Just had to do the B16. I have never had to do a differential fluid change so quickly on a new car (11.7K Miles). Is this something that will have to be done this often or is it a one and done for a while thing? Thanks for all the great info on this site!

 

I work as a honda tech and we recommend replacing the rear diff. fluid at every other oil change or every two....

 

The SHAWD differential uses automatic transmission as a lubricant, not 90 wt. gear oil, as do regular differentials. Since the SHAWD has some of the characteristics of a quasi-automatic transmission, it would seem that the first oil change "normally", according to the oil life monitor, comes up somewhere around 11K to 15K miles. (I'm extrapolating this from the Service Manual maintenance section, which indicates the differential oil should be changed the first time at 7500 miles under "heavy duty" mountain driving or towing and at 15K intervals thereafter.)

Based on this, it's my assumption that the next change suggested by the oil life monitor (assuming normal, non-heavy duty type driving) will come somewhere between 25K and 30K miles.

Perhaps one one of the Acura techs can suggest if this is correct or what the interval should be?

 

Didn't think the rear differential required so much maintenance.

I imagine a 3 year or 36K mile interval would be normal but every other oil change of 15K mile intervals seems awfully short.

Thoughts?

 

I had mine done at 18K. Service rep said next change due at 48K. And every 30k after that.

 

It does contain 3 wet clutch stacks. I could see that causing some gunked up fluid.

Do the clutches ever need to be serviced/replaced? Or is there were minimal enough that it's not an issue.

 

I changed mine @10,000 mile as recommended by my service advisor.

 

If the interval is so short with the Honda ATF-Z1 fluid, I'm wondering if anybody has found a suitable synthetic replacement, which should extend the interval...

 

The manual does not indicate average miles per change. However it does remark about severe driving conditions (mountainous roads, towing, etc) and suggests the 1st change @7500 miles and then every 15,000 thereafter.

I think the initial change is averaging by MID indicators around 10,000 to 15,000 for most drivers. So that would suggest at 25,000 to 30,000 interval thereafter for most drivers. That is not so bad, considering the complexity of SHAWD.

Concerning an alternative. SHAWD is a Honda ONLY engineering marvel. And there are not many on the market yet to have aftermarket alternatives popping up. As specific as SHAWD is, why risk an alternative?

 

If it goes to 30K+ miles between changes, that's close to norm. It's just the every other oil change, say every 10-15K miles that was a bit surprising.

I own a 96 Accord (still...) and a 2006 Ody and still am going to use the Honda ATF-Z1 fluid until I find/hear of a synthetic equivalent. IMO a synthetic would be better, if it could be had.

Now if the ATF-Z1 is a synthetic already, I'll stick with it......

 

I would avoid experimenting with different fluids, synthetics in particular. I think the risk of making the clutches slip from too slippery a fluid is a bit high. Given that the clutches are going to be wearing from use, the bigger issue with the fluid is likely to be contamination rather the fluid breaking down. Short of rigging up a filter of some sort I don't think there's going to much you can do to significantly prolong the period between changes.

 

keep in mind that Honda motorcycles use wet clutches and synthetic oils have for the most part functioned well with them. I have heard of a few owners that fealt there was some extra slippage on extreme shifting, but no one had expressed anything about premature wear. However, I would hope the SHAWD is designed to last 500,000 miles without service (except for fluid change) even with dino oil.