[Fishboy]

The Used CVT Fluid Stinks Badly

I just changed the CVT fluid in my 2015 CRV AWD this evening. I got out about 4.5 quarts of fluid and boy did it stink! Not a burnt smell, just a nasty oily smell that stunk out my garage. It was surprisingly dark colored for 33k miles, and the magnetic drain bolt had a lot of particles on it. I was rather surprised at this as the engine oil drain bolt had only a small amount of particles when it was new but now has next to nothing. I plan to change the fluid again in a few weeks and we'll see how it looks than. I put the required 4 quarts of fresh fluid back in, so we'll see how it runs tomorrow.

 

[Fishboy]

I believe the FILL opening is where you pull out the rubber plug, right at the front of the engine compartment. The CHECK plug is lower. And the DRAIN plug is still lower and faces inward.

I think my transmission was overfilled as several people have mentioned theirs were. I will check it again this evening.

I was surprised at the amount of chaff on the magnetic plug. Maybe it's just because this is the first time I have changed the CVT fluid and, like with new engines, there are a fair amount of particles that are a result of break in. I will probably change it again this weekend anyway.

Still trying to figure out why the fluid stunk so much. The new stuff didn't smell so badly but it did have a smell stronger than engine oil. Any ideas?