Couple basic questions about tranny fluid/service
06-03-2010, 08:58 AM
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Couple basic questions about tranny fluid/service
Ok, so I bought my 2001 CL type-s about 8 months ago. About 6 months ago, I took it to an oil-change shop and he suggested a basic transmission fluid drain/fill. I agreed.
About a month ago, my tranny started shifting hard and bucking pretty badly. I scavenged and found the service receipt from that tranny drain, and sure enough he put Dexron in instead of the Honda fluid. I know, I know, I should have known better. In my defense, though, this is my first Honda and I didn't know it was a big deal. And, I figured if it was a big deal, a damn transmission guy would know.
So, this morning I took my car to a REAL shop and got some Honda fluid put in there. I talked to the guy for a few minutes, and these are my few questions:
1) I am looking to do a 3x3 to get ALL that dexron out of there. He told me I should do one drain/fill, wait a month, drain/fill, wait a month, drain/fill. He said if you don't drive a while in between you don't get all the benefits. Is there any truth to this? Online guides seem to suggest just driving around the block in between.
2) He said my fluid was pretty black/smelly. This is NOT what I wanted to hear considering our tranny problems. So, could this just be because it was the WRONG fluid? Or, is it almost guaranteed my tranny is dying? He said it could easily be because the dexron isn't fir for our trannies, but I want your opinion.
3) Could the dexron have permanently harmed my tranny? I've heard its ok for short periods of time (and I know some people use it regularly, though I never would). It wasnt in there long. Maybe 5 months/3-4k miles. But, man it was shifting rough.
Sorry for the long post, and thanks for any insights.
About a month ago, my tranny started shifting hard and bucking pretty badly. I scavenged and found the service receipt from that tranny drain, and sure enough he put Dexron in instead of the Honda fluid. I know, I know, I should have known better. In my defense, though, this is my first Honda and I didn't know it was a big deal. And, I figured if it was a big deal, a damn transmission guy would know.
So, this morning I took my car to a REAL shop and got some Honda fluid put in there. I talked to the guy for a few minutes, and these are my few questions:
1) I am looking to do a 3x3 to get ALL that dexron out of there. He told me I should do one drain/fill, wait a month, drain/fill, wait a month, drain/fill. He said if you don't drive a while in between you don't get all the benefits. Is there any truth to this? Online guides seem to suggest just driving around the block in between.
2) He said my fluid was pretty black/smelly. This is NOT what I wanted to hear considering our tranny problems. So, could this just be because it was the WRONG fluid? Or, is it almost guaranteed my tranny is dying? He said it could easily be because the dexron isn't fir for our trannies, but I want your opinion.
3) Could the dexron have permanently harmed my tranny? I've heard its ok for short periods of time (and I know some people use it regularly, though I never would). It wasnt in there long. Maybe 5 months/3-4k miles. But, man it was shifting rough.
Sorry for the long post, and thanks for any insights.
06-03-2010, 02:58 PM
#2
Dunno about #1, but...
#2 & #3: I'm sure it is the Dexron fluid. afaik smelly transmission fluid isn't an indicator that your trans is dying (at least not in your case) It could just be that the Dexron fluid is shit, and got gunked up too easily. And as far as permanently harming your trans, I'd say it's hard to tell. I've heard of people who do a 3x3 and say their trans shifts like new again afterwards. I do know it's pretty much mandatory that you use Honda fluid, since I'm sure plenty of others have used other brands and got burned on it.
If I were you, I'd try to get all that stuff out of the transmission, get Honda ATF in, let it get seated, then based on how it shifts, you can deduce how much life your transmission has. I just think at this point it's hard to tell if it really did do any permanent damage to the trans.
#2 & #3: I'm sure it is the Dexron fluid. afaik smelly transmission fluid isn't an indicator that your trans is dying (at least not in your case) It could just be that the Dexron fluid is shit, and got gunked up too easily. And as far as permanently harming your trans, I'd say it's hard to tell. I've heard of people who do a 3x3 and say their trans shifts like new again afterwards. I do know it's pretty much mandatory that you use Honda fluid, since I'm sure plenty of others have used other brands and got burned on it.
If I were you, I'd try to get all that stuff out of the transmission, get Honda ATF in, let it get seated, then based on how it shifts, you can deduce how much life your transmission has. I just think at this point it's hard to tell if it really did do any permanent damage to the trans.
06-03-2010, 05:41 PM
#3
as for #1, when I do my 3x3, I run it through all the gears including reverse and make sure to shift through all of the different positions too (P to R, N to R, D to P, etc) so I make sure the new fluids go through the passages. I do all 3 in one day but you shouldnt have to wait more then a day between changes if you shift through all the gears.
06-03-2010, 05:56 PM
#4
btw noob question about the 3x3. What exactly do you do with the first 6 quarts of fluid you used? Just get rid of it? Or can it be saved for the next 3x3?
06-04-2010, 04:14 PM
#6
Well the last 3 stays in the trans, right? I'm asking what do you do with the 6 quarts that got rinsed through it, can you use it again next time you do a 3x3? Like maybe the next time I do a 3x3, I could just buy only 3 quarts and use the old 6 quarts for the first 2 drain/fills, then use the new 3 for the final fill? Something like that?
06-04-2010, 08:56 PM
#7
its 9 quarts in and 9 quarts out.
The trans capacity is like 8 quarts total or something (real capacity is in owner's manual) and your only able to get out 3 quarts at a time because a lot of the fluid is housed in the torque converter. Using logarithims, doing a 3x3 will get out approx 95% of the fluid. Thats why you have to drive it in between drain and fills so that the new fluid can mix with the new fluid.
as for disposing of the fluid, take it to anywhere you dispose of your motor oil. They can be recycled together.
The trans capacity is like 8 quarts total or something (real capacity is in owner's manual) and your only able to get out 3 quarts at a time because a lot of the fluid is housed in the torque converter. Using logarithims, doing a 3x3 will get out approx 95% of the fluid. Thats why you have to drive it in between drain and fills so that the new fluid can mix with the new fluid.
as for disposing of the fluid, take it to anywhere you dispose of your motor oil. They can be recycled together.
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06-05-2010, 02:44 PM
#8
Oh, lol. I somehow got the impression that the transmission only holds 3 quarts 
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