So today I brought my car in for an oil change and a transmission fluid change. Acura was actually VERY competitive for the ATF change, and the oil change was only $10 more than other places. I most certainly got my money's worth though, you could even say I had somewhat of a field day. I got free Acura License plate frames from this dealership, free apple juice, got to sit in every single one of the new models in the showroom (plus a 2010 RL which I will own some day), got a free car wash, and got to have my car worked on by specialists.

The results were very impressive as well. I waited longer than I should have for changing the ATF, but now that it is done, the shifts are unbelievably smooth. You wouldn't think changing the fluid would do that, but boy am I impressed.

So long as the dealership prices are competitive to other places you bet your a** I will keep going to them, even if they are just a few bucks more expensive, it sure is worth it.

End rant.

 

Wow, was a great service! I think I need to take my RL to get a ATF change too. Did they replace the filter too or just the fluid only?

 

I asked about the filter, apparently they don't do that, my service advisor seemed to think there wasn't one. But, after my excellent service I trust them. I mean, come on, if there there was a filter that ought to be changed, why wouldn't they want to do it? They could charge customers more for labor and parts and bring in more revenue. So based on that, I trust their judgement in not changing the filter.

You may want to ask your service advisor about that, as well, though. I'd be very interested what they would have to say.

 

Frank Leta Acura in St. Louis is where I've been taking my RL's for years. and everything is true. Great service, competive pricing, they don't BS you at all and free food, drinks, and TVs to watch the sports games on...

Why go to Jiffy Lube and have some kid that has no clue what he is doing work on your car and if you're lucky... maybe he remember to tighten the drain plug or even put oil in the car.

 

I agree. Even if it is worth maybe $10 or $20 more, you would be better off at the dealer for the superior treatment along. The dealership's selection of drinks and miscellaneous snacks creams the other auto shops coffee that has been sitting out all day by a long shot. I know what you mean about 'technicians' forgetting to do things at other places. I made the mistake one time of getting my timing belt and water pump done at another place and of course they 'need' to replace one or two other parts and they wouldn't let me check them out because "customers are not allowed in the shop". Unless I choose to do the job myself, which I do a lot actually, I think I would only feel comfortable at the dealer.

 

It's all about that free apple juice!!

 

I'm glad you received good service. I usually have bad experiences though.

As far as the filter, it's called a strainer. It can be taken out and cleaned, but I opted for purchasing a new one.

 

Earl, curious, did the dealer do the ATF change as instructed in the owner's manual (drain, fill, drive, repeat three times) or did they do it like they tried to do mine.... drain, fill, call it good. Apparently simply draining the tranny one time leaves a lot of old fluid in the unit (otherwise, why the drain and fill X3?)

 

At the Acura dealer I worked at, my techs used a vacuum device to empty as much as possible, ran a cleaner through at high psi, and refilled. The machine made it extremely easy and the whole process took about 20-25 mins.

 

I'm actually not sure how they did it. Sounds like Pro-Pilot knows what he's talking about though!

 

Just sayin', you might want to use your own tag line as advice. (trust, but verify).

I've also noticed a number of posts on this site and the other Acura site, advising against vacuum/power flush for the Gen1 RL. Here's just one:

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...f+fluid+change

Not trying to change your mind... if you're happy, great. My only experience is with our local Honda dealer, who did the drain once, fill to mark routine, which left about six quarts of old fluid still in the tranny.

 

Av8r, you're correct to a point; it's common knowledge (at least within the Acura dealer community) that over 100k-150k, it's not recommended to get a flush (with a high psi vacuum device). I did not know how many miles your car had on it, and i don't necessarily recommend the flush either. I was simply stating how it was completed at my dealer.......

 

I'd agree with you there. But, I think I would be safe in assuming that the Acura specialists know what to do. I actually would have liked to watch, but the car was too far away from the viewing window.

 

My '02 has 115,000 miles. I'm thinking about doing a complete change myself, however not sure I want to drop the pan to change the strainer. Pro-Pilot, any idea how important it is to change that strainer? Seems some on this forum do change it, others leave it alone.

 

It's not necessary to replace (except in extreme circumstances). I would leave it alone