How frequently should transmission oil be changed?
06-25-2006, 01:59 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
How frequently should transmission oil be changed?
Anyone know Acura's recommendation?
Some info on my car.........
- Currently around 30,500 miles on it.
- It is not a daily driver. It's actually rarely driven.
- I do not think the tranny fluid has ever been changed.
Thinking about whether or not to change it.
Thank you.
Some info on my car.........
- Currently around 30,500 miles on it.
- It is not a daily driver. It's actually rarely driven.
- I do not think the tranny fluid has ever been changed.
Thinking about whether or not to change it.
Thank you.
06-25-2006, 06:08 PM
#7
Initial D
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Southern Cal
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Acura's recommendation is trash. It is for a well designed tranny and ours is not.
The true way to find out is interval is to do a UOA, used oil analysis. I would not be surprised Honda Z1 ATF is cooked couple thousands after drain and fill by our famous 3rd gear clutch pack.
The true way to find out is interval is to do a UOA, used oil analysis. I would not be surprised Honda Z1 ATF is cooked couple thousands after drain and fill by our famous 3rd gear clutch pack.
Trending Topics
06-25-2006, 07:35 PM
#8
Originally Posted by TunedTL
Acura's recommendation is trash.
Originally Posted by TunedTL
The true way to find out is interval is to do a UOA, used oil analysis.
Originally Posted by TunedTL
I would not be surprised Honda Z1 ATF is cooked couple thousands after drain and fill by our famous 3rd gear clutch pack.
06-25-2006, 09:13 PM
#10
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by TunedTL
I would not be surprised Honda Z1 ATF is cooked couple thousands after drain and fill by our famous 3rd gear clutch pack.
06-25-2006, 09:18 PM
#11
10th Gear
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Your Maintenance Minder 3 Scheduled Maintenance Recommended service for your 2004/6 Acura TL will let you know:
Replace transmission fluid: Driving in mountainous areas at very low vehicle speeds results in higher transmission temperatures. This requires transmission fluid changes more frequently than recommended by the Maintenance Minder. If you regularly drive your vehicle under these conditions, have the transmission fluid changed at 60,000 miles (100,000 km), then every 30,000 miles (48,000 km).
Replace transmission fluid: Driving in mountainous areas at very low vehicle speeds results in higher transmission temperatures. This requires transmission fluid changes more frequently than recommended by the Maintenance Minder. If you regularly drive your vehicle under these conditions, have the transmission fluid changed at 60,000 miles (100,000 km), then every 30,000 miles (48,000 km).
06-25-2006, 09:23 PM
#12
I need 2 more gears
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Springvale, Maine
Age: 45
Posts: 3,228
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes
on
7 Posts
Originally Posted by fla-tls
I'd recommend every 30-50k. Personally, I do it every 30k and use Amsoil synthetic ATF.
has your experience with amsoil synthetic ATF been good? I assume at one point you used honda Z1. what differences have you felt/experienced? I am strongly thinking of switching to a different ATF. I change my fluid every 20k because I can start feeling the car take longer to shift and then I change it and all is perfect for 15k or so. what are your thoughts, I know you are the resident tranny expert here and I value your opinion.
06-25-2006, 09:38 PM
#13
Initial D
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Southern Cal
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by MikePA
And you know this how?
If you're recommending it, what are the results from the UOAs you've done?
Darn, if Acura had only talked to you, instead of replacing trannys all they would have had to do is more frequent drain and refills.
If you're recommending it, what are the results from the UOAs you've done?
Darn, if Acura had only talked to you, instead of replacing trannys all they would have had to do is more frequent drain and refills.
On 99-00 Acura TL's Sevice Manual, P3-4 to 3-7, Normal Condition Maintenance Schedule calls ATF replacement for 90K miles or 6 years. Severe Condition is 60K/4 years (under extremely hot/cold, towing, drive on muddy/iced road or lots of <5 mile per trip condition). Do a search on the forum, many members reported ATF burned or became black <15K, or a 1/4 of interval recommended by Acura's severe condition schedule.
If Acura's recommendation is not applicable in the real world, it is trash.
Further evdince can be found on Honda Z1 ATF UOA on BITOG site, in fact drain and fill interval of on AV6 and Odyssy with Honda Z1 ATF for ~ 10K to 12K has shown high Aluminum in the ATF, viscosity thinning.
http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/...;f=50;t=000050
http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/...;f=50;t=000023
I am on Amsoil ATF, in fact, I plan to do a UOA once I accumulates 30K on it.
06-26-2006, 07:20 AM
#14
On the way!
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Orlando, FL
Age: 55
Posts: 3,715
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by sbuswell
has your experience with amsoil synthetic ATF been good? I assume at one point you used honda Z1. what differences have you felt/experienced? I am strongly thinking of switching to a different ATF. I change my fluid every 20k because I can start feeling the car take longer to shift and then I change it and all is perfect for 15k or so. what are your thoughts, I know you are the resident tranny expert here and I value your opinion.
About 10k miles later I did a 3x drain/fill will Amsoil. The shudder was gone within a few miles of driving and hasn't come back since. Also, my 2-3 shift is firmer under moderate+ throttle.
Overall it's been a good experience. I now have about 15k on the fluid and it looks cherry red like the day I first put it in.
06-26-2006, 07:14 PM
#15
I need 2 more gears
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Springvale, Maine
Age: 45
Posts: 3,228
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes
on
7 Posts
Originally Posted by fla-tls
Yes - I originally used Honda Z1. When I got my car back after the last tranny was replaced it had a slight shudder on the 1-2 shift. After doing one drain/fill with Amsoil - it was the same.
About 10k miles later I did a 3x drain/fill will Amsoil. The shudder was gone within a few miles of driving and hasn't come back since. Also, my 2-3 shift is firmer under moderate+ throttle.
Overall it's been a good experience. I now have about 15k on the fluid and it looks cherry red like the day I first put it in.
About 10k miles later I did a 3x drain/fill will Amsoil. The shudder was gone within a few miles of driving and hasn't come back since. Also, my 2-3 shift is firmer under moderate+ throttle.
Overall it's been a good experience. I now have about 15k on the fluid and it looks cherry red like the day I first put it in.
When you say it shifts firmer do you mean faster, more abruptly or stronger? sounds like I may give this stuff a try soon. 15k since my last drain and fill with honda z1. what is amsoil....... 6-7 bucks a quart?
06-26-2006, 07:43 PM
#16
Boomer SOONER
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: McKinney, TX
Age: 41
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 0
Received 14 Likes
on
14 Posts
Originally Posted by sbuswell
When you say it shifts firmer do you mean faster, more abruptly or stronger? sounds like I may give this stuff a try soon. 15k since my last drain and fill with honda z1. what is amsoil....... 6-7 bucks a quart?
06-26-2006, 08:07 PM
#18
On the way!
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Orlando, FL
Age: 55
Posts: 3,715
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by sbuswell
When you say it shifts firmer do you mean faster, more abruptly or stronger? sounds like I may give this stuff a try soon. 15k since my last drain and fill with honda z1. what is amsoil....... 6-7 bucks a quart?
06-26-2006, 10:06 PM
#19
I need 2 more gears
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Springvale, Maine
Age: 45
Posts: 3,228
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes
on
7 Posts
Originally Posted by fla-tls
By firmer I mean harsher. I get it for 6.75/quart from a local dealer.
harsher sounds like a bad thing to me. don't you consider that to mean more wear on the tranny?
06-26-2006, 10:20 PM
#20
On the way!
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Orlando, FL
Age: 55
Posts: 3,715
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by sbuswell
harsher sounds like a bad thing to me. don't you consider that to mean more wear on the tranny?
On our tranny, the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts are adjustable by adding/removing "shims" from the pressure valves on the back of the unit. Since the 3rd gear clutch pack is cooled by fluid coming through the countershaft (the shaft the clutch pack is on), they may have added hydraulic pressure to both limit slipping in the clutch pack and increase cooling. (just my
)On the other hand - I may go through engine/tranny mounts quicker!
06-26-2006, 10:35 PM
#21
I need 2 more gears
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Springvale, Maine
Age: 45
Posts: 3,228
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes
on
7 Posts
Originally Posted by fla-tls
No - less. My tranny is from 2004, so I assume they adjusted it to have a firmer 2-3 shift because of the third gear clutch pack problems. The 2005's are the ones supposedly with all of the fixes. They probably don't have the issue of a harshed 2-3. It was there even with the Z1 - just not quite as harsh.
On our tranny, the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts are adjustable by adding/removing "shims" from the pressure valves on the back of the unit. Since the 3rd gear clutch pack is cooled by fluid coming through the countershaft (the shaft the clutch pack is on), they may have added hydraulic pressure to both limit slipping in the clutch pack and increase cooling. (just my)
On the other hand - I may go through engine/tranny mounts quicker!
On our tranny, the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts are adjustable by adding/removing "shims" from the pressure valves on the back of the unit. Since the 3rd gear clutch pack is cooled by fluid coming through the countershaft (the shaft the clutch pack is on), they may have added hydraulic pressure to both limit slipping in the clutch pack and increase cooling. (just my
)On the other hand - I may go through engine/tranny mounts quicker!
I have a 99 4spd w/130k and the tranny is original do you believe firmer/harsher shifts would be a good thing in my car as far as prolonging the tranny's life?
06-26-2006, 11:23 PM
#22
Initial D
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Southern Cal
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by DUI4Less
anyone knows where we can get the amsoil atf for a good deal? It looks like with shipping it is $10 a quart, expensive.
I used it for my Lexus SUV and the TL, Amsoil mixes with Toyota T-IV ATF and Honda Z1 ATF no problem so far.
06-27-2006, 08:16 AM
#23
On the way!
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Orlando, FL
Age: 55
Posts: 3,715
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by sbuswell
I have a 99 4spd w/130k and the tranny is original do you believe firmer/harsher shifts would be a good thing in my car as far as prolonging the tranny's life?
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mada51589
3G TL Problems & Fixes
79
05-03-2022 08:54 PM
HydrasunGQ
Member Cars for Sale
0
09-14-2015 10:14 PM
2006, 3rd, acura, changed, cl, clutch, frequently, gear, how, oil, pack, redline, tl, tranmission, transmission
