my TL has under 60,000 miles and i have no knowledge of the ATF being changed... change it or dont change it?
Also, if so, which is the best fluid to use? many say the original Honda ATF but now im hearing otherwise

 

YES YES YES change the fluid now,,
honda doesnt sell the original stuff, new formula is DW-1
and is in use by several members who report smoother shifts

with low miles I would do a full fluid changeout- plus replace the external filter and maybe clean the selenoids
the system holds 7.3 qts total
but you can only get 3-3.4 qts to drain at one time, then you drive a few minutes using each gear to push fluid forward in system and drain again,,
repeat this until new fluid is all that comes out,,
often called a 3x3 meaning 3 qts 3 times but its really more than 3 qts ---buy appropriatly- expect $10 a qt at honda

 

If never been changed, and it takes ~$30 to $40 to buy the fluid, get it flushed at the dealer? I just got a quote for a tranny flush for $70. Just my .02

 

the dealer 70-90 dollar `flush ` is nothing more than a gravity drain and refill of 3-3.4 qts
Same thing you can do at home for the cost of fluid!

this job is easier than an engine oil change, as there is no filter dripping down your arm
(there is an external atf filter but not part of discussion here)

 

thank u all for your help, im defenitely gonna get started on this ASAP

 

these trans tend to act up around your mileage
so we are suggesting get on a fluid program now- with the new- better fluid from honda

I would take a 3 oz sample of the old fluid during drain for analysis by blackstone labs
that will tell if wear is normal or anything you need to be concerned with
20 bucks for peace of mind is a bargain, or finding a problem now....

 

do you have the trans `oil jet kit` installed under recall?
if not sure visually- call acura care 1 800 382 2238x5 need cars VIN and they look up your exact records
ask if any OPEN RECALLS on your car too

 

yea i defenitely have an oil jet kit installed, and i will send away to the labs as well

 

the oil jet kit is held in by one bolt on the side,,12mm head iirc
then it pull it straight up

using the normal atf filler hole is WAY faster than trying to use the dipstick tube
but dipstick tube will work,, in case the oil kit refuses the budge

 

so, to go through the entire procedure, how many quarts in total should i need?

 

to get it all changed by acura gravity drain-refill-drive few minutes using each gear-
either 9 or 12 depending on how you read the book

total capacity is 7.3 but only 3 to 3.4 will drain out at a time, the rest hides in the torque convertor and gets pushed out and thru system to drain when driven
Use of each gear forces fluid thru everything causing out with the old in with the new

option: use the method with engine running and pumping out old fluid as you pour in new
See vid of accord, often posted on trans threads here..ignore part of adding anything but honda fluid at the end- thats for other cars= not our trans!

 

ok cool, and this external filter is just a screw off/screw on?
also how bad is it if a little old fluid is mixed with the new formula?

 

I to am concerned about the transmission recall for my 2003 3.2 TL. I bought it used in 2006 and have ~88k miles. I called the 800 # to find out if I have a rebuilt transmission or an oil jet kit or both. I read about the blue bolt heads and I have them, but I can't tell if I have the kit. The 800# could not tell me if I have the kit. Can I see it from looking at the engine from above?

 

look at top center of trans for a large bolt with ATF stamped on it
if you see that- its got a post 05 case and kit was moved inside trans

otherwise a funky thing with a small hose running off the the side will occupy that same hole--thats the jet kit

blue bolt heads means replaced by acura warranty trans
dealers can often give more info than the 800 people

 

frank
there are directions on here for the atf filter change- its not a simple screw on--
c'mon where would the fun be in that!!

mixed old/new fluid always happens,,choose to do 1 or 2 drain and refills then go for it!
expect up to 3.4 qts each time, so buy 4 qts per draining

 

cool thanks a lot, you have been a world of help

 

dude if you search you will find tons of threads with this info....

do a 3x3 and switch up to Redline type F ATF....you will be happy with the results....

 

swoosh
there are reports of increased stiffness to the shifts with redline

If you are young and dont care about smoothness, no sweat
Some of us have back/neck injuries and want the absolute smoothest transition between gears--anything else feels like a 2x4 slamming you with every shift- not fun

 

Hate to be a bother, but how many solenoids are there and where are they located?

 

actually my car shifts smoother with redline than with stock z1....with the z1 i used to do a drain and refill every 5K miles to maintain the smoothness....got pretty expensive.....

with redline (i have 5k miles since the first drain and refill in) the shifts are smoother....only the first cold shift in the morning is kinda harsh....

again am using type f racing all the way and not the D4....

 

There's also one report of trans failure with the new stuff. I still think type f, or racing atf is the only way to go. I base this solely on the information in the redline racing atf thread. It's a lot of reading, but I think every acura/honda owner should read it before choosing a trans fluid. If I understand it correctly, the new honda fluid is basically mercon vi. It probably won't oxidize as fast as the z1, but it's a low viscosity fluid with lots of friction modifiers for a nice smooth shift. I believe the change to this fluid was another attempt to gain tiny improvements in fuel economy, with little regard to transmission longevity.

 

I couldnt have said it better....Thanks dude

 

I want smooth shift!!
have to use a bit more throttle than I like,
or it does a little shudder shift into 2nd and 3rd under light throttle

very strange- I suspect dirty selenoids

 

selenoids?

 

dude this is 2011....use GOOGLE....embrace the Internet....

but here will help you out with it:

http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=Transmission+solenoid

 

you can also use the following links from Acurazine:

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-performance-parts-modifications-112/transmission-solenoids-adjustment-728370/

https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-tl-problems-fixes-117/cleaned-shift-solenoid-filter-screen-fixed-problem-644943/

 

there ya go swoosh--teach the masses how to fish!

 

Thank you Sir....

a lot of info comes from you....but the common stuff we can get from the internet....

 

i trust help from people who have been there before, experience matters thanks!

 

01tl4tl is a genius....he is a Acura Certified Tech....so what he says, I listen

I am on the forums a lot and try different things....I have redline in my system and I am loving it

here is the link to my thread: https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/redline-my-system-820509/

 

i see that, which is why i come here before google any day

 

Smoother the shifting the more slipping of the clutches, more slipping of the clutches the more heat, more heat faster wear of the clutches.

 

And that by NO MEANS means its because of the fluid Especially added to an already worn trans.

 

spideyy to the rescue

 

disclaimer: I am not an acura tech!
What I know specific to the TL was gleaned from the many pages of acurazine! (and the owner book)
You too can know everything I know about this car

The other mechanical stuff comes from growing up around race vehicles-planes-boats-cars,
and being a pilot, scuba diver, yadayada....
at the end of your life,,it was all just stuff, but what great toys they were!!

 

damn....i thought you were a certified tech....sorry for the mis-info...

 

So, from what I have read here, taking your TL to an Acura dealer for a transmission service does not mean they drop an oil pan and remove the filter, refill and do a few cycles to get old oil out of the torque converter, etc.?

Excuse me for my unfamiliarity with Acura transmissions, I'm an old Chevy turbo 400 guy.

Thanks.

 

Smoother Shifting Makes Heat in the Tranny??
Thats why Im Starting the Liquid Nitrogen Tranny Cooler thread..... Now lets see if it gets Hot!

 

nope....as a matter of fact Acura techs done even know there is a damn tranny filter in the car....i called to ask if there was a filter and how much it was....the dude was like "man, you dont have a tranny filter "

they use a machine to suck all the old tranny fluid out of the car and put new fluid in....no driving around in different gears....hence I would recommend doing the flush yourself....

care to elaborate or post the link of the thread when you create the thread....?

 

I agree with you 100%, I was just bringing up a point. And I know it's not polite around here to blame any fluid except dexron, even with an already worn trans.