palidanx

My car is about at 30,000k and I'm probably going to change my automatic transmission fluid. What kind of auto tf do you guys recommend? And also should I be changing my transmission fluid at 30k or at a later date?

lito

for a second there I thought you were converting your auto to manual

Tigerriot

So did I.

miner

The early sportshift Honda trannys ( my '99 Prelude) were notorious for failing due to clogged solenoid screens. I changed the fluid every 15000 (drain & fill - not complete drain). Tranny still needed replacing @ 78000 (Honda replaced for labor charge only). I would change every 15000 and use Honda ATF just to cover you arse in case problems down the road arise.

Tsx536

When are we suppose to change the Tranny fluid? I thought it was every 60K?

EuRTSX

Your thread title is misleading =/

JTso

iTrader: (2)

Fixed thread title to avoid confusion.

KapVu

I just got to 30K on my 04 TSX. I would like to know when the TF is needed to be changed too.

TSX2345

For piece of mind you can always do it sooner. Much like oil or any other fluid that breaks down over time.

I am anal, I do a all my fluids flush/change yearly. I know it's overkill. Pay a little now or alot later. Preventative maintenance can't hurt

palidanx

haha.. sorry for the deceiving title guys.. any other transmission fluid recommendations besides honda atf?

kaikai114

I did my AT trans fluid change just few months ago, was gonna go with synthetic, then decided to stick with Honda advised AT fluid. Did a research, and some people say the Honda transmission is pretty picky on the lubricant fluid. Just to be safe then sorry to stick with Honda AT fluid. Like engine oil, it's the change interval that matters the most instead of what type of fluid.

KC

aaronng

For ATF, stick to Honda ATF. I've read experiences of people having a shudder when shifting when using other brands of ATF in Honda auto trannies.

I'd change it every 2 years, or whenever there is a heavy flood and you drove through it. For some reason, hot AT case + cold water = pressure drop in case which leads to a little water being sucked in. It shouldn't be the case, but immediately after a flood, our Accord's AT shifts become jerky. A change in ATF solves the problem.

palidanx

where is the best place to get the honda atf? Can we get it at a place besides a dealership?

kaikai114

I just grab them at the stealership, $8-9 bux each i believe

kboosman00

How many bottles does the tranny require?

jlukja

Acura of Escondido sells Honda ATF through their e-bay store. I've bought stuff from them before (sway bar, icebox) and I found them very good to deal with.

gsrthomas

Yes always stick to Honda Transmission Fluid.

Change it every 15k miles, chaning the fluid is easier than doing an oil change. There is only a drain plug, just unscrew that have the fluid drain and fill using the fill hole on top of the tranny. Couldnt be easier. Be advised this is not a complete flush because there is still 1/4+ fluid inside the tranny, but if you change your tranny fluid regularly you will be okay.

Does Honda have one type of Auto Tranny fluid?? I know for Toyota they have two types of Auto Tranny Fluid. I have a Toyota Highlander and it requires Toyota Type IV Auto tranny fluid. There is also a regular Toyota Dextron fluid for older Toyotas.. I have been told that this is a type of synthetic fluid that Toyota makes. All the newer Toyota's use this tranny fluid. I dont know if Honda has just one type or different types of fluids.

mg7726

3 bottles. i changed at 30k and fluid was brown (red is original)

palidanx

sorry for asking yet another stupid question.. where exactly is the drain bolt for the transmission fluid?

aaronng

Remove the driver's side wheel. The bolt should require a 3/8" drive. Just use a 3/8" ratchet. Replace the washer if necessary (I always do)

kboosman00

Great Description man, ty!

gfd1182

is there a dipstick so you know how much fluid to add?

Vegito

Dont you need to remove that undercarriage cover ? I mean I had to , thats blocking access to the drain bolt

TSX2345

AT = Yes
MT = No

gfd1182

Is that true?

acura_ak

i have a question regarding the addition of fluid......i'm not too familiar with the automatic transmission vehicles as i have done the transmission fluid change for my previous manual transmission car. i know in the manual transmission you add the fluid through another bolt on the transmission, but how about the automatic? is there a bolt on the tranny or do i simply add the fluid through the dipstick? thanks for any help.

aaronng

Add fluid through the AT dipstick hole.

gfd1182

does the undercarriage have to be removed or is the bolt accessible when you take the wheel off?

mg7726

you can also get a air pump and suck it out via the dipstick.

those that connect to the air compressor, it's really quick too, then you do not have to mess with the bolts, wheel, or crush washer replacement.

gsrthomas

This is not a good way of doing a auto tranny fluid change. When you unscrew the drain bolt from the tranny, that bolt is magnetized and will have a lot of tiny metal fragments attached to it. So when you unscrew that bolt you have to wipe off any metal fragments attached to it.

So, doing your method is a big no no.

mg7726

i was giving options, there ARE some people who will do it this way

aaronng

The bolt is accessible. But, the fluid flows down to the undertray if you don't remove the driver's side plastic clips holding the undertray. I would just pull off one side, so that the tray is not in the path of the ATF. No point taking the whole tray off.

gfd1182

thanx

kaliraver69

Anyone got a pix of this bolt?

gfd1182

some images would be great

aaronng

Go pull off your wheel, take a photo of the transmission case and post it up so we can point out which bolt it is.

acura_ak

thanks

aaronng

Forgot to add, use a funnel with a long tube.

yuhoo22

I looked at the maintenance schedule, but didn't see where it actually recommends you change the ATF. Is it really 60k?

How come the MT doesn't have a dispstick?

Vegito

On my 05, i had to remove the wheel, remove part of the cover so i can slide a pan in there.. the drain is in the middle of the car facing in, not out towards the wheel..

UNLESS there is another drain plug somewhere else and what I been draining is actually not Honda ATF

highly unlikely.. own honda/acura since 99.. kinda hate the cover..

Ill be doing mine again soon... so if someone else has a pic.. go ahead.. or wait till i do mine..