Bomboxmoa

Hello,

I have about 11k miles on my 2019 RDX. The maintenance minder is telling me to change the rear differential fluid. This is my first AWD car so I'm not familiar with this type of maintenance. I have three questions.

1. Should I use the Acura brand, All Wheel Drive Fluid (DPSF)? Can I buy them cheap online? Is there a mobil brand that also works?

2. How many quarts do I need? 2?

3. Can your local auto shops replace the fluid just like oil change or do I need to bring the car to Acura service department? I'm thinking about going to Pep boys. What would be the rough cost for labor?

Any advice would be much appreciated!

lil12002

1) Normally when it comes to these types of fluid, its best to use the acura or honda brand. and yes you may be able to find it online if you want to stick to the acura brand.
2)If you google how many quarts you should be able to find it, i'm at 9500 miles and I googled it last month and I found it, I just cant seem to remember the amount.
3) Your local mechanic should be able to do this, no need to take it specifically to acura. I plan on having my mechanic do it.

GW208

There was a post about this last year that can answer some of your questions.

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-rdx-...-%2430-983828/

Dereileak

ONLY USE DPSF-II ACURA FLUID!! it’s about $8 a quart and you need just over 1, so buy 2

Bomboxmoa

I bought this one. Does this work?

https://www.kseriesparts.com/HON-082...SABEgIs9vD_BwE

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

^no.
your car calls for DPSF2

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

using that same vendor, i found the correct fluid for you.

https://www.kseriesparts.com/HON-08200-9007.html

Dereileak

DO NOT USE THIS FLUID!!!!! That is for Honda’s, it is very different from DPSF, just using that fluid will void the warranty on your differential, you need Acura DPSF fluid, model number 08200-9007A, the Honda stuff is the same model with the A missing, but they are very different fluids, I recommend buying from oemacuraparts.com they won’t charge a fee for shipping “dangerous” fluids, other places may charge $50 extra just to Ship it because it’s a petroleum product.

https://www.oemacuraparts.com/oem-pa...psf-082009007a

you will also want new crush washers for the add hole and remove hole For the diff

DPSF 2 is only sold in Russia and Japanese markets, in the USA it’s called DPSF, it is not DPF-2 or VTM4, it is Acura DPSF

They have been compared and they have very different colors and smells, they are not the same fluid!

leomio85

Just to clear up the confusion ... it's DPSF fluid that goes in the 3G RDX diff. Not DPSF-II that was posted earlier. There's DPSF and DPF-II in the US. Dereileak, you confused yourself from your original post to the most recent post. Can the mods change it so as to not create confusion?

Dereileak

I can’t change it they won’t let you edit posts that old, they do call for DPSF-ll In the manual but they only sell DPSF in the USA, not sure why they try to confuse people, but yea If it says “Acura DPSF” on the bottle you are good

this is what is sold in Japan





china





USA sells this

Wander

Glad we got that cleared up.

Honda dealers will happily put their DPF-II fluid into the exact same rear differential that inhabits the rear end of your Acura, and said rear diff has DPSF molded into the aluminum casing right above the fill port, just so you get the point NOT to put VTM-4 fluid into it. In fact AFAIK VTM-4 fluid is the ONLY diff fluid Honda or Acura currently sells that is NOT compatible with the SH-AWD rear differential.

And yeah, I've beat the crap out of this here and on a Pilot forum. Still good for a few more lashes, I guess.

But just to repeat, DO NOT put VTM-4 fluid in the thing.

Mustachio

I bought the rear differential fluid at my Acura dealership because there was too much confusion on the internet about whether or not Honda's fluid is identical and the price difference was negligible. Don't forget to replace the crush washers too. Finished the job in about 30 minutes for $30-$40 (including the pump and oil pan from Auto Zone). Very simple job and I highly recommend people to do this themselves.

Wander

Just to give that deceased equine a few more swats, it doesn't matter if Honda DPF-II and Acura DPSF are identical. All that matters is whether they satisfy the specifications for a given differential, eg 3rd-generation SH-AWD ( if I'm counting correctly ).

Honda's fleet includes vehicles with "dual pump" differentials that Acura has never used. Supporting those oddballs may require a somewhat different formulation of fluid since Honda only sells one "DPF" type hydraulic fluid, plus the VTM-4 fluid that is more like ATF. The "original" DPF is no longer available.

But having said all that, if you can find the Acura version at a decent price, when you need it, by all means use it.

I once put Acura DPSF in a 3rd-gen Honda Pilot, and I swear it gained 50 hp and dropped half a second off its 0-60 time. Musta been that sweet Acura fluid...

Rob5150

Just did mine @ 13k miles
used 1.7 qts of Acura all wheel drive fluid
gray bottle
super easy
now if I can only find the transfer case fill/ drain plugs!

Jfkmk

I’m getting the B6 code at about 10,000 miles and I have 70% oil life left. I need to bring my RDX in to the dealer to have a dash rattle addressed, so when I pick it up I will buy the diff fluid and crush washers from them. Glad to hear it’s an easy job. I’ve changed diff fluid before, but usually not until 50k miles or so.

ToniRDX19

I am at 10,749 miles and change the diff fluid this weekend. Get 2 quarts Acura DPSF fluid, 18 and 20 MM crusher and 30 minutes. Get the car level, drain the fluid then fill until it drips out of the fill hole. Temporary put the fill nut and crusher back start up the car for a minute, turn off engine and remove the fill hole nut & crusher and fill it up again.

The fluid is not dirty but I do see tiny metal pieces in the old fluid. Glad I change the fluid.

russianDude

I think MID is telling you that B6 is next. It combines oil change with items. I would wait until oil change

Jfkmk

Yeah, I realize that. So if the next oil change is at 15k miles, that still seems a little early for a diff fluid change, at least based on my experience. Of course it is so ridiculously easy that I can’t imagine why not fo it at 15k, just seems early.

russianDude

Its only the first one around 15K miles, after that it will be around every 30K. This is pretty much standard on all SH-AWD for Acura models, old and new generations.

Jfkmk

Ah, ok...thanks!

Dereileak

although if your a very spirited driver or do mountain driving, they recommended servicing it every 15k regardless, that won’t apply to most people, but I’m doing mine for the second time this weekend at about 28k miles. $12 for oem fluids and washers, totally worth it if you ask me for some peace of mind, I do drive in sport+ quite a lot and take corners fast

russianDude

good idea if its cheap and easy

ToniRDX19

Are you buying in bulk? Below is the price and amount of fluid I bought. The rear diff call for 1.76 qts for change or $20. This is for a drain and fill and I bought extra.

Transmission: $11.54/quart (5)

Transfer Case: $19.11 /quart (1 quart)

Rear Differential: $9.78 / quart (2)

Thirsty

I have unopened bottles of DPSF fluid that are 4 years old that I purchased for my last, now gone, Acura. I want to use them now for my RDX. Is there a shelf life to this fluid?

leomio85

https://acurazine.com/forums/1g-rdx-...-codes-775691/

(HONDA) ACURA DPSF (Dual Pump System Fluid) p/n 08200-9002C, 08200-9007(A)
rear differential fluid for SH-AWD: (NOTE: date code is printed in silver ink-dots on the bottom of the silver bottle. There is also an obvious (non-date) code printed on the side of the bottle in red ink, e.g., 21010833)
ATL-2 14:48 06/02/10 = 02 June 2010 at 2:48pm
ATL-2 14:49 06/02/10 = 02 June 2010 at 2:49pm

Thirsty

My bottle date show 2016, 4 years ago, as I mentioned. If DPSF is synthetic, then shelf life should be longer than conventional oil or even semi-synthetic. From what I read from the link, shelf life can be anything from 4 years to unlimited. I would hate to throw away good oil assuming 4 years is the answer.

comanche250

The spec for my 2020 RDX is DPSF ll. Its in the owners manual.