Has anyone installed an inline fluid (oil) filter for the transmission??

Most transmissions have a replaceable filter, even if it is not very effective. The RDX does have both a filter, and a magnet. But neither can be replaced without splitting the transmission case. My Chevy S-10 Blazer has both a filter and magnet, which can be replaced by unbolting the bottom pan (and thus dumping fluid everywhere, true).

Anyway, there a several different aftermarket inline filters which can be easily inserted into the rubber part of the RDX trans lines to/ from the cooler (either in the radiator or the separate cooler in front of the A/C cooler).

The problem (that I have), is that the RDX factory manual does not state which is the RETURN and which is the FEED line to the trans cooler(s). And an inline filter _must_ be installed in the return line, or the transmission will be starved for oil (and possibly burned up).

So, anyone know which is the return line to the transmission? or how to tell? anyone installed an inline filter?

The factory manual for my Chevy Blazer is generally much inferior to the RDX manual, but it does give this simple bit of info, i.e., which is the transmission cooler return line.

 

As you said the ATF goes to the air cooler first, then the radiator.

Hot ATF exits the transmission and feeds into the left side (vehicle left) of the air cooler. Trace the line from the right side of the air cooler -- it wraps around and inputs to the right side of the radiator for secondary cooling.

Return fluid exits the left side of the radiator back to the filter/strainer on the transmission.

Try the diagram on page 14-273 and keep in mind that the ATF returns to the filter strainer on the trans.

I wanted to change the trans filter too, but I've settled for a drain/fill X 3 every 40k miles. If the fluid's always fresh, it can't get very dirty.

 

Thank you for your reply. I think perhaps you mean page 14-263 instead. I agree that your description of the flow is (probably) correct, but this is not explicitly stated in the manual. And I really cannot tell for certain which line on the trans is connected to the filter strainer, not by looking at the diagrams.

Eventually I may pull one of the lines and run the starter for a few seconds to determine for certain which is the return line. I am unwilling to install a filter without verifying for myself which is the return line, since it is not stated in the manual.

As an observation, when I did a drain and fill (x3) at 6000 miles, the drain plug magnet was completely saturated with deposits. Hopefully, this was the break-in wear particles, and there will not be much more deposits in the future.

I am not so concerned with keeping the fluid 'fresh', but in removing any wear particles. I am inclined to do a single drain and fill every 10K miles, just to clean the drain plug magnet.

 

I have not done this before so here goes:

 

Page 14-271 of the maintenance manual section 2 shows red hose connecting to cooler outlet, as indicated on page 14-272 section 5.
Sorry don't know how to put the pictures.

 

Thanks - but quoting page numbers from a manual is generally usless, because the factory manuals are not the same for each year RDX. Plus there are sometimes different publication versions of the same manual for the same year vehicle, because of later updates, changing the page numbers.

So the page numbers and description in your manual do not match my manual. Only pictures are useful.

And I posted a DIY on installing a trans inline filter some time ago, basically answering my own question.

 

Was only trying to help. Didnt know Acura made more them one repair manual and I did say that I didnt know how to post pics, I will be quite now.

 

I appreciate the attempt at help - and I was trying to explain the problem. As for posting pictures, apparently you will be able to attach pictures to your post, after you have been a member for some time. Sorry, do not know how long.