Automatic transmission fluid noob question
 

Hi all!

I'm a noob with transmissions, but I know mine requires fluid change. I went to the honda dealer and they told me I had to buy 8 liters of fluid to change it myself, but I think this is too much!. The question is if after draining the old fluid, should I just add the 8 liters? or is there a special procedure? I've seen in other posts that theres a 3x3 technique but it doesn't mention any specific quantities. I know this may be a dumb question but, as I said, I'm really noob with transmissions, and I want to learn to do it myself.

Thank you guys!

Common practice is to do a 3x3. That's one drain, and adding 3 quarts of ATF. So in total you wanna do a total of about 9 quarts.

When you drain, you only drain about 3 quarts at a time so you'd replace it with 3 quarts.

If you do a complete flush (not recommended), then you'd need 9 quarts of fluid at once

nice! This is the exact anwer I was looking for. Thank you!

I will do this tomorrow :)

Make sure you drive the car around and switch gears to make sure that the new ATF runs through the system. Otherwise you'll just be draining the brand new fluid you put in.

Make sure to buy an extra quart (10). Usually a bit more than 3 quarts come out..maybe more like 3.2

What kind of fluid is good to use? Ive people say Honda, others say Redline...

Honda DW-1 will suffice.

I like to stick to factory fluids. Honda oil, Honda DW-1, and their brake fluid.

drain 3 quarts


add 3 quarts


drive it a few miles


drain 3 quarts


add 3 quarts


correct?


ive don't it on my RSX but I just did the 3 quarts drain and fill

Yes, correct.

I drove it for a week every drain/refill opposed to doing it all in one day.

I have only had my car a few months, and have now gotten the code for transmission fluid change. I have always been a little weary of doing this simply because of stories(usually just on a flush though). But my transmission has been shifting a little funny lately so I think its time to do this. Does anyone think this may help or had similar issues with it shifting funny? For instance, it always seems to take a few seconds to get from reverse to drive. Thank you for your help, I am new to this site and absolutely love my 3rd gen TL.

Yes - fluid and replacing the pressure sensors could do you some good.

Im reading conflicting ways on how to check the level

Some say check transmission with car running

Some say let sit for a minute after warmed up and while car is offf

When in doubt, read the manual!

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazi...b2bc50e645.jpg

thanks


checked this morning


fluid is nice and red and clean


it is about a quarter of an inch below the line though and I checked it properly, so I believe it needs about half a quart

Thanx Bogie. I'm also noticing a really hard downshift from 3rd to 2nd, and this mainly happens on a slope going downhill coming to a stop. Does this also sound like pressure sensors would help with this? And if so, any specific ones you would recommend? I did some research on this and there seems to be one from every gear. Or would it be beneficial to just go ahead and do them all?

The fluid will help 70% of the problem after drain and fill for 4 times then the switches makes the problem disappeared.

What do you mean drain and fill 4 times?

He means drain... and fill... 4 times 3 qts... You know about the 3x3? (if not, search and read about it)
Well he did 4x3 to get the new ATF concentration even higher than 3x3.

as a rule of thumb on our cars, if the fluid is red and clean it is still good? I work at Mitsubishi and the CVT fluid is recommended when it turns brownish from blue.

What do you mean "complete Flush" and why do you not recommend it? I was just about to take mine to have it flushed.... Thanks.

Honda DO NOT recommend to flush the AT. I think the reason being once the flush done some narrow passage will get clog with gunk and cause the At to fail other member can shed more light on this.

OP I actually did 5x3 (drain and fill with 3 quarts each time and repeat the process for 5 times) prior replacing my switches. The car shifting much smoother now.

Icic. Like Mike, I'm also a noob when it comes to transmissions so sry for the stupid questions but I really appreciate the help. So just to make sure I understand, what exactly do you mean by a "flush"? I've always thought a flush was another way of saying, draining and refilling? Also, what switches are you talking about? I also read that there's a little known and often over looked AT Filter that should be replaced as well? I've started to notice my trans isn't shifting as smoothly as it used too so I really wanna replace anything & everything that could possibly help.Thanks again.

A flush is when they take out all the fluid by using a machine that extracts it. They then use that same machine to put in new ATF fluid. If you YouTube "transmission fluid flush" you can see how it's done.

3rd and 4th gear pressure switches.

There is a transmission fluid filter. You can find a thread on that if you search. It's fairly easy to access. I haven't done it myself though.The 3rd and 4th gear pressure switches + Tranmission filter are next on my list.

04-06 has external filter where you can change, however 07-08 TL the filter is locate inside the AT case so its not possible to replace the filter on the 07-08 TL unless you open up the AT. Dezymond explained flush very good that how it called "flush".

That is also Honda's definition and usage of the word "flush."

Ask the shop how it does the ATF flush before having the work done.

Many shops, including dealers, do not do the "drain-and-fill"-- their flush is often as described by dezymond:

My Gf's 04 TL is having issues w going into drive typically in the morning, or if going up hill? Otherwise car shifts great, smooth.... the going into gear thing is sporatic and doesn't occur all of the time according to her... I am going to change the fluid tomorrow ( first of 3x3) as well as the Trans filter to see what happens... fingers crossed..

Car has 150K on it.....

Did the 3x3 today ( 1st round) w the DW1 trans fluid... also changed the little trans fluid filter...
it was beyond BAD! Car shifts nicely and is able to go uphill now.. ;) I'll do it again in a couple more weeks.

3rd and 4th gear pressure switches are needed on type s models too?

yes, and yes. Type S doesn't have that plague AT issue on earlier model but it does shift rough from time to time.

So I have read this entire post and it has been very helpful, as I am a "transmission noob" myself. If I could chime in, even though this post is a couple months old, I have a question as well. I have an '04 AT currently with 125k miles on her (only 10k of them are mine), she is in fantastic running condition and I have never had an issue with her. All of the maintenance records completed before I purchased her are in the Acura log book, but there are none mentioning a transmission fluid change. My question is; with this many miles and no evidence of a transmission fluid change, is there danger in attempting a fluid change now? Also, as I said there aren't any problems, but sometimes at there is a slight shudder between third and fourth gear that immediately go away if I let off the gas. I appreciate in advance any info. Thanks!

Probably no danger, but I bet the old Z1 ATF is in there. Honda/Acura use DW1 now and it works better that Z1 ever did. (I think it was called Z1 at least, had a Z in it:tongue:)

Changing your pressure switches too could be a good idea as well, your shifts should feel much smoother once you get some new fluid in there and new pressure switches.

change the fluid every 10k miles so let the AT get use to the new fluid. The pressure switch help smooth out during shifting especially from 3rd to 4th.

So all in all it should be ok to change the fluid you think?

Also, can anyone recommend a good tranny fluid. Specifically for a tranny with 125k on it? I have read on other threads that that 3x3 can get pricy because of fluid, but most of the tranny fluids that I have seen are quite inexpensive, to the tune of $8-$9 per bottle

Personally I would do a 1x3 not a 3x3 and slowly introduce the new fluid in.

Interesting. When you say "slowly" though, how long would you wait until the next change if you did it just once?

Every oil change do another 1x3 IMHO in your particular situation. Remember to do the switches.

I have been doing 1X3 every 10K miles since 90K. Currently my daughter's '06 is at 115K. 3rd and 4th switches changed at 110K. So far so good.