Ilovedoughnuts

I am getting my first Acura this next weekend. I am getting a 2016 RDX AWD. I saw a great post for doing the differential but wondered about the transfer case? When does that need to be done? Does anyone know how and what to do? Does anyone have a how to procedure with pictures?

Thanks in advance.

rosen39

My maintenance code came up around 26,000 miles to change transmission fluid and transfer case fluid. The transmission is one drain bolt, and refill through the dipstick tube. The transfer case has a drain plug on the bottom (see attached picture) and a fill plug on the side. Loosen the side before draining the fluid. You would not want to drain without having a way to refill. I drove my car up on ramps, and had a level on the door sill. Jack up the back till the car is level. Buy a quart of Acura GL5 gear oil and two aluminum drain plug washers. You will use less than 1/2 of the quart. Buy a pump (like the one in the picture) and you can refill through the fill port on the side of the transfer case. Just keep pumping till the fluid starts to seep out. Torque drain plugs to 31 ft. lbs.

Here is another link with pictures:

https://acurazine.com/forums/diy-faq...change-794283/

Ilovedoughnuts

Thank you for your quick post. I can hardly wait to join the club. It's really great to learn how to maintain your own RDX. There is pride in ownership. I look forward to owning my first RDX thank you for sharing.

rosen39

I think that the Acura fluid changes are a little on the excessive side, but to keep the warranty intact, you better do them. The rear axle fluid change was on the third oil change, around 18,000 miles. Hopefully, they will be spread a little further apart after the initial changes. Oil changes are very easy to do.

So, do you like eating doughnuts, or doing them in the parking lot?

Ilovedoughnuts

Oh that. I just love a fresh made doughnut off the line. So satisfying when freshly made.

Ilovedoughnuts

I forgot to ask where the drain and fill bolts really hard to get loose?

Ilovedoughnuts

So if I understand correctly the gear oil is for both transfer case AND differential?

rosen39

Both drain and fill bolts are not hard to break loose. A 3/8" drive ratchet, or short 3/8" drive extension fit inside the bolt head. The front differential is inside the transmission and uses the Honda ATF Fluid. The rear differential uses a different fluid which can be found in your owner's manual. Transfer case uses regular GL-5 gear oil, but the ATF (ATF DW-1) and rear differential fluid (All Wheel Drive Fluid DPSF) are Honda spec fluids, and must have special additives (so you have to buy from them). Do a search, there are some You Tube videos on rear differential fluid changes.

markAZ

One small bit of advice when changing fluids...be sure you can get the fill plug out before you drain the fluid.

Ilovedoughnuts

I noticed I have the same color RDX as you. At one point I almost picked kona coffee.

markAZ

Actually, we were torn between the red and the kona. The kona's all had black upholstery tho, which can be pretty hot here in the desert. Plus, the past several cars we had were all some shade of red .

andysinnh

Not sure about the '16 model, but for '15 you could only get parchment interior in the Kona exterior color (which is what I have). I was actually on the fence between the Basque Red and Kona Coffee, but went with the Kona since it's a subtle color and not very common (whereas the red is more common, even across the Acura/Honda models). The Kona exterior and Parchment interior is a good combo and doesn't really heat up during the direct sun summer days.

andy

285south

I use Redline 75W85.

What I did was a drain and fill all the fluids at 2,500 miles so that I get all the factory oil out and replaced it with the following;
Transmission with Acura's fluid,
Redline 75W85 for Transfer case,
and Acura's DPFS for Read Diff.

Then at 25,000 miles
Trans : Redline D6 ATF
Transfer Case: Redline 75W85
Rear Diff: Acura's DPFS

Ilovedoughnuts

Does anyone have a picture of the area where you fill the transfer case?

fireloard

I haven't done this on the RDX yet but I have done a transmission flush on my Civic before. It's a bolt on the side similar to the one you see in the picture. It will have a 3/8" square hole for a ratchet. I had a funnel on top of the engine and ran a small hose down to the fill plug. After I drained it I torqued the drain bolt back down and had a friend pour the fluid into the transmission via the funnel and hose into the fill hole. I laid underneath to tell them when it was overflowing.

Ilovedoughnuts

Are the washers sizes needed 18 and 20 mm? Are they the same as the drain and fill for the differential?