GoldTypeS_RENAMED

1) Why are some dealers recommending and even chaning the transmission fluid at 15,000 mi??? I looked in the owner's manual and even under the sever driving conditions schedule (which I definitely qualify for) it doesn't recommend changing it until 30,000 miles. Now, I know that it may need it before then, but for those who had it changed, why did you change it? What was it that made you feel it needed a change?

2) I've got Mobil 1 synthetic in my car now (put it in at 7500 mi) and I'm at 14,400 miles. I have to say... I'm not impressed!!! I checked it the other day and it looks like sludge. It's much dirtier looking than I expected it. I last checked it at about 5500 miles and it seemed fine. Now that the oil has 6900 miles on it, it looks awful. I hate to say it, but I think I'm going back to regular and changing it ever 3750. Regular oil never looked this bad after 3750 miles.

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2001 Acura 3.2CL Type S
Comptech Springs
Comptech Sway Bars
PIAA 19169

fender4

as posted earlier today 1-22-01

I contacted the Engineering Dept at AMSOIL about using their synthetic Trans Oil in my CL-S. Their reply was "Unfortunately, our Amsoil Synthetic universal Automatic Transmission Fluid is not recommended for use
in newer Acura or Honda transmissions. Only genuine Honda fluid should be used".

Note, AMSOIL invented synthetic oil and is saying NOT to use their products. I would not use any other brand as well.

GoldTypeS_RENAMED

thanks fender for that info. But I am more concerned with change interval than what type of tranny fluid to use. I was planning on using whatever Acura recommends. Just not sure when the best time is to change it. I know some people follow the "better safe than sorry" rule, but that rule can get pretty expensive!! I don't see any reason to change it until it needs changing otherwise you're just throwing money away (something I tend to have very little of )

Wyle E. Coyote

I currently have 6200 miles on my CL-S and I have been considering whether or not to have the tranny fluid changed by the dealer at the 7500 mark then running for 15000 or 30000 and changing again. Is this a good idea?

As for the oil, I too use Mobil-1. I put it in at 6000 miles and plan to go to the 12000 mark.


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2001 Acura 3.2CL Type-S
Satin Silver/Ebony
No Navi

Wheel locks/35% tint/Splash guards/PIAA 19169 bulbs/K&N 33-2178 air filter/Mobil 1 5W-30 oil & filter

Jens H.

About Mobil 1 and it's apparent color change.I read some time back in a technical section of an auto publication that motor oil nowadays due to it's formulation tends to turn a dark color very quickly giving the appearance worn out oil.In fact what you are seeing is simply the additives which turn dark under exposure to heat.You will find that both natural oil and synthetic do about the same thing.there are alot of opinions about changing the fluids in the car,In my experience (15 yrs) as a mechanic I can only tell you the cars that had the fluids more lasted longer so needless to say in my own cars no more than 3500 miles on engine oil 15000 on transmission oil no more than 30000 on coolant and brake fluid about once a year.Jens

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1992 mazda Miata lowered with Eibach springs KYB AGX adjustable struts Sparco racing buckets 4 point safety harnesses Momo steering wheel lo profile headlite system with PIAA superwhite bulbs Custom audio system Custom gauges Jackson racing supercharger with header and Greddy cat back exhaust and a ton of other stuff 2000 Honda Civic on APEX coilovers Full Alpine Audio system factory fogs with Piaa bulbs Catz ZETA headlamp system tinted custom taillites and on and on

SCarGo

No matter what type of oil you use, it should be changed around 3500 miles. I use Castrol Syntec (Full Synthetic) 10W-30 and change around 4000 miles +/- 500. I never had any engine problems with my Legend.

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2001 CL-S San Marino Red
Retired '02 Legend @ 183,000 miles

Dan

The discoloration you see in the Mobil 1 is suspended particles too fine for the filter to filter out. This is why my last car, a 1986 Toyota MR-2, which only had its oil changed every 10,000 miles, still did not burn ANY oil when I sold it with 186,000 miles on the clock. At the last valve adjustment at 180,000 miles, when the valve covers were removed, the interior of the head looked like fleshly machined aluminum!

If you want your oil to stay as clean as possible you might want to try some non-detergent oil.

A repost: You will notice that Acura recommends that only Honda ATF be used. It states that in an emergency Dexron can b eused, but to drain and refill ASAP with Honda ATF. I called Acura Technical Services to see what the exact specs were for Honda ATF. I was told that Honda ATF contains special friction modifiers that other brands do not and that using anything else but Honda ATF would affect shift quality and feel. Being a fan of Mobil 1 products and thinking I was being fed the corporate line, I called Mobil Technical Services to see what they had to say.To my great surprise I was told the same thing by the Mobil 1 tech. He said that Mobil 1 recommends against using their ATF in any Honda product. He said that the way manufactures are designing transmissions today, the days of one or two types of universal ATF are numbered and that soon each manufacturer will have their own special ATF with just the right blend of additives to work with their own transmission design.


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You can never have too much horsepower!

[This message has been edited by Dan (edited 01-23-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Dan (edited 01-23-2001).]

GoldTypeS_RENAMED

Thanks Jens, for your input! This is where I start to get really frustrated though because I wanna do what's best for my car without spending a fortune! If you had a choice between the following two options, which would you choose:
A) Change oil every 3750 using regular oil
B) Change oil every 7500 using fully synthetic.

I hear people say to change it every 3750 no matter what, but then other people say its a waste of money to change synthetic that often? I'm so confuuuuuuuused