Adding a transmission filter to a modern Honda ?

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by John Horner, May 20, 2005.

  1. John Horner

    John Horner Guest

    Has anyone out there added one of the Magnefine or other inline filters
    to the cooling lines of their recent model Honda?

    Honestly I am shocked that Honda seems to believe that replaceable
    filters for the transmission fluid and fuel are no longer applicable to
    their vehicles.

    The fuel filter issue really stumps me. How on earth is Honda to know
    that an owner will never get contaminated fuel from a filling station?

    John
     
    John Horner, May 20, 2005
    #1
  2. John Horner

    Jafir Elkurd Guest

    There is a filter in the fuel tank on the 1998 and later accords. I would
    like a regular maintenance filter though.

    And Honda has never had a replaceable transmission filter, except on a few
    of their transmission in the v6 cars (1991-1995 legend for example). I've
    seen a 1991 accord with over 300,000 miles on the original transmission, so
    I wouldn't worry too much about it. Just change the fluid regularly. I
    have a legend (without a replaceable filter) with over 400,000 miles on the
    tranny and no rebuild to my knowledge. (though my other legend isn't so
    lucky... I have bad luck with transmissions)
     
    Jafir Elkurd, May 21, 2005
    #2
  3. John Horner

    TeGGeR® Guest


    There are four filters between you and the gas in the underground tank.
    1) Dispenser filter (that's the "pump")
    2) Sock filter on the pickup in your gas tank
    3) In-line filter in your fuel line (that's the one you replace)
    4) Micro-filter in the injector itself.

    The probability of grit getting to your injectors is virtually zero.

    The contamination you are vulnerable to is WATER. Gas station tanks
    eventually acquire a certain amount of water as a matter of course, just
    because of their crime of existing on the planet Earth, where there is free
    water. When the underground tank is refilled by that big truck you see
    occasionally, that water is stirred up and temporarily gets suspended in
    the gas, and gets pumped into your tank. That water passes through EVERY
    filter in the system, even the very best ones you can buy.

    The station is /supposed/ to take a newly-refilled tank off-line for a
    couple of hours to let the water settle out, but few actually do that,
    which is why you're supposed to lessen your chances of taking on water by
    never filling up at a station that's being refilled. I actually go up to
    the driver and ask him what tank he's filling. If it's not my octane, I gas
    up.

    Having said all that, most people are not at risk so much from water in the
    gas from the gas station, but water they introduce into their system
    THEMSELVES. In other words, most corrosion-based fuel system failures are
    due to SUICIDE. Many people drive around with part-full or mostly empty
    tanks. They will do this regularly, then allow the level to get very low
    before they go and put five bucks in, just enough to get the Low Fuel light
    to shut up.

    That last paragraph means that they are allowing condensation from the bare
    tank walls to run down into the gas every night. Over time, that water
    builds up considerably, causing rust and scale inside the tank. Eventually
    that water gets sucked up by the fuel pump, causing corrosion in the pump,
    lines, injectors, pressure regulator, all sorts of components.

    Then they wonder why they have fuel problems. Then they blame Honda, or the
    gas station.
     
    TeGGeR®, May 21, 2005
    #3
  4. John Horner

    John Horner Guest

    One wonders why owner's manuals make no mention of that potential problem.

    Well, it appears that none of the experts in the fuel or auto industries
    have made any attempt to inform the customers about these concerns.

    John
     
    John Horner, May 22, 2005
    #4
  5. John Horner

    Brian Smith Guest

    Why would 'experts' feel the need to inform people of what is and has been
    common knowledge for decades?

    Brian
     
    Brian Smith, May 22, 2005
    #5
  6. John Horner

    jim beam Guest

    what on earth are you worrying about? if honda transmissions were
    failing due to excess wear product load, don't you think there'd be
    fewer instances of automatic hondas with 300k or 400k miles on the
    clock? the /modern/ hondas with reliability problems are due to
    mechanical design issues, not lack of filtration.

    same goes for honda fuel delivery - there are multiple filters between
    the tank & the injector, not least of which is a fine mesh filter built
    into the injector itself.

    you're like a guy worrying about the wings falling off the plane. sure,
    it /can/ happen, but the fatigue characteristics of aluminum are /very/
    well known and if you're within the "safe zone", you stand more chance
    of being struck by a meteorite while walking through the passenger lounge.
     
    jim beam, May 22, 2005
    #6
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