Maintaining a CVT Transmittion at its optimum level

[chabbas]

Since most of the new vehicles are coming up with a CVT Trans; thought it worthwhile to start a thread on the topic. Shall breakup the topic in two parts;
1. Daily Use & 2. Maintenance

[chabbas]

1. Daily use
   a) Try to bring up the vehile to optimum temperature, especially when ever starting from cold as CVT gear oil works best in a optimum temperature range. Most importantly avoid putting in reverse when vehicle is cold as it tends to develope permanent fault lines in the trans;
   b) Try to develope a smooth driving style, & do not imply sudden acceleration. With the passage of time u will start enjoying the rides as never before; If fond of sudden speed go for a mannual!!!

[chabbas]

1. Maintenance
   a) Try to change the CVT oil every 30K, irrespective of what the owners mannual says;
   b) Try to drain out the old oil totally;
   By draining when vehicle is hot;
   & lifting the side opposite to drain hole with a jack, so the oil can travel to opposite direction.
   c) After filling up; shift the gear from one level to other; & in the end bring it to reverse, & then check the guage. Approximately another half liter oil may be needed to bring the guage to full level while on reverse.
   d) If the gear is making noices or malfunctioning try to replace the oil as soon as u can irrespective of what the mechanic prescribes. It takes about 4.5 liters to fill up the trans. which costs hardly 4000 rupes. If the gear has been treated badly for long time try to do 2 gear oil changes with in short time span. Only as a last resort change the gear with a kabli one!!!

[FaatehRehman]

"Irrespective of what manual says" , why so?

[capsat]

cvt / atf transmission oil - transmission oil filter change is required only after 70,000 kms
-
JDM vehicles landing in Pakistan 95% have tampered odometers, so changing engine oil & oil filter, transmission oil & filter & fuel filter is strongly recommended.
-
scanning through a diagnostic computer is advised for every JDM before doing any maintenance work.
-
30,000 transmission fluid change is non-sense.

only Suzuki Pakistan recommend transmission & differential oil change at 5000 km to clean out the debris left inside with oil filled when assembled at vendor facility.

[chabbas]

One can't put CVT & Auto trans under one bracket. 30K becomes much more important if one wants ti keep the vehicle for the long term. CVT trans start giving in after about 100K if not taken care off.
Am sharing this, based on my own experiences as well as extensive research on international blogs & threads during the course of maintenance if my vehicles trans.

[capsat]

so you are deducing it to your experience which is more important standing tall against manufacturers recommendation in owner's manual of every new car ??? JUNK JDM does not land in Pakistan with english owner's manual

[nifiii]

1. Daily use
   a) Try to bring up the vehile to optimum temperature, especially when ever starting from cold as CVT gear oil works best in a optimum temperature range. Most importantly avoid putting in reverse when vehicle is cold as it tends to develope permanent fault lines in the trans;
   b) Try to develope a smooth driving style, & do not imply sudden acceleration. With the passage of time u will start enjoying the rides as never before; If fond of sudden speed go for a mannual!!!

What is the optimum temperature here? Since it is already too hot these days, is it bad to just start the car, put in reverse and drive away? 35+ is the normal temperature in Lahore.

[chabbas]

Well living in Pakistan the manufacturer's recommendations & their 3S service goes maximum as far as 100K. Then they will try to suck the last penny out of u. To cut the long story short, got CVT oil replaced from city's best 3S service. The trans started giving noices, specially on reverse & then even while starting a climb. 3S rectified this by opening the throttle body & fiddling with butterfly. Ran from one workshop to other, & was stunned by variety of diagnostics; like gear needs replacement, engine mounts r cracked, Engine is weak (that was a first) and so on. Issue got resolved each time by just replacing the CVT oil. So whatever I am sharing it's for others benefit & convenience. Have developed this after years of sticking with othervise prestene condition car; reading lots of stuff, & Alhamdulillah am still enjoying the ride.

[chabbas]

Also our grear manufacturer even didn't know the difference between CVT & Auto trans oil & keep on recommendung auto trans oil from CVT during first few years.

[chabbas]

By the time blue light goes of especially if one has to out the right in reverse or there is a step climb in front of house!!!

[farooqaliminhas]

what's the difference between CVT & Automatic transmission?

[zia1288]

Suppose I am driving in D and want to drive in S or B & vice versa what is the correct procedure? Just Put the car in required gear or stop the car, shift and then start moving again?

[farooqaliminhas]

[nifiii]

By the time blue light goes of especially if one has to out the right in reverse or there is a step climb in front of house!!!

My Cruisetronic Altis 1.8 doesn't show any coolant blue light.

[chabbas]

Then there should be a temperature guage​