otherwise it is difficult to get under.
When removing the heat exchanger, be careful, oil will flow from all the cracks, so it is better to do this with the pan removed. Replace seal 2920A096 immediately.
Pull out the CVT filter and replace it. Please note that when replacing, very often the rubber gasket remains at the bottom. It usually comes off. It needs to be taken out and replaced (comes with a new filter).
Reinstall the clean magnets and gaskets.
Place two filters, a heat exchanger, and a tray in their original places.

Important! You can do without removing the battery and support. In this case, it is necessary to unscrew the bolts from the pit.

For this:

Jack up the car.
Remove the left front wheel, plastic protection with clips and fender liner.
As a result, access to the heat exchanger will appear.

Filling with new oil (carried out through the hole for measuring the dipstick level):

Place a funnel in the inspection hole to avoid spilling oil.
Fill with lubricant to the required level (about 5-6 liters).
Start the engine and let it run at idle.
Smoothly and consistently change gears with a short stop at each (1-2 seconds). Do this several times.
Measure the oil level in the Mitsubishi Outlander 3 variator again, and top up if necessary. See below for details of measuring the oil level in the variator.
Check the gearbox for leaks and, if identified, eliminate the cause.

This concludes the activities. Theoretically, you can skip the work of flushing and cleaning the crankcase, but it’s better not to do this. When choosing a flushing agent, the original oil for the variator is suitable. It is not recommended to use anything else.

After completing the work, after 30-40 km, check the variator housing for leaks. If everything is fine, top up and continue operation.

Oil level control

The level should be checked regularly, at least once a month. To do this, it is necessary to carry out the following work.

Drive several kilometers in normal mode so that the transmission warms up to operating temperature (70 - 80 degrees Celsius).
Place the car on a level, non-sloping platform.
By pressing the brake pedal, you should move the gearshift lever through all positions, holding it in each position for several seconds. The lubricant must reach all components of the hydraulic system.
Set the selector to the “N” position – neutral, leaving the engine to rotate at idle speed.
Put the car on the handbrake.
Remove the dipstick, having first cleaned it of dirt using a clean rag.
Assess the lubricant level and quality using the dipstick.

The oil level must be within o. If it is lower, add lubricant through the dipstick channel. If the level is exceeded, it is necessary to drain the excess amount of lubricant through the plug located in the lower part of the automatic transmission housing.

Subtleties and nuances that are not mentioned in the manual

Replacing the lubricating fluid in the Mitsubishi Outlander 3 variator box is a responsible process that requires taking into account some important points.

Let's highlight the main ones:

You will have to tinker with unscrewing the battery support pads, so prepare suitable keys in advance or think about how you will get to this place.
For convenience, the heat exchanger bolt (the one at the bottom) should be unscrewed from the fender liner.
When removing the pan, be careful, because there is still about 500 ml of oil there. Also, pay attention to the size of the bolts. In some Mitsubishi Outlander 3 CVTs they may differ.
Before purchasing a pan gasket, count the number of bolts that must match the holes in the gasket itself. Centering lugs are not included in the count. Usually there are 18 of them.
Use caution when removing the CVT filter. Its edges are very sharp, so there is a risk of skin damage.
It is recommended to clean the coarse filter in a special bath with a cleaning solution. You won't get away with regular blowing.
When pulling the coarse filter bolts, it is important not to strip the threads. Use a torque wrench. The average tightening torque is 7.9 N*m.
It is recommended to wash everything from oil with gasoline on the table, because it is more convenient.
The amount of oil that is drained for the first time is different for everyone - from 6 to 8 liters. Remember that a lot of dirty fluid remains in the pan and must also be drained.
The oil level in the Mitsubishi Outlander 3 variator must be measured only with the engine running and warm, with the gear lever in the “N” or “P” position. After completing all activities, it is recommended to drive several tens of kilometers. Make sure that the car is standing on a flat surface, and the level itself should be in the area of the letter “H” between the middle and top marks (temperature 800C). When the oil is not heated, its level varies in the area of the letter “C” between the lower and medium marks.
The protrusions on the dipstick do not play any role, so do not pay attention to them when measuring the liquid level. They are needed so that the dipstick stays in the tube and when measuring the oil does not smear on it.

In general, 5.5-6 liters are enough for replacement, but it is better to take 12 at once to flush the variator. Another option is to buy three four-liter cans. At the same time, the latter still has about 50% left for refilling. If you drain more from the torque converter, it can take up to 8 liters, but this is not necessary.

What is oil degradation and how to reset the meter

In the Mitsubishi Outlander 3 ECU with a CVT there is a so-called oil degradation counter. The official name is CVT oil degradation level. When calculating the parameter, only the temperature of the lubricant in the gearbox is taken into account.

During operation, the counter awards points according to the following principle:

t, 0С less than 90 - no points;
t, 0С between 90 and 99 - 1 point/min;
t, 0С from 100 to 109 - 2 points/min;
t, 0С from 110 to 119 - 4 points/min;
t, 0С from 120 to 139 - 6 points/min;
t, 0С from 140 and above - 8 points/min.

As soon as the temperature reaches 138 0C, system information appears about gearbox overheating. If this parameter increases to 149 0C, the variator operates in emergency mode.

This counter is intended only to inform the driver and does not send any commands to other elements of the car.

Information from the degradation counter can be obtained using a MUT-3 scanner or other similar devices. As an option, it is possible to use the ELM 327 diagnostic adapter with Android software such as hobDrive, Torque Pro or cvtz50.

When changing the oil in the variator, it is not necessary to reset the counter. It is advisable to do this according to the manufacturer’s recommendation, so service station specialists do not skip this manipulation. You can do the reset yourself using the cvtz50 software.

You can analyze the meter parameters by comparing the received data with the information on the odometer. After pouring new lubricant into the Mitsubishi Outlander 3 variator, we take the odometer data as zero.

Next we do the following analysis:

The information from the degradation counter is three or more times less than the number on the odometer. Mitsubishi Outlander 3 CVT gearbox is in good condition. The temperature is normal. There were no overheats.
The parameters of the degradation counter and odometer differ by less than 1/3 or are almost equal. This indicates frequent overheating of the gearbox. It is recommended to change the oil and at first monitor the temperature of the variator using any of the software mentioned above.
The number on the degradation counter is greater than the data from the odometer. This indicates severe overheating of the transmission. It is important to contact specialists as soon as possible to resolve the problem.

Many car owners have a “0” on their degradation meter. This is normal, because if there is no overheating above 90 degrees Celsius, points are not awarded.

The likelihood of overheating is very low, thanks to the presence of a radiator, so the lubricant rarely heats up above 85 degrees Celsius. Older versions of the Mitsibisi Outlander (before CVT8) had an old type of radiator that did not do its job very well.

Judging by the information from the CVTz50 program, the oil temperature in the variator in summer and winter is in the range from 50 to 85 degrees Celsius (average).

To reset the grease degradation counter in the Mitsubishi Outlander 3, you will need:

CVTz50 software;
WiFi/Bluetooth adapter ELM327 bluetooth V4.

The CVTz50 program is paid and costs about 150 rubles.

Its capabilities:

reading and resetting errors of the variator box and power unit;
studying and setting the oil wear counter to zero;
adjustment of XX speed and leading angle;
control of transmission operation data;
indication of temperature statistics (per month).

To reset the degradation counter on the Mitsubishi Outlander 3, do the following:

Install the latest version of CVTz50 from Google Play.
Install diagnostic connector adapter ELM
Wait for it to be detected by Bluetooth or Wi-Fi (depending on the type).
Start your device and check the connection. To do this, press the “Monitor” button of the variator operation.

If everything is done correctly, a log of information exchange between the adapter and the program appears on the display.

Next, find the oil degradation point and reset it to zero.

If desired, you can reset the data using MUT-3.

To do this, take the following steps:

Turn off the ignition (key position in the lock - Lock).
Connect MUT –III to the OBD diagnostic connector.
Turn on the ignition (key position - ON).
Use the special MUT-III option to reset. Go to CVT oil degradation level, and then to Clear CVT oil degradation level and click Clear.
Turn off the car ignition (Lock position).

Resource and replacement time

Mitsubishi Outlander automatic transmission oil change
Talk that the lubricant used in the transmission is designed for the entire service life of the car should not be taken seriously. There are reasons for this. The lubricant may lose its properties due to:

dirt or particles of wearing parts getting into it (most often these are small particles of gradually deteriorating clutches);
due to prolonged operation of the automatic transmission under high loads;
due to overheating of the transmission, which also occurs as a result of engine overheating.

Taking into account Russian operating conditions, the oil change in the Mitsubishi Outlander automatic transmission should be done once every 60 - 80 thousand km. mileage Thus, it is possible to significantly increase the resource and improve the operation of the node. In cases where the lubricant smells burnt or contains foreign matter, maintenance should be performed immediately. Remember that automatic transmissions are designed for a relaxed driving style. Sharp starts from a standstill and rapid acceleration are disastrous for them.

How much does it cost to change the variator oil on a Mitsubishi Outlander 3 at a service station?

The oil change service for a Mitsubishi Outlander 3 CVT is available at many service stations, but the price may vary depending on the service policy and region. If desired, you can order different services - partial replacement (after draining by gravity), complete displacement and work with removing/cleaning the pan.

A standard replacement (without flushing) with zeroing the degree of oil decomposition will cost 750-1000 rubles (excluding the cost of transmission fluid).

The second option (with complete displacement) is the most popular. It implies the following set of works:

draining old oil;
adding new fluid;
starting the engine and operating the variator for a quarter of an hour;
removing and washing the cooling radiator;
Resetting the oil hydration parameter to zero;
drain the flushing oil and fill in new oil.

On average, the cost of work is 3000-3500 rubles.

A full range of work, which involves removing and cleaning the pallet, costs about 5,000 rubles.

Flushing the radiator and replacing the fine filter will cost 1,500 rubles and 1,900 rubles, respectively, if you order them as separate services.

In all cases, the cost of the lubricant for the Mitsubishi Outlander 3 CVT is not included in the price. It must be purchased separately.

In the case of Ukraine, a regular replacement will cost 200-300 hryvnia, and the full version (with washing of all elements in the gearbox) will cost 1000-1200 hryvnia.

Is it necessary to reset the counter?

Motorists who operate cars with CVT transmissions installed on them are naturally interested in one question. It concerns whether the counter needs to be reset.

The answer here is clear. On vehicles with CVT, zeroing is a mandatory procedure. If you are serviced by an authorized dealer, the specialists themselves will be able to reset the sensor and begin a new aging count. Performing a reset yourself is more difficult.

Many service books state that it is necessary to reset the oil aging sensor in the box. There are 2 main reasons why this is done:

This information makes it clear in what mode the car and the variator itself are operated. That is, specialists and ordinary motorists can find out if there are problems with the CVT after its last reset.
If you remove the oil aging sensor on the variator after replacing it, this makes it easier to determine the next replacement date in the future.
On some cars, if you do not reset the parameters, the meter will cause an error to appear when connecting specialized diagnostic equipment.

From the position of a car owner, he does not really need such information. But this is a good way to find out the details of the operation of a car with a CVT when buying a car on the secondary market.

The presence of errors when connecting a diagnostic device or a large number of points over a short period of operation allows us to naturally assume that the variator was operated in very difficult conditions, and therefore quite serious problems may arise with it in the near future. The buyer would rather refuse to buy such a car.

Alas, CVTs are still far from perfect. These are the most vulnerable and delicate gearboxes, very susceptible to stress. The delicacy of CVT forces buyers in the secondary market to be extremely careful when purchasing used cars with a CVT.

Only after making sure that the variator was not loaded and was operating normally can you agree to the deal. An oil aging meter will provide significant assistance in this matter.