Well, after the disappointing run last Sunday at the track I decided to give the ol' girl some lovin'. I haven't changed the tranny fluid since I put the S/C about 12k miles ago. Since I'm not nice to my tranny I decided to take a look at it. I checked the dipstick and...oh shit. Checked it again just in case I read it wrong and...oh shit. I was running almost 2 quarts low!! I have no idea how or why but I've been running really low. I went to the store and bought 8 quarts of Redline and started the "drain 2 and fill 2" method of changing the fluid. The old stuff was jet black and not looking too healthy. After about 6 quarts, the fluid started looking bright red again. Topped her off and went for a drive. Shifts were noticably smoother! She loves me again.

Since I was already digging around in the engine I decided to play w/ the FPR a little. The car has been idling rough and the fuel pressure has been below 30 at idle. I bumped it back up to about 35psi. Now my car starts w/o that studdering I've been having in the morning and it idles much nicer. This weekend I may pull a couple plugs and see if they're fouled. I haven't checked the air filter yet but I did order a new K&N replacement so I can throw away the Comptech foam POS. It feels good to get some needed maintenance done. Does anyone else get that warm fuzzy feeling??

 

hopefully that black goo wasn't holding your tranny together

 

let's hope not

 

I have a question my car studders in the beginning most of the time now when I start the car. How do I fix that? Is it the sparkplugs? What's FPR?

 

I get that warm fuzzy feeling just walking into the garage.

It rained today- drove the RX300. Not the same

Tomorrow the sun will be out! Joy, a CL day!!!!

 

This past weekend I changed
- Brake Fluid
- Coolant
- Power Steering Fluid
- Oil
- Tranny fluid..


My baby loves me too

 

A little maintenance does wonders. Do you have a tranny cooler on your car?

I'm surprised that you're 2 quarts down. Fluid doesn't diappear like that. If you're not seeing a puddle on your driveway or wet lines anywhere, I would be anxious to find the leak. Are you sure that you're checking the level correctly? Checking fluid on these cars is done with the engine off. Most other cars are done with the engine running and in Park.

 

Yeah that's odd that your trans fluid was down 2 quarts.

 

did you check the fluid while the car was running? that is the correct way i believe.

 

Engine off with the car on level ground for Acura/Honda Auto. Check the book. I was surprised when I read it also.

 

Sweet avatar pic matt

 

reminds me to check mine, i've actually had it flushed at the dealer for free twice before it went out

 

I've never changed transmission fluid. Would you elaborate on the "drain 2 and fill 2" method?

 

Drain 2 quarts, then refill 2 quarts.

 

[QUOTE=Allout]Engine off with the car on level ground for Acura/Honda Auto. Check the book. I was surprised when I read it also

That is the way to do it. trannys have gone bad by checking when engine is running them too much is added.


BTW: My car is starting to like me again as well.

 

I have the tranny cooler so all I have to do to drain a couple quarts is unhook the "from tranny" line and put the hose tip into a 2 qt lemonade jug. Turn the car on and wait for it to fill. Fill up the tranny and do it over again.

I accidentally spilled a full quart on top of the tranny. I didn't push the funnel down hard enough I guess and was just pouring away - not noticing it was making a mess. I tried to rinse it off but the engine bay still smokes after long drives.

As far as checking the fluid levels I have been doing it with the engine off. There are 3 dots on the dipstick. Two really close to one another near the tip and one at the far end near the handle. The Acura tech in Lynnwood told me that the fluid level should be between the dot near the handle and the middle dot near the tip... but that it should be closer to the dot near the handle. I came up w/ the "2 quarts low" by slowly adding until I got the fluid level between those two dots. I'm sure I could even add a little more if I wanted to and still be between the dots.

my level b/f=1
my level now=2

===o=1==o==========================2========o===## ####

 

I like your dip stick illustration.

 

Thanks. If dentistry doesn't pan out for me I may go into art.

 

UPDATE: just got the new filter... now the circle is complete young obi-wan

 

I hope you don't dispense novacaine like you do tranny fluid.

 

I did my flush similar to yours but I did it as a continous flow. How I did my flush was to have a tranny funnel in the fill hole. Had someone start the car while I poured fluid into the tranny while the bad stuff was pumped out into a large container. I think I went through 8 quarts of Amsoil until I got clear pink.

I'm going to go home and check my manual. I could have sworn that fluid was supposed to be in area 1.

 

Tom,

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Looks like the Tech at Lynnwood gave you some bad info. I think you should drain out some fluid as soon as possible. This is the page out of Helms.


Could also contribute to why you're smelling burnt fluid.

 

Now that just sucks... thx for the info. What kind of damage could I get? I guess that explains the tranny fluid on the garage floor the last few mornings. I was thinking it was just some of the fluid that I had spilled. Ugh.

And what the hell is the point of the confusing third dot on the damn dipstick?

 

It won't hurt anything, it will just overflow out the overflow tube, probably why your seeing oil on the floor. Your from Lynnwood? I live in Fla and that's where I got my SC from, acura of lynnwood. good luck and don't worry about it, just get the extra fluid out.

 

^^

Just pump some out through your tranny cooler line and you'll be fine. Take your car to a coin car wash and pressure wash the excess off your tranny.

Good luck Bud. BTW - the third dot is to confuse the Acura Tech's.

 

Is there a DIY on the tranny flush? I've been to a couple other places that said i had to go my dealership for a tranny flush. How hard is it? and what is needed?

 

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...t=transmission

 

Actually, is it ok to use the Redline. I always thought it was the gospel to use the Honda ATF ? at least from what I;ve read over the years.