Is the preferred way to change out the fluid in an automatic transmission (2006 TL) the "triple drain" method? I see shops (including some Acura dealers) offering a flush which, to my knowledge, is contrary to the Acura service bulletins. Has there been a change in Acura's policy? Thanks. Steve

 

No dealer does a flush. It is against Acura's policy.

 

acura calls drain and refill a `flush`-
the 3x3 is if you added dextron3 fluid to the trans- it must be ~flushed~ clean from the system with manual drain and refill with 5 minute drive between because it eats the trans! total capacity is 7.3~ only half can be drained at a time while the rest in in the hidden parts

do a normal 3 qt- its a bit over 3 actually, drain and refill every year for good maitenance

 

there is a bulletin for the newer model cars and different trans type than ours,
they can use an engine running method on the lift to let all the fluid get exchanged

 

^^ if that is true, show us the bulletin. Because they told me on our 09 TL they also do not do the flush.

 

Is this the bulletin ?

Some A/T repair procedures call for flushing the trans using Acura Precision Crafted ATF-Z1 (and no substitutes). Problem is, where do you find the info to do that? It’s

NOTE:

Jan 2008

 

Which is "better" ?

A drain and refill annually or a 3x3 drain and refill every 3 years ?

 

thats the bulletin I was thinking of- written for newer cars, not the gen2-3 trans which does well on a feeding of 3 new qts once a year

note that acura newer car method only calls for 6 qts total, still leaving 1.2 old stuff in the system and its main desire is to maximize the techs time, less raising and lowering of the car, no 5 minute drives etc

the only time you NEED to do a full 12 qt 3x3 is if you added Dextron 3 to the acura fluid to top it off...low fluid level is reason to stop and look for a leak, not just add whatever fluid is at hand

 

That isn't flushing though. It is still a drain and fill.

 

flushing as used by the industry means a machine is hooked up and fluid is forced thru- thats a death warrant on a TL trans

Why acura insist on calling it a flush when they do simple drain and refill- its crazy! regardless of how you got the trans to shift thru the gears, on the road or on the rack, you were moving fluid from the TQ and selenoids to the drain outlet

 

I think the annual change is the best way to go for many reasons:

1. you always have relatively fresh fluid in your system.
2. allows you to monitor the metallic wear found on the magnetic drain plug on an annual basis. You also are more likely to catch any issues like tranny leaks quicker. The plastic cover under the tranny can mask leaks for some time before drips begin.
3. doesn't waste ATF as much- I have issues throwing out 5 minute old ATF

 

the stuff you drain at 5 minutes is the OLD fluid thats forced forward in the system by shifting thru each gear-
over 4 qts are hidden every time you drain 3, so push old fluid out with new fluid in--simple

 

Well Im not sure of this post, but in my understanding the thoughts on this is the fluid doesn't mix. This is very untrue the trans in general uses about 7.2 quarts of fluid give or take, when you drain and refill the new fluid will mix the second the trans pump goes to work. Its a closed system so the fluids will mix, now the continued draining will eventually get out all the fluid but you would probably have to do this at least four times to have 100% new fluid. I could be wrong but the theory that one liquid will push out another is very wrong any two liquids of the same chemistry will mix, just the nature of the fluids in general.

 

^Back to the original question. I still think changing some of the fluid every 20K is better than changing ALL the fluid at 60k for the reasons stated. I realize that the fluid changed every iteration of a 3x3 will get progressively cleaner because it will mix while running through the gears. Even after the 3x3, it won't be 100% clean any way- I think it's something like 98%.

Here's a table to see the differences (assumes ATF has a 60K life):

Every 20K change .vs. Every 60K using 3x3

0-20K Miles (at end of period):
66% life on entire fill .vs. same

20K - 40K :
66% on 1/3 & 33% life on 2/3 .vs. 33% on entire fill

40K - 60K:
66% on 1/3 33% on 1/3 0% on 1/3 .vs. 0% on entire fill

60K - 80K:
same as above .vs. 65% on entire fill (residual is 0% and nasty)

80K -100K:
same as above vs. 32% on entire fill

and so on ...

I think another benefit of the every 20K is in the 50-60K interval where the ATF is nearing the end of its life on the every 60K interval but you have about 35% or higher at all times using the every 20K change interval.

 

1 drain and fill every year's a good idea.

 

. . .

 

^based on these numbers, the change every 20K method is a vastly superior solution. Since the automatic is a closed system (unlike an Engine with combustion related contaniments), I'm not clear on the every year interval and would lean towards miles instead.