Jeep JK Wrangler NSG-370
Manual Transmission Service

As a part of good routine maintenance, it is highly recommended that you service your NSG 370 manual transmission once every 30,000 miles. Changing your Jeep JK Wrangler’s transmission fluid will give you an opportunity to inspect the magnetic drain bolt for any signs of abnormal wear going on inside (i.e. large chunks of metal attached to it) and new fluid will help keep things operating smoothly.

NOTE: It is important to only use MOPAR MS-9224 Manual Transmission Fluid (sometimes listed as NV-3500 Fluid) or equivalent like Syncromesh. Standard gear oils have sulphur in them and damage your synchros.

What You Will Need


(3) Quarts - Mopar MS-9224 Manual Transmission Fluid
• H14 Allen Bit
• H17 Allen Bit Cut Down or
Modified 1/2" Coupling Nut

• 1/2" Drive Ratchet
• 17mm or 11/16" Wrench
• Bottle Pump
• Oil Catch Pan
• Bench Vice
• Die Grinder

What You Will Need
To Make a Drain Plug
Removal Tool


• H17 Bit or 17mm Allen Wrench
• 1/2" Coupling Nut
• Bench Vice
• Die Grinder
• Sawzall w/Metal Cutting Blade

   

Instructions


Making a Drain Plug Removal Tool
I don’t know what Chrysler was thinking when then designed the JK but due to the fact that they routed the exhaust crossover directly underneath the drain bolt on the NSG 370 manual transmission, removing it is somewhat of a challenge especially if you don’t have the right tool to do it. For my purposes, I decided to make my own 17mm removal tool and the instructions below will show you what I did.
1. If you are making your drain plug removal tool out of a 1/2" coupling nut (outside width = 5/8"), you will need to trim about a 1/4" off the end of it so that it’ll measure about 1-1/2" in length. This will make the coupling nut short enough to fit between the exhaust crossover and transmission on your Jeep JK Wrangler.
2. Place the coupling nut into a bench vice and use a die grinder to grind off the excess length. You will also need to grind all 6 sides of the coupling nut just a bit to reduce it’s over all dimension so that that it’s closer to being 17mm.
3. This is a shot of what your new NSG 370 manual transmission drain tool should look like when all is said and done.
NOTE: You can also create a drain plug removal tool by cutting the end off of a 17mm allen wrench or H17 bit.
Servicing Your NSG-370 Manual Transmission
1. Park your Jeep JK Wrangler on level ground. Place an oil catch pan underneath your NSG 370 manual transmission and then, using an H14 allen bit, remove the fill bolt which is located on the passenger side as shown. 2. Maneuver your cut down H17 allen bit or modified coupling nut up between your Jeep JK Wrangler’s exhaust crossover and up into the drain bolt on your NSG 370 manual transmission. Then, using a 17mm or 11/16" wrench, proceed to loosen the bolt until it can be turned by hand. 3. Hold an oil catch pan up close to the exhaust crossover on your Jeep JK Wrangler and then remove the drain bolt completely.
4. The drain bolt on your NSG 370 manual transmission has a tip that is magnetized and as you can see in this pic, it should be covered with small metal filings that stand up like hair. This is normal and will need to be cleaned off before it can be reinstalled. 5. This is a shot of what your NSG 370 manual transmission drain plug should look like once it is clean. 6. Using your cut down H17 allen bit or modified coupling nut and 17mm or 11/16" wrench, reinstall the drain bolt onto your NSG 370 manual transmission.
7. Attach a bottle pump to your Mopar transmission fluid bottle, insert the feeder tube into the side of your NSG 370 manual transmission and then begin pumping the fluid into it. It should take just a tad over 2 quarts of fluid to fill and you’ll know when it’s full when fluid starts to ooze back out the fill hole.
8. Once the fluid starts to ooze back out, quickly reinstall the fill bolt onto the side of your NSG 370 manual transmission using an H14 bit, clean up your mess and you’re done.
If you haven’t done so already, I would highly recommend that you now move over to your NV241 Transfer Case and service it as well. Click on the link below to see a detailed write-up on how to service it:

Jeep JK Wrangler NV241 Transfer Case Service


When finished, please be sure to take your used transmission fluid to your local auto parts store to have it disposed of properly.

14 Comments so far

  1. [...] Jeep JK Wrangler NSG 370 Manual Transmission Service [...]

  2. glwood6 October 27th, 2008 12:03 pm

    Do you know what a synthetic replacement fluid would be?

  3. Jack October 29th, 2008 9:37 am

    I know this seems stupid, but where did you get that bottle pump? I can’t find one at any of my local auto parts sores for a quart. They only have gallon size pumps.

  4. wayoflife October 29th, 2008 11:30 pm

    i got mine from pepboys but have seen them at kragen/checkers before too. usually, you can find them in the gear oil section.

  5. Mykal101 October 30th, 2008 12:14 am

    x2 for a recomendation for the synthetic. What about Royal Purple?

  6. Edwin907 February 21st, 2009 12:12 am

    Man, great write up.

    Got to get me a couple of those bottle pumps!

  7. wayoflife February 22nd, 2009 1:58 am

    glad to hear my write-up is useful to you :)

  8. yendor65 February 28th, 2009 6:09 pm

    keeping the replacement fluid warm before pumping it in makes life easier……

  9. yendor65 February 28th, 2009 6:13 pm

    there was no way and inch and half 17mm allen key worked…mine was 3/4 inch….the write up made the whole job possible…..thanks

  10. Romanini77 March 25th, 2009 7:45 pm

    Where did you get the mopar flud from? The dealership?

  11. wayoflife March 25th, 2009 10:58 pm

    yes, the dealership :)

  12. phunkmastakrez July 21st, 2009 1:34 pm

    An easier and more efficient drain hole plug removal tool:

    1) Cheap 17mm (H17) allen socket from Autozone.
    2) Arbor Press

    Place a small socket inside the half inch socket end and press out the hex head. End result is an exact 1 1/2″ 17mm hex head. No machining needed.

    Good write up by the way. Being a new JK owner this made things straight forward.

  13. Hugues August 28th, 2009 10:48 pm

    You make everything simple for non mechanics like me !! Now my JK has auto tranny… can it be done by average owner also ?

  14. wayoflife August 29th, 2009 10:27 am

    servicing your auto tranny is not the same as a manual. you will need to remove the sump pan to service it. not too difficult of a job though.

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