Changing tranny fluid offten is more harm than good?
Thread Starter
Suzuka Master
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 857
From: NJ
Changing tranny fluid offten is more harm than good?
I see all these stories of people changing tranny fluid every 15K miles just to see it failed 10K miles later. Yet I also see people who don't change it for 60-90K miles, and their transmission is still running at over 100K miles on it. Does putting fresh fluid every 15K miles causes more harm than good?
My replacement transmission soon will have 15K miles on it, not sure if I should change it or wait till 30K miles. The fluid does not smell bad, the color is still red, but not bright red like it used to be when it was just installed.
My replacement transmission soon will have 15K miles on it, not sure if I should change it or wait till 30K miles. The fluid does not smell bad, the color is still red, but not bright red like it used to be when it was just installed.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,649
Likes: 5
From: Millersville, Md.
There are 1000 opinions on this, but as a ten year customer of this tranny with two different Acuras I have settled into a routine of the three quart drain every 15,000 miles. I do have a tranny cooler and I use Amsoil synthetic trans fluid. The first to go made it to 164K miles (mostly hwy), the CL-S I have now made it to 122K miles. I never use the sport shift, just D4 around town and D5 over 60 mph. I never hesitate to nail it though and I use VTEC a lot. Hope this helps.
Thread Starter
Suzuka Master
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 857
From: NJ
There are 1000 opinions on this, but as a ten year customer of this tranny with two different Acuras I have settled into a routine of the three quart drain every 15,000 miles. I do have a tranny cooler and I use Amsoil synthetic trans fluid. The first to go made it to 164K miles (mostly hwy), the CL-S I have now made it to 122K miles. I never use the sport shift, just D4 around town and D5 over 60 mph. I never hesitate to nail it though and I use VTEC a lot. Hope this helps.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,837
Likes: 24
From: Mt. Lebanon
I have a tranny cooler on my car for the past 110k miles. Its kind of funny that my engine has blown up twice and my car has 210k miles on it and my tranny was replaced at 65k and now has 145k miles on it without a problem.
Who would have thought that my tranny would have outlasted my engine. But as for a tranny cooler, I def think there are some benefits even though I have no hard proof to say it truly does.
Who would have thought that my tranny would have outlasted my engine. But as for a tranny cooler, I def think there are some benefits even though I have no hard proof to say it truly does.
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Just finished doing it the second time since I owned it and I notice a big improvement afterwards.
Thread Starter
Suzuka Master
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 857
From: NJ
The doubt with tranny cooler I have is that it will reduce the rate of fluid circulation because of the extra hop added to the circulation system. Don't know if its significant to be a concern.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 73
Likes: 2
From: Johannesburg ZA/Midwest USA
This is strictly my opinion and I cannot guarantee the results but I think it is better to do the ATF fluid changes early and often than later and infrequently. I have almost 275K on my original and have done ATF fluid changes every other oil change. I am starting to do them myself because it is cheaper and I can get Honda ATF myself.
If you delay ATF fluid changes, residue could build up and thus the risk of damage increases because doing an ATF fluid change after a huge number of miles will disturb particles and embed themselves in parts of the trans you do not want them to such as the solenoids. So, do them early and 15K is none to early.
One question-How do you guys react when you see other Acura CL owners? I go to work in St. Paul and see several Acura CL's on a frequent basis. There is this white one that looks thoroughly tricked out with blue lights and a loud exhaust, a black one that almost always goes the same route as I do and a silver one with rusty arches that parks next to me. I usually am interested to see other CL's on the road but usually do not have much to say to other owners and it seems as though (aside from the white one) that many do not care about their cars. I wonder whether your experiences are any different.
If you delay ATF fluid changes, residue could build up and thus the risk of damage increases because doing an ATF fluid change after a huge number of miles will disturb particles and embed themselves in parts of the trans you do not want them to such as the solenoids. So, do them early and 15K is none to early.
One question-How do you guys react when you see other Acura CL owners? I go to work in St. Paul and see several Acura CL's on a frequent basis. There is this white one that looks thoroughly tricked out with blue lights and a loud exhaust, a black one that almost always goes the same route as I do and a silver one with rusty arches that parks next to me. I usually am interested to see other CL's on the road but usually do not have much to say to other owners and it seems as though (aside from the white one) that many do not care about their cars. I wonder whether your experiences are any different.
This is strictly my opinion and I cannot guarantee the results but I think it is better to do the ATF fluid changes early and often than later and infrequently. I have almost 275K on my original and have done ATF fluid changes every other oil change. I am starting to do them myself because it is cheaper and I can get Honda ATF myself.
If you delay ATF fluid changes, residue could build up and thus the risk of damage increases because doing an ATF fluid change after a huge number of miles will disturb particles and embed themselves in parts of the trans you do not want them to such as the solenoids. So, do them early and 15K is none to early.
One question-How do you guys react when you see other Acura CL owners? I go to work in St. Paul and see several Acura CL's on a frequent basis. There is this white one that looks thoroughly tricked out with blue lights and a loud exhaust, a black one that almost always goes the same route as I do and a silver one with rusty arches that parks next to me. I usually am interested to see other CL's on the road but usually do not have much to say to other owners and it seems as though (aside from the white one) that many do not care about their cars. I wonder whether your experiences are any different.
If you delay ATF fluid changes, residue could build up and thus the risk of damage increases because doing an ATF fluid change after a huge number of miles will disturb particles and embed themselves in parts of the trans you do not want them to such as the solenoids. So, do them early and 15K is none to early.
One question-How do you guys react when you see other Acura CL owners? I go to work in St. Paul and see several Acura CL's on a frequent basis. There is this white one that looks thoroughly tricked out with blue lights and a loud exhaust, a black one that almost always goes the same route as I do and a silver one with rusty arches that parks next to me. I usually am interested to see other CL's on the road but usually do not have much to say to other owners and it seems as though (aside from the white one) that many do not care about their cars. I wonder whether your experiences are any different.
Thread Starter
Suzuka Master
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 857
From: NJ
This is strictly my opinion and I cannot guarantee the results but I think it is better to do the ATF fluid changes early and often than later and infrequently. I have almost 275K on my original and have done ATF fluid changes every other oil change. I am starting to do them myself because it is cheaper and I can get Honda ATF myself.
.
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reason they are failing, is because people are doing the 3x3 method, instead of a drain and fill, i had a 99 before 4 spd, and my current 02tls, both i had done a 3x3, month later it crapped out, then i got a rebuilt in aug 06, and since then i only do drain/fills every 6 months...
Banned
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 73
Likes: 2
From: Johannesburg ZA/Midwest USA
I have a tranny cooler on my car for the past 110k miles. Its kind of funny that my engine has blown up twice and my car has 210k miles on it and my tranny was replaced at 65k and now has 145k miles on it without a problem.
Who would have thought that my tranny would have outlasted my engine. But as for a tranny cooler, I def think there are some benefits even though I have no hard proof to say it truly does.
Who would have thought that my tranny would have outlasted my engine. But as for a tranny cooler, I def think there are some benefits even though I have no hard proof to say it truly does.
reason they are failing, is because people are doing the 3x3 method, instead of a drain and fill, i had a 99 before 4 spd, and my current 02tls, both i had done a 3x3, month later it crapped out, then i got a rebuilt in aug 06, and since then i only do drain/fills every 6 months...
One question-How do you guys react when you see other Acura CL owners? I go to work in St. Paul and see several Acura CL's on a frequent basis. There is this white one that looks thoroughly tricked out with blue lights and a loud exhaust, a black one that almost always goes the same route as I do and a silver one with rusty arches that parks next to me. I usually am interested to see other CL's on the road but usually do not have much to say to other owners and it seems as though (aside from the white one) that many do not care about their cars. I wonder whether your experiences are any different.
If they are parked and modified, I usually leave an invite to acurazine and tell them about the site a little.
If they arent modified and driving next to me, then they dont really like our cars as much as we do so talking to them would be useless. And no, just getting a set of rims doesnt count as modified, they have to be at least lowered for me lol
i know the reason its failing, but with the 3x3 your adding brand new detergents to the clutches/gears in the housing, and all that varnish and gum the tranny is used too is getting flushed out, no more cushioning...i know many 6th gen accords and oddy ownsers who swear by drain/fills, and against 3x3, plus i believe it says to do drain and fill in the manual also.
but keep at it, if it works for you then go for it..
3x3 is almost the same as a drain and fill. yes, you do replace more of the fluid in a shorter amount of time but thats supposed to be a good thing.
are you saying gum and varnish in the tranny provides cushioning?
are you saying gum and varnish in the tranny provides cushioning?
mine made it to 240,000kms (150,000 miles) then was rebuilt by a local Acura mechanic who's done a few of these so far without customers coming back. He told me to change the fluid every year. With my driving it's aproximately 25,000 - 30,000kms. I think that should be enough.
However if you think about it a lot of cars that go to this kind of mileage will have problems with transmissions. Japanese, American etc... it's just old age and wear and tear. Some break some go much longer but just like Acura it's hit and miss.
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However if you think about it a lot of cars that go to this kind of mileage will have problems with transmissions. Japanese, American etc... it's just old age and wear and tear. Some break some go much longer but just like Acura it's hit and miss.
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Last edited by belcom; Jun 8, 2010 at 02:38 PM.
10th Gear
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
reason they are failing, is because people are doing the 3x3 method, instead of a drain and fill, i had a 99 before 4 spd, and my current 02tls, both i had done a 3x3, month later it crapped out, then i got a rebuilt in aug 06, and since then i only do drain/fills every 6 months...
5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
There are 1000 opinions on this, but as a ten year customer of this tranny with two different Acuras I have settled into a routine of the three quart drain every 15,000 miles. I do have a tranny cooler and I use Amsoil synthetic trans fluid. The first to go made it to 164K miles (mostly hwy), the CL-S I have now made it to 122K miles. I never use the sport shift, just D4 around town and D5 over 60 mph. I never hesitate to nail it though and I use VTEC a lot. Hope this helps.
140,000 miles young
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 894
Likes: 0
From: Rhode Island
I'd say most of the issues with 3x3 vs drain/fill are related to people overfilling the tranny during the 3x3. I did the 3x3 for the first time and thought it looked ok level-wise but after feeling rough shift engagement I checked the level again - too high! and higher is worse than lower with A/T fluid. High level causes oxidation of the fluid which leads to a reduction in lubrication and heat tolerance - eventually leading to tranny goes boom!
It is important to run the tranny through all gears when doing the 3x3 and for at least 10 minutes between each drain to ensure the level and fluid reach their operating capacity.
I was about .75 quarts too high after my 3x3 and after using a $10 pump to pull some out of the tranny it's smooth as ice.
Got 135k on my original w/o oil jet btw. I do treat it like glass before it's warmed up tho...
It is important to run the tranny through all gears when doing the 3x3 and for at least 10 minutes between each drain to ensure the level and fluid reach their operating capacity.
I was about .75 quarts too high after my 3x3 and after using a $10 pump to pull some out of the tranny it's smooth as ice.
Got 135k on my original w/o oil jet btw. I do treat it like glass before it's warmed up tho...
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