I have a 2006 RL. How often should I change the tranny fluid? The owner's manual is strange: "if you drive above 110 degrees and/or below -10 degress, then change at 60K miles" or similar.

well how bout "normal driving conditions"? my car has 57K mi on it. thx.

 

If you read the recommendations on the board, I seem to have picked up on the fact that a "flush" is not a good thing for Honda/Acura, to do a 3x3 method i.e. drain it three times, the objective being to get the old fluid out of the entire "system" and so on. My dealer offers two options: just a drain and fill (around 3 quarts) which is around $100, the 3x3 method seems to be around double that because you are using more fluids. Each to their own but I opted to have my local mechanic just drain and fill and the difference in shifting was amazing. I was having problems with downshifts (described in the forums here) from 5th to 4th, that problem is now gone and shifting is like butter. Probably in 10,000 miles, I will do it again or just once go to the dealer and have the 3x3 done followed by a quick drain and fill more often.

I bought the car used so don't know what was or wasn't done to it plus I got the A16 codes so the following are all done recently at 40K:
1. Rear differential fluid (the 6 in the A16) - $90 at the dealer (they originally wanted $139)
2. Front transfer case (or whatever it's called, might as well) - $90 at the dealer (same)
3. Transmission Fluid (simple drain and fill, I was having issues) - $60 at a local mechanic (always use Honda fluids I am told so being a good boy that I am, done)
4. Oil Change with a filter change (I change the filter with every oil change, the 1 in the A16)
5. Coolant, I'll probably do it at $50K or 60K when I change the hoses or if they need to be changed (dealer was really trying to sell me hard on this but I said no)
6. Power Steering Fluid (dealer really wanted me to do this but no, might do this at 60K unless someone tells me otherwise or I have problems)

Hope this helps.

 

whats the transmission fluid called again from Honda?

and how many qts?

 

ATF Z1 3 qts fill it up if empty. i recommend a 3x3 flush every 50K

 

Use DW-1. It is new fluid from Honda and it replaced Z-1.

 

Interesting. BobIsTheOilGuy.com boards were pretty critical of Z-1, saying it was not a top-quality fluid (on what basis, I'm not smart enough to know) though it was a perfect match for Hondas. Their first love at the time was Amsoil's universal formulation -- full synthetic.

 

The MID will tell you when to change it

 

Ok, I had a post a few days ago about this same topic, I want to do what is best for my car not the dealers bottom line. My MID does not call for 3x plus 1 atf change (not flush) but I will do it myself if it will benefit my trans. Should I wait for the MID to tell me to do the change or do it now. What atf fluid is best for the RL AWD trans. Z1 Or the new DW1, thanks in advance I always rely on the expertise of all of the acuraZine members to help keep my RL at the top of its game.
Thanks,
Gordon

 

is the tranmission fluid going to be the same as the differential fluid an transfer case
so 3qts. times 3(front, center, rear) = 9qts?

 

Recently had this done at the dealer, following parts were used.
Transfer case service:
94109-20000 qty. 2, washer drain
80W90 qty. 1 Gear lube

Differential service (Rear):
94109-20000 qty. 4, washer drain
08200-9001A qty. 4, Fluid ATF-Z1 (note Z1)

For my transmission service, not at the dealer, he used ATF-Z1 as well.

Hope this helps.

 

I just bought a 2005 RL that was on lease and apprently all services were done as needed. Since it had a major service at 90K how long can I honestly wait until I have to do all the major fluid changes again? Of course, I will do the oil and filter change every 5k as usual, but what about all the other fluids?
Thanks.

 

I notice you're online right now and I was wondering if you could answer my question regarding fluid changes, since you seem to have the knowledge?
Thanks

 

don't do anything until the MID tells you. Oil changes can go more than 5k. Your next service is likely at 105k, timing belt, $1000+

 

Transmission fluid should be changed every 15k. If this interval is followed, no need for a 3x drain and refill.
If a 3x drain and refill is done because of lack of maintenance, change fluid every 15k afterwards.

 

No it shouldn't, that's way too soon. T Fluid can go 30-60k miles or 3-5 years. You are throwing money down the drain. Follow the MID.

 

I agree with dj. A 3x3 every 45k or 1 change every 15k will have the same result. This is the method I have chosen as it is a real pain in the ass to do a 3x3 the correct way.

1 change every 30-60 isn't enough. The transmission holds more than 5 qts IIRC. You can only drain a little under 3 qts at a time. A single drain and fill won't change half of your old fluid.

 

The reasoning behind the 3x3 flush is that you can't get the fluid out of the valve body or torque converter. What is remaining in there will be mixed with the new fluid, hence changing it 3 times will replace it all to be like new fluid.
I would go with the MID light as it is computer controlled to when the factory has set it to be changed.
Agreed, the shifting is better. I have about 60,000 on my last flush and my shifting isn't as crisp as it used to be.
Is there an on line repair manual that explains where the drain and fill plugs are?

 

Drain plug is behind the splash guard about 6 inches off center to the driver's side and ~12 inches behind the bumper lip. It is on the passenger side of the transmission pan facing the passenger wheel.

Fill plug is underneath/behind the fuse box in the top-driver corner of the engine bay. Your best tools are a 12" wratchet extension and a long funnel.



It is theoretically impossible to empty every bit of old fluid out of the transmission. I've done the math before and will find the post later, but ultimately, there is no significant differece between the methods. When the car dies, it will contain some amount of the fluid it left the factory with.

 

Sorry, this seemed confusing to me. For the drain plug, it is behind the splash guard about 12" off the front bumper, but it's just about a foot inside the driver side wheel just above the control arm. Not sure why you are referring to the passenger wheel or passenger side unless there are two drain plugs, which I don't think there are. It's a 3/8" socket just like for the rear diff.

The fill plug is almost directly under the fuse box from the top of the engine. If you are looking at it from the front of the car, it's more toward the front side of the fuse box, not behind it. It's a 17mm socket to open.

Am I missing something here?

 

Both sound like thorough explanations to me.

I was trying to explain which way the plug/fluid comes out. Your wrench will be between the plug and the passenger wheel.

 

Assume you change 3x3 every 60k. You will have 6.05 qts of 60k old fluid and 1.95 qts of 120k old fluid when it comes time for your second change.

Assume you change 1 flush every 20k staring after 60k miles. At 120k miles, you will have 1.95 quarts of 120k fluid, 1.72 quarts of 60k fluid, 1.875 quarts of 40k fluid, and 3 quarts of 20k fluid. Keeping this up will never leave you with more than 20k miles on 3/8 of your tranny fluid.

Sure a 3x3 flush will feel and protect superior at the time of change, but more frequent changes will be more consistent.

 

I see a 3/8" plug just inside the drivers side wheel. What plug are you referring to that is near or facing the passengers side wheel? Are you referring to the transfer case?

 

I think there are two drain bolts on the tranny and the one I am talking about might not be the right one as it sits pretty high up. I'll have to look a bit more to find a plug more in the center as 007 suggests. I recently changed the transfer case fluid and never saw a tranny drain plug there, but wasn't looking very hard.

 

The plug is not near the passenger wheel at all. It just faces the passenger side. Like I said in my description, it is about 6" towards the driver's side from the center of the car. It is on the passenger side of the transmission pan. The plug has a large magnet on the end that captures any metal shavings that go passing by.

 

this is entertaining, like win, lose, or draw.

Why doesnt someone just post a pic.

 

I think 007 is right, but I m confused as to what the plug on the other side is for. I'll post a pic later tonight. It's just above the arm on drivers side, peek your head under and you can see it

 

Have you used it? Did transmission fluid come out? I wonder if it is a way to get out more fluid at once.

Heavy, I would take a pic, but the whole reason I don't do a 3x3 is b/c it is a pain in the ass to get to.

 

understood

 

OK, this is what I see inside the driverside wheel. What is this plug for? A little hard to see with the brake duct, but it's a 3/8" plug.

 

Have you pulled it before? It definitely is not the primary drain plug for the tranny. The service manual procedure steps through removing the splash guard under the bumper.

 

No, never touched it, seems too high to do much. I see the main one on the other side just above splashguard. Going to change the fluid tomorrow. Should be simple, fill bolt will be a touch of a challenge, but I have a long extension that I can get in there with a 1/2" breaker bar so hopefully comes right off. Fill bolt will be loosened before drain bolt just in case. Sorry for any confusion.

 

No need for apologies. Ive had my fair share of confusions. If I didn't have the service manual, I would have never done it. The manual shows some distinct shapes/markings around the bolt, but they never give you a big picture perspective. Good luck.