Leuth

Acura 3.2 TL
I picked up some "universal synthetic" which is rated for "anything" including ATF4. .... I couldn't find anything specifically for "Honda" at Oreilly's, Autozone, Poorman's, or Advance Auto Parts. The only thing I found was the aforementioned universal stuff.

So before I do this transmission service, I need to make sure this stuff will do fine.

Ken1997TL

You'll want tranny fluid meant for Honda automatics, they're a bit different.

Leuth

I can't find "honda" automatic tranny fluid. The only thing that "might" be right is this universal synth stuff. I need something specific to get. I can't find "Honda" fluid anywhere. :/

monkeybutt

Are you anywhere near a Honda/Acura dealership? If not, what about online like this:http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...=260523378971?

Might want to do multiple drain and fills. for the auto tranny.

Ken1997TL

Honda automatics don't use planetary gears, they're sliding gears and use different fluid. You'll want to get something compatible or else you'll end up with problems down the road.

I recommend the eBay link or a Honda dealer's online store.

Leuth

How come you guys don't know exactly what to put into this thing? You... all.. own... the same... car? :/ This is making me nervous as hell. I need to do the service for my transmission. A link on Ebay makes me really uncomfortable. That's non-official. Anybody have their owner's manual still for a 1996 3.2 TL? What does it say?

Go90go

ATF Z-1

That's what you put in, and nothing but.

~Cheers~

P.S. Never flush, only do a drain and fill until the fluid coming out of the tranny runs pink/red like fresh fluid. Pick up extra quarts just in case.

Leuth

Awesome. I bought a car with a transmission with fluid that you have to buy through the dealership. Weak sauce. Can't buy any until Monday. :c

Go90go

Oh, and go to Honda to buy it, not Acura. It's cheaper there and it's the exact same stuff.

Honestly, though, since I've owned mostly Hondas, I'm used to going to the dealer for stuff like tranny fluid. The Merc got it, as did the Rover. Those two, though, cost WAY more than what even Acura was asking for the Z-1, just like the Lexus.

~Cheers~

Leuth

Thanks for the info.

monkeybutt

Looks like you are the only fella on this thread not knowing or wanting to know what automatic tranny fluid to put in your TL. You were given info and even links to help you out. Now that Go90go has spelled it out for you is it okay now? Experiment w/ some other fluid in your 236k mile car if you like and let us know how that works out.

Leuth

A link to ebay is not a very sure source. I've owned an Acura for maybe ten days. Its the next best thing to a piece of alien technology to me. No idea where anything is yet, no idea where things are, where they go, etc.

You linked me to the right fluid. But it was an Ebay link. go90go confirmed what fluid to use.... which happened to be the same thing you told me.

Listen but verify. Don't get all bent out of shape. You'd be doing the same thing in my position if you were about to do the first work to a car you've never worked on which is completely different than any other you've owned.

My Infiniti J30 was something like an 8 quart transmission fill. Another 2-3 counting the transmission cooler I put in. The TL is a 3.2-3.4 qt transmission fill. I confirmed it through three sources before I finally believed it. You can't blame me for being cautious.

monkeybutt

Okay peace brother and welcome by the way. For the record then, use only Honda/Acura factory auto tranny fluid for longevity and reliability. Also as stated above don't do a power flush, but maybe 2 or three drain and fills. Kinda irked me to do do this as it seems like it was wasting, but it seems the accepted way to gently and more thoroughly replace the fluid. Since you are used to what looks like 8 to 11 qt. changes this might not seem too bad to you. While this model tranny seems to be pretty good Honda automatics in general are not known for their extreme durability. I now do a single drain and fill every 20k miles or so. Goodluck w/ the car.

Mandy

Drain and fillevery 15K, every oil change (using synthetic,hence every 7.5~8K). Can not get wrong.

Leuth

I'm taking a food break from the work on the car. did a tranny service, oil change, put in lucas in both...and then proceeded to change the right rear locked caliper. since this included a brake pad replacement, I proceded to the other side. .... to find another locked caliper. Whoever owned this car before me was a frigging idiot. Its like it was left for several months with the e-brake on.

Go90go

I left mine for 4 months with it on once, then twice for two months each time. Nothing has ever happened...?

~Cheers~

BASISON

I would stick with Honda ATF Z1. If you do feel the need to go synthetic, go with a quality synthetic like Mobil 1, Royal Purple, or Amsoil. My 1st gen had 186K miles on it using only Mobil 1 0W-30 synthetic oil every 3750 miles, and Honda Z1 ATF every 15K miles. The engine ran the same as it did on the first day I picked her up.

Go90go

Wait, 0W-30... in Illinois?!

~Cheers~

P.S. Oh, and I'm wondering why you guys are changing tranny fluid so often. Service interval is at 72 months or 90K miles:

/tsb/1995/B95-005.pdf

Go90go

www. acura world .com/tsb/1995/B95-005.pdf

Remove spaces, of course.

~Cheers~

BASISON

OW-30 is really just for the winter time. Otherwise I would go with the regular 5W-30. Surprisingly, it does get pretty cold here at times. Just last week we had windchills of -30degrees!

Leuth

I filled mine with 10w-40. I checked around about it before I did the deed. The only caution I had against it was the need to warm the car up before going anywhere. But I do that anyways. With 237k miles on the car, there's enough wear on the engine to make it a non-issue anyways.

As for the tranny fluid, I drained the oil out again and refilled with nothing but ATF Z1. It feels like its slipping now. :/ I mean, its smooth shifting, but it seems like its taking longer to get into gear.

Might be more imagined... might be the car being different than anything else I've ever driven. Might be a problem. I dunno.

meazz1

I have been using Castrol Imported ATF for Honda for last couple of years and my tranny is smooth and no problem so far.

I just refuse to pay $6.00+ /qt for ATF with a 12+ year old car and 265k on it.

I am at 265k right now.

Mandy

ATZ-1 will do you good.

AJ3

Hi Go90go,

May I ask why these transmissions should never be power flushed???

Go90go

Basically flushing it could cause particles to become dislodged and bounce around, and also could cause the clutch packs to deteriorate.

~Cheers~

AJ3

Aha.. good to know. Thank you. So, ATF-Z1 it is... no flush. New task added to mylist.

Mandy

With Honda-Acura if there is one thing you should not fool around...it is the tranny fluid. Must use ATZ1 from Honda (or Acura). Buy a case. Drain and fill every 20K. 4 quarts per. That's 60K miles coverage. 2 years? Maybe 5 years for some.

So figure it out. 6 x 12 = $72/60,000 = $0.0012 per mile.

Do not sweat the small stuff.

And you do not need to worry about your tranny.

Good luck!

pro_found973.2TL

Definitely go to ur local acura dealership and get the atf z1 and also might as well pick up some blue acura coolant as well. That's all I kept in my old g2 legend and nothing less. It will pay off trust me. Also do the multiple drain and fill as mentioned before. Also. Pick up a magnet and filter/screen for the tranny as well and u will be good for a long time.

tuanrich

Got to do my filter/screen for the tranny this weekend. My tranny shift not so smooth.