Got 3rd gen's tranny flushed the other day... didn't get charged for an oil filter. Hmm!

Popped the hood to find the spin-on filter for the tranny filter... and there's NONE?
According to the workshop manuals filter should be near the tranny dipstick. Found a
blanked spot in the tranny casing where the spin-on should, but nothing's there.

Can't see any other spots for a filter either.


Did Mitsu change the design and delete the tranny oil filter??

Or is it internal now. :doubt:

Some time during the TJ range they changed the setup so there is no external spin on filter. Why ??? I dont know.

Its internal, and seems from workshop manual, you can't change it unless you do a transmission overhaul and take the gearbox apart (?). It looks suitably large, to last a lifetime of normal use anyhow.

From the steps in the workshop manual, there's no mention of filter replacement for transmision oil change so I say you've done alright.

Damned - that's a backward step, Mr Mitsubishi. :rant: yeah its a late Series 1 (Mar/02).

Spin-on filters are so easy to change, plus when you tap out the gunk you can
see how much metal filings it has collected... good indicator of tranny condition.

(bit paranoid since we blew a TN tranny in Jan :cry: )

Actually my TH doesn't have a transmission filter either. It's one of the last TH's before the TJ series was introduced...

Yeah they went to the internal filter on the TJ's. I have a KH with external filter and then for some reason they went internal. Dont ask me why. My bro had his internal tranny filter changed on his KJ2 and it was absolutely filled with **** and gunk. The tranny sump plugs are also magnets and they collect all the metal shavings and impuraties. It also was covered with a layer of slime. Tranny works so much smoother and better once you have a full flush and filter change. Makes it brand new again rather than gear changes getting a little clunky.

... Tranny works so much smoother and better once you have a full flush and filter change. Makes it brand new again rather than gear changes getting a little clunky.
Got the "power flush" done at the dealers, but they didn't change the filter.

How hard would it be to change the filter?
(assume have to drop the tranny oil again)

Gregories & Haynes are no help... they only talk about the spinon.

What model do you have? 3rd gen? TE/KE to TH/KH have an external filter just like an engine oil filter. Easy as to replace. TJ/KJ onwards have an internal filter which i dont know much about. Need a pro to do that one.

its right at the bottom of the transmission, should be around about 14 small m6 bolts holding it in. its a wire mesh filter. the sump of the transmission has to come off. a real problem if the new trannys dont have a sump, im not sure tho i cant really remember

tj has the external filter deleted from it...also scattered through th and previous are trannys without filters also due to trannys being replaced under mitsu warranty...when the new one turns up...no filter.
the internal filter is not a huge deal to replace but you gotta drain the tranny and remove the tranny oil pan. most often than not the internal filter is not replaced at trans flush time due to expense of filter and labor to do so...just blows it outa proportion for most people.
by all means though its not a bad idea to replace it.

Thanks MJ, spot on.

ahh, dejavu to TN tranny filter. :doubt:

I done a quick oil change on mine with a mechanical friend and I was quite horrified to find LOTS of metal filings on the end of the drain plug. I am told it has a magnet on the end of it to A. Stop them going through your tranny and B. to scare you ****less when you take the plug out yourself.


How much does a power flush through a dealer cost? I think mine needs one SOON otherwise I'll be pricing a tiptronic box by the end of the year.

How much does a power flush through a dealer cost? I think mine needs one SOON otherwise I'll be pricing a tiptronic box by the end of the year.
Mine charged for fluid 12L @ $12.50/L + labour about $30 + GST... so all up about $200.

They originally quoted $220... suspect the extra which would have covered the spinon filter - if I had one.

Thanks ....... I'll have to get me one of these.

Thanks ....... I'll have to get me one of these.

Do it. It's well worth it. I think Mitsu reccomend changinf the tranny fluid every 45K. I got mine done at 20K and will continue getting done at this interval. The difference is dramatic. Much smoother changes and the car just seems happier.

Do it. It's well worth it. I think Mitsu reccomend changinf the tranny fluid every 45K. I got mine done at 20K and will continue getting done at this interval. The difference is dramatic. Much smoother changes and the car just seems happier.
Wierd... my Mitsu dealer said powerflush every 100thou.

Had to actually INSIST on him doing it, on my car with 'only' 40thou.
(He flushed it with 12L but didn't do the internal filter.)


On the TN yep think it was tranny flush and new filter every 20thou on the handbook.

ahh, dejavu to TN tranny filter. :doubt:

pretty much the exact same proceedure.

Wierd... my Mitsu dealer said powerflush every 100thou.

Had to actually INSIST on him doing it, on my car with 'only' 40thou.
(He flushed it with 12L but didn't do the internal filter.)


On the TN yep think it was tranny flush and new filter every 20thou on the handbook.

Really? Every 100K. I took it to another mob for this non-scheduled service. At the Mitsu dealer, unfortunately, you're just another car on the assembly line. They don't like doing anything out of the ordinary. Shame.

I would have thought the first couple of oil changes would be the most important since this is where the metal parts would grind away any bits as they are wearing in. Anyway, the difference is so much better, I'm going to continue doing it.

I did 20thou intervals on the TN, and the tranny still blew up at 200,057. :rant:

All the TN tranny services done at Fluidrive.

My TH has the same - an internal filter- altho mitsu said it is a Late TH because they didnt normally have them until TJ model....
They also said we would have to pull the tranny out and apart to replace it.... :confused:

Yeah i had my AWD done the other day and the tranny bloke said yeah the internal filters cant be changed without opening up the tranny which usually means it has to come out.

Just a good flush will do it and it always makes the car like Brand new. I have had my KE,KH,KJ and AWD all done with a full pwer flush and the external filters changed on the KE and KH and in every case the cars are like brand new again and cant even feel the gear changes again.

Well worth doing. You can usually tell if it needs doing. If your oil isnt a bright clean red then it should be done as Magna teannys dont like dirty oil.