I can't seem to get a consistent set of answers regarding when to change the ATF in my 3G 2005 TL. I've heard 30, 60, when the MID tells you so, etc, and everything in between.

I just had my ATF checked by the dealer and they said that it was very clean still. I hvae 74k miles. Clearly I'm worried that I'm waiting too long, but at the same time I don't want to do unnecessary work/changes.

I'm a very "average" driver in the sense that I don't drive my car hard at all. I live in the Bay Area, which has very mild weather (not extremely cold or hot). Thus, what's a good recommendation given the above?

 

Hm...considering the history of our cars' transmissions, i was once recommended to change out the atf every 15k. of course, i've gotten variable answers some different dealers: some say 30 or even 60. i just change mine out every 15k...

 

what kind of driving to you do? city? highway?

 

When I do my services @ the dealer for ATF where I do it every 3k. Maybe it is excessive but My car running good. Knock on wood.

1. Request drain and refill where it is drain 3 qt and refill it back up with 3 qt.

2. Do it 2 more time.

3. Then do a complete drain and refill with the 3 time method which runs $200 @ dealership.


Then start it all over again.

 

My brother has an 04 automatic Ive change his fluid 8x already. He has about 35k and everytime I drain it the fluid is spanked. This is under normal driving city/highway.

 

If using the stock Z1 fluid, a drain and refill (3qt) with every engine oil change will keep it in good working order.

If you do the 3X drain and fill, every 20K will keep it healthy.

It doesn't matter what Acura says for maintenence, the stock fluid has been proven to oxidize and break down very early on. Of course heat is the number one factor in the time to breakdown.

If you go with a quality synthetic and install a real filter, 100,000 miles is not out of the question.

 

I wonder if you've already changed it before.

It's unlikely that your original ATF would still look "clean" at 74k. Most of the Honda V6s that I see have nasty looking ATF after as little as 15k sometimes. Are you sure that it has never been changed? A lot of the Bay Area Acura dealers sell those "30k maintenance packages" that include an ATF change.

 

What kind of ATF do you guys recommend? And where can I get it?

I bought my car pre-owned (05TL) with about 20k, its now 30k and I have NO clue as to when they last changed the ATF, I figured Id wait till I hit 30k before I start my own routine ATF changes. BTW do you guys think im WAYY over due?

Can someone point me into the DIY changes please....

 

I'd recommend one of the multi-vehicle ATF products. Amsoil, Castrol Import Multi-Vehicle, Valvoline Maxlife ATF, etc. Drain and refill in three times. Drive a few miles in between each one. 10 quarts should be enough for three drain and refills. Be sure to pick-up a new drain plug and fill plug crush washer from the dealership.

Usually I'm a big advocate of using an OE approved fluid, but not in this application anymore.

I usually change/flush transmission fluid around 60k, but some may disagree and want to do it sooner.

 

Just changed mine at 52k miles because it was brown - car feels much better now! I think given that the transmission is our car's Achilles' heel, you should do it every 30k-45k.

 

No DIY guys? I suck at searching.

 

i have 50,002 and I plan on changing the fluid myself for the first time.

 

Here's a thread:

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/rr-journals-atf-drain-refill-3g-garage-c-012-a-556044/

On the last drain and refill, I recommend replacing the drain and fill plug crush washers.

 

You're getting different recommendations for several reasons. The TL Maintenance Minder recommends changing the ATF at service "3" (either A3 or B3), but the manual also suggests 1st change @ 60K and subsequent changes every 30K thereafter for "heavy use."

Further, prior Honda/Acura history with the V6 4-sp and 5-sp auto trannies (from about 2001-2004) resulted in mechanics changing the ATF earlier-- i.e. every 30K rather than at 45K or 60K.

That said, I got ATF changes @ the service just over 30K miles or so, on both the TL and the Odyssey- not a big deal to get the ATF changed while the vehicle is getting serviced anyway. I do not race or auto-X the TL, but am a normal driver in SoCal.

 

Most of the mileage is highway driving. Needless to say, its been a very easy 74k miles. I would estimate that since 2 years ago, the percentage of miles on the highway is 80-90%. That was when I had around 30k miles on it. So thus, for the last 44k miles, its been freeway driving 4/5th of the time, or more.

My next scheduled maintenance is due soon, and this time, I'm going to ask to see my ATF fluid. If what you guys are telling me is true, then my fluid should be quite brown/dirty already. In any case, I think I'm going to change it anyway. Perhaps overdue, but better late than later or never...

And to SodaLuvr: I've never done a 30/60k maintenance. I have only gone by the MID. I've never let the dealership sell me on any of those mileage-based services.

 

wow I always thought it was at 60k. Some of you guys change every time you do the oil? Thats alot of needless?? money spending.

 

A lot of people overdo it in hopes of extending the life of their transmission. Unfortunately, it's just a false sense of security.

 

Lol, that's me. My reasoning is to not give it another reason to fail.

The fluid is only part of the problem and probably a minor one at that. But as we've seen on Bob so many times the Z1 does oxidize quickly. Hopefully on my '06 the flaw is fixed but I'm not getting my hopes up.