Transmission fluid

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by Bruce Chastain, Dec 8, 2006.

  1. I just had my 2002 Accord EX V6 at a quicklube place and they wanted to
    change the automatic transmission fluid, showing me that it was now brownish
    (instead of red), and claiming that transmission fluid should be changed
    every 30k.

    I said no and when I got home I double-checked the owners manual and found
    that it specifies the first transmission fluid change at 120k miles / 6
    years. I only have 37k on it so I have a couple of years left to go.

    Does anyone feel that the transmission fluid should be changed more often
    than that? Is the color no longer a reliable indicator? I know things have
    improved but 120k miles / 6 years sounds like an awfully long time to me.

    Bruce.
     
    Bruce Chastain, Dec 8, 2006
    #1
  2. Bruce Chastain

    Thom Guest

    It can never hurt to do it more often. But, if you do not want to do
    it yourself, get it done at the dealer. They make sure you get the
    right fluid, quick-lube will quickly ruin your tranny.
     
    Thom, Dec 8, 2006
    #2
  3. Bruce Chastain

    Howard Guest

    Are you having any problems with your transmission now? Honda has
    experienced an abnormal amount of problems with the trans in V-6 equipped
    models in the late 90's-early 2000's model years. They have and are
    warranteeing many that are beyond the normal period and have extended the
    warranty on certain models.
    Are you sure it was your fluid they were showing you. Quicklubes are
    infamous for substituting fluids and parts to justify their unnecessary
    services.
    The service interval in your owners manual is realistic. You may want to
    consider "severe service" intervals which are usually half the normal
    recommendation. In this case it would be 60k.
    A typical transmission service drains approximately 3 to 4 quarts from your
    trans and new fluid, ATF Z1 only, is used.
    Many non-Honda shops will suggest or coerce you in to a fluid flush. DO NOT
    FLUSH your transmission. It is highly unrecommended.
    Below is a copy directly from Honda's Flush and Additive Policy:
    Do not use transmission flushing machines. In the very rare instance where a
    flushing process is necessary (such as to remove improper fluids), a
    procedure is available which does not require special tools. Use of
    additives, solvents, cleaners or conditioners as part of a flush or as a
    performance enhancer is absolutely unnecessary and may affect transmission
    shift quality that would not be warrantable by Honda. Transmission fluid
    replacement (not flushing) should be recommended only at the mileage
    intervals specified in the owner's manual.

    Howard
     
    Howard, Dec 8, 2006
    #3
  4. Interesting. No, no problems at all. The trans still works perfectly and
    smoothly.
    I think so but I'll double check the color of the fluid myself.
    That's an interesting point. Because 95% of my trips are < 10 miles,
    "severe service" is probably appropriate.
    Thanks for the warning!

    Bruce.
     
    Bruce Chastain, Dec 8, 2006
    #4
  5. Ah, good point. I've heard Hondas use mostly Honda supplied fluids only.

    Bruce.
     
    Bruce Chastain, Dec 8, 2006
    #5
  6. Bruce Chastain

    John Horner Guest


    I like to change it every 30k miles, but only use the real Honda ATF-Z1,
    and don't use a flush machine. The Honda procedure calls for drain,
    fill, drive, repeat for three times. Takes about 12 quarts to do.

    John
     
    John Horner, Dec 9, 2006
    #6
  7. Do it yourself because changing AT fluid on Hondas is easier than doing an
    oil change.

    And ONLY use Honda's fluid.
     
    Headknocker via CarKB.com, Dec 9, 2006
    #7
  8. Bruce Chastain

    karinhall Guest

    Good advice, but is there a "cheaper" source for Honda A.T. fluid than the dealer?
     
    karinhall, Dec 9, 2006
    #8
  9. Bruce Chastain

    Brian Smith Guest

    If one can not afford the fluids and parts, one should not purchase the
    vehicle.
     
    Brian Smith, Dec 9, 2006
    #9
  10. Bruce Chastain

    Joe LaVigne Guest

    What an interesting, helpful, and incredibly stupid statement...
     
    Joe LaVigne, Dec 10, 2006
    #10
  11. Bruce Chastain

    Brian Smith Guest

    LOL! I guess you've never heard that old line before, "If you're worried
    about the price, you can't afford it".
     
    Brian Smith, Dec 10, 2006
    #11
  12. Bruce Chastain

    Joe LaVigne Guest

    Of course I have. It doesn't apply to parts for cars. It applies to high
    end boutiques and restaurants.

    With cars, it is just plain stupid to not look to save some scratch where
    possible, so long as you are not sacrificing quality. Looking for the
    same product at a lower price is just simply common sense.

    If you are willing (and stupid enough) to pay $200 for a $100 part, that's
    fine. It doesn't mean someone else shouldn't drive because they aren't
    willing to piss their money down a hole...

    The guy just wanted to see if he could find the fluid a little cheaper
    somewhere else. That's called comparative shopping, and is one of the
    things that makes the free market work...
     
    Joe LaVigne, Dec 10, 2006
    #12
  13. Bruce Chastain

    Brian Smith Guest

    Actually it applies to anything one wants to apply it against.
     
    Brian Smith, Dec 10, 2006
    #13
  14. Bruce Chastain

    Andrew Guest

    LoL - Brian, what are you doing in a Honda NG??

    ;0)

    a
     
    Andrew, Dec 11, 2006
    #14
  15. Bruce Chastain

    nm5k Guest

    If it's brown looking, it needs to be changed. 120k miles..???
    No wonder people seem to have trouble with some of those
    tranny's.. But you don't have to do it all at once unless you just
    want to. IE: you could change the fluid on your next 2-3 oil changes
    and end up with pretty clean fluid. Like they say, it's super easy,
    just like changing the oil..
    That's what I'm doing in my case. I bought an accord that had brownish
    fluid. I changed it once, when I did the first oil change. And I'll do
    it
    again on the next couple of oil changes. By that time, it will be
    pretty
    clean. Just once will help quite a bit. Doesn't get all the old stuff
    out,
    but it will look a lot better than it probably does now. Brown fluid
    means it's semi burned.. The things must run a tad hot..
    Being it's so easy to change, I wouldn't pay a lube joint too much to
    change it. If they want big $$$, I'd just do it myself, or find someone
    else. It's not like the average US car where you gotta drop a pan,
    change a filter, etc.. The honda you just open the drain plug and let
    it pour out. Just be careful not to overfill. Takes about 3 quarts + -
    to do a change if I remember right. The color is still a pretty
    reliable
    indicator. Forget what the manual says.. 120k is a lot of miles.
    Thats the whole lifetime of the car for many people. If it's brown,
    it's
    burned. No bueno for tranny.. :( I also don't like waiting a few
    light
    years to change oil. Even if synth oil.. Changing oil gets the dirt
    out.
    It needs to be done on a regular basis, along with the filter if you
    want long life from the engine. I see some people that wait nearly
    10k miles to change the oil just cuz they are using synthetic oil.
    Sure the oil itself doesn't really wear out, but you still need a fresh
    filter,
    and if you are going to that much trouble, might as well get the dirt
    out of the engine while you are at it. And the additives do wear out.
    Once a filter gets clogged, the bypass kicks in, and you might as
    well not have a filter.. :/ I think the automakers are going overboard
    with all these super extended maintainence skeds.
    Another pet peeve of mine is all the new cars that lack zerk fittings
    on all the front end parts.. I'd like to strangle the engineer that
    came
    up with that idea. It's common for many new cars to eat up front end
    parts in 20-30k miles.. You can't grease em and purge the old grease,
    dirt, and metal particles. So the part just ends up grinding itself to
    death. Newer fords are bad about this. But other makes do the same
    these days. Well, I guess enough oil related whining for now.. :/
    MK
     
    nm5k, Dec 11, 2006
    #15
  16. Bruce Chastain

    jim beam Guest

    that's not true.
    believe it or not, it's the other way around. vehicles that have grease
    fittings almost always have /more/ problem with premature wear because
    grit gets pumped /in/ not out.
    yeah. but that's nothing to do with the lack of grease fittings - it's
    because they're designed that way. think i'm joking? it's real easy to
    make something that lasts well. it's real hard to make something that
    lasts just so long, but then fails. and to do this requires a /lot/ of
    research. frod's r&d budget is huge. and most of it goes into this
    kind of life limitation because of some bizarre misconception that if
    their product lasts, they'll never sell anything new. the japanese have
    been proving that wrong for the last 30 years!!! it's quite incredible
    how detroit has no ability to learn by observing others. but engineers
    don't make decisions in detroit so maybe it's no surprise.
    not honda. my crx was 305k miles on its original suspension.
     
    jim beam, Dec 11, 2006
    #16
  17. Bruce Chastain

    Thom Guest

    Wish there was, but not that I have found. Price is 6 bucks a quart.
    So, you are looking at about 80 bucks, plus a new crush ring or two.
    But, it works. I bought a used 90 accord that shifted rough. I did
    the fluid change ritual, and viola!!. Nice smooth tranny @ 151,000
    miles. Previous owner feard tranny trobles so he sold it. He used
    Dexron III, his loss, my gain.
     
    Thom, Dec 11, 2006
    #17
  18. Bruce Chastain

    Thom Guest

    Wish there was, but not that I have found. Price is 6 bucks a quart.
    So, you are looking at about 80 bucks, plus a new crush ring or two.
    But, it works. I bought a used 90 accord that shifted rough. I did
    the fluid change ritual, and viola!!. Nice smooth tranny @ 151,000
    miles. Previous owner feard tranny trobles so he sold it. He used
    Dexron III, his loss, my gain.
     
    Thom, Dec 11, 2006
    #18
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