dramsey

Well, my RL is telling me that a B16 service is due soon (15% oil life left).

I'm in Reno, but travel back to the Bay Area frequently (I leave the transmission in "manual" all the way through the mountains from Reno to Sacramento). The dealer I bought the car from, Los Gatos Acura, provides good service in my experience but their quote for the B16 service seems high. According to my manual, this service is:

1. Change engine oil
2. Change rear differential oil
3. Rotate tires
4. Visually inspect a number of items

The total for the service is about $225. Changing the rear differential oil alone is quoted at $75, whereas a local lube place will do it for exactly 1/3 the cost.

I figure I can save $150 or so by having the local oil place do the engine and differential, and rotating the tires and performing the visual inspection myself.

Does this seem reasonable? In other words, is the price quote from Los Gatos as high as I think it is?

Rpappi

save alot of money and do it all yourself.

SodaLuvr

If you go to a quick lube place for the differential service, buy the correct fluid from the dealership. Do NOT use any aftermarket fluid for the differential.

I know Niello charges about $175 for Service B alone...

AllenRL

My "Service B" warning just came on today! I am in the Bay area also and Stevens Creek Acura said the service would be 149 or 165 with mobile1 oil. I didn't ask about the rear differential. Is that needed with 15k miles?

SodaLuvr

Rear Diff is only needed if the "6" code appears...or whatever code.

dramsey

I read my RL manual, which is mute on the subject of differential oil. However, dire warnings are given against using anything except:

* Official Acura power steeting fluid
* Official Acura brake fluid
* Official Acura engine oil

OK, I'm kidding on the last, but I get the feeling they would have done it if they'd thought they could get away with it. For example, if you have to replace the brake fluid and the Official Acura Brake Fluid isn't available, you can use any DOT-4 fluid, but you should flush it out and refill with Acura brake fluid as soon as possible!

SodaLuvr

Brake fluid, don't worry about. Use any DOT3 compliant and you'll be fine.

As for Power Steering, there are components in a Honda power steering system that require the friction modifiers and "different" overall build of a Honda Power Steering Fluid, so use the genuine product or the aftermarket equivalent. Given the infrequency of servicing the power steering fluid, cough it up and use the real stuff, as any incompatibilities you'll experience will appear in the long run, and the cost difference, if any, isn't worth it.

Automatic transmissions. Use the genuine product or Amsoil ATF. Honda units do have clutch materials which will react to the friction modifiers present in the correct fluid to deliver smooth shifts. Amsoil ATF has worked well in Honda units for those who have used it and is backed by Amsoil.

For the differential, just use the genuine fluid. It's not worth experimenting imo.

jkuniverse

dramsey, I just got the A16 service showing on my RL yesterday at 11900 miles. I believe the A16 service is pretty much the same as the B16 except B16 involves more checking of fluids etc...) Anyway, I've decided to leave this one to the pros due to some extra work involved with changing the diffential fluid etc. I've read some folks on this forum DYI the fluid change, some confusion about what fluid to use etc... It might be worth doing it yourself to save $150 but I've checked 3 dealerships nearby and the price quoted ranged from $145 - $215. I just made an appoint with the dealer (stealer ) who will do it for $145 which I think is pretty reasonable. Wish you the best.

dramsey

There's nothing magic about changing the diff fluid. It has a drain plug and fill plug; you drain the old fluid and replace with new fluid. It uses Honda/Acura ATF, which I bought at my Acura dealer.

I wound up having a change service do the engine and diff oil; I'll rotate the tires myseld and inspect this weekend (I used to work on cars a lot more, back when that was possible...) Total expenditure, not counting my time: $60

jkuniverse

dramsey, thanks for the information...I think that's a good idea. Did you have a place like Jiffy Lube do the change for you?...with your supplied Honda AFT...How many quarts? Thanks.

dramsey

There's a nice lube place out here called "Safe Lube"; you drive the car over the pit and stay in the car while they do the work, which you can watch on TV monitors. The manual says, as I recall, 0.7 quarts of ATF fluid for the rear diff.

soloboy

any prices people have been quoted for this at the dealer?

think its an oil change and transmission fluid change

thanks

kollamala

I was thinking differential fluid was a special kind of fluid,but looks like it is just regular ATF from Honda they use after talking to the dealer.

bluemule

Today, I had an A16 done at a Honda dealer in Mississippi...abut 47,000 miles. I'm looking at the ticket and see that they went ahead and replaced the oil filter, which would make it a B16. The total price, including taxes, was $126.38. The price charged for the ATF was 33.50 and labor was 38.00.

Out of curiousity, what is your mileage?

SodaLuvr

Most people seem to have an early diff fluid change before 15k miles.

Scottn

How do you turn off the service reminder after you do your own service?

dramsey

Check your manual; you press and hold one of the steering wheel buttons at a certain point...

Scottn

thanks

gavine

From another forum ->

"Hold the reset botton for 15 seconds with the parking brake applied and vehicle in Park, to reset the maintenance warning."

neuronbob

Bringing this thread back from the dead instead of starting my own B16 service thread.

My B16 light came on last week at 12650 miles. I'm at the dealer right now and their quote for the service is $270. Just adding my price as a data point.

nyjohnchan

Differential oil is the same as the automatic transmission oil. Honda ATF-z1

lland

My A16 reminder popped up on the way to work this morning. I called a local (near work) dealer and was quoted $153 (oil change, rotate/balance, differential fluid). I called my dealer who quoted $161, without the tire balance. When I told him what the other dealer was offering, he met the price, including the balancing stating "I don't know how they do it."

LL

gdevine

Sheez: I paid $94 which included synthetic oil (Mobile1) tire rotation and the dealer let me use an RDX for about 4 hours and a 100 miles. Now my B16 service light has about 10% left. I'm wondering what the charge will be for this.

TampaRLX-SH

Just got my B16 service today with some additional items.

B16 service
Balance 4 wheels
4 Wheel Alignment
New Wiper Blades
Car Wash
Use of a RDX for the day (my choice - only model I have not driven)
Starbucks, donuts and a jelly bean refill.

$193.23

I did not check the manual, but I do not belive the wheel balance and alignment are included in the B16 service, so that seems like a good price.

The RDX was a hoot! I was very impressed with the handling, if not the very busy and choppy ride. The road noise and tire roar was horrible. VAC would not work well in this cabin. Mileage was 16.3 in a 50/50 driving day. For that kinda mileage the MDX I had last call was so much more vehicle for slightly better mpg.

I was soooooo glad to be back in my silent RL, smooth and serene, effortless speed and unfluttered handling.

Scott6113

I called the dealer I got it from and they wanted $325 for B16 service.

Didn't seem fair for mere fluid changes. I called up the one 40 miles away and it was $267. Still high but I made the appt. Still under warranty so I don't want to jeopardize that.

I know I could shop it further, but you know what? There aren't a lot of dealers here. Nearest one is nearly 20 miles.

Is this going to happen every 10k miles? Car runs perfectly.

Scott

dramsey

Fun update from 2009!

Just took my 2006 RL in to Acura of Reno for the B12 service. They called back and said since the car had 61,000 miles on it, it should have the "60,000 mile service". This apparently involves checking brakes, changing differential fluid and whatnot and costs a heart-stopping (I asked them repeat it) $950!

They're trying to convince me that this is an Acura-recommended 60K service, even though I'm pretty sure that the Maintenance Minder is what you're supposed to pay attention to. They're also saying Acura recommends differential fluid changes every 15K miles, which I'm pretty sure is balderdash.

Comments?

MDs1

Just took my 2008 RL in to Pohakna Acura here in NOVA yesterday for B16 service. The price was $286 which included rear differential fluid changes. The car has about 13K miles.

Chas2

Just out curiosity, why Pohanka? Why not Radley or any other dealer? What did you think of them?

MDs1

Hi Chas2,

I bought the RL as well as the TL I owned prior to the RL from Pohakna and ended up getting services from them. I like their customer service better than Radley.

MDs1

synth19

These service costs are all BS. Follow the manual and you are good to go.

rlerman

Why does rear differntial fluid have to be changed at 13k miles? Doesn't it basically last as long as transmission fluid, about 60 k miles or 5 years???

BTW, meineke will change your differential fluid for $69, you can give them the fluid if you want. It's not rocket science.

jmlaser

The fluid is about $8 a quart (from honda dealer) and you need 4.

You can DIY VERY EASILY.
Get 2 crush washer for the drain if you are worried about a leak. (they are like $2 ea but can be reused often)
Drain
Fill
I used 4 ft pc of 3/8 rubber hose,
Jammed it on the nozzle of an old gear lube bottle and cut off the bottom. Put it in fill hole, ran hose up to drivers rear tire area, held higher than the Diff and filled til full.

Chas2

Thread revival.

Just paid $294 for a B16 service at 39K because my wife wants to take the car on an all girls trip this weekend.

The inspection came out with
Brakes FR 6/32"; RR 6/32"
Tires FR 7/32"; RR 6/32"
Battery Load Test: Failed; Battery Replaced under Warranty; customer to pay $14.84 in environmental disposal fees
Steering Wheel buttons: Coating failed; Replaced under warranty

So now my wife will be off on her weekend away, and not complaining about the warning lights for B16 service. She will be complaining about how loud the 5zigen exhaust is, however.

neuronbob

It's not THAT loud.

zRLmarine

almost 300 for the b16 service?
noway, what else did they do?

I took mine in for her b16 service a few weeks ago, i paid $189 at the acura dealer,

Chas2

That's what I told her. She said, and it's true, "I have very sensitive ears!"

drewspimpin

$270 from Acura of Sunnyvale... as an FYI for Bay Area, CA folks.

I'm doing this myself since I did the A16 service at 15k myself. I am currently at 40k miles.

virtualconcats

Paid $153 for changing just the differential oil. I had two years of free maintenance. Not so free...

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

After blowing a diff, I will always take mine to the dealer for the flush.

TSXnOPKS

Acura of Lynnwood, WA wants $297 for B16 service.