I hate cars

Not very exciting but I installed a Magnefine inline transmission filter. I figured since I went to the trouble of installing the cooler, might as while capitalize on the new cooler lines. Took about 2 minutes.

Since the TL has only a lifetime screen that barely qualifies as a filter, I thought I would do something about it. Seems like a very good $15 investment. These things actually filter the oil and have additional magnets inside.

Didn't expect to feel a difference and it could be my imagination but the shifts seem to have changed a little after a day of driving. Low throttle feels about the same. Getting into the gas 1/3 or the way or more seems to have slightly snappier shifts. The occasional head jerking shift while backing off the gas from heavy throttle seems to be gone too. Could all be in my head but I swear there is a small difference.

Now that I have all Amsoil ATD, a cooler, and a real filter, I think I'm going to take this thing to 50K+ mile drain intervals.

donc

So, what would something like this cost the rest of us and how difficult is it to add the filter?

I hate cars

Found the filter for $15 and ordered two. If you don't have the cooler already, it still looks like a 10 minute job. It would require cutting a few inches out of the factoy rubber line and installing the filter with a hose clamp on each side. I bought the "fuel injection" hose clamps for $3 that use a screw instead of a worm gear and don't dig into the rubber like regular clamps.

I installed my filter near the battery. Due to it's easy location, wouldn't take more than a minute to swap out. Without the cooler, the hardest part is accessing the stock hose.

Since this is the first time the transmission has been filtered I'll probably swap it out at 2K miles and then go the recommended 30K on the next one. Can't wait to cut it open. I had to fire the motor for a second with the hoses disconnected to find which one was the inlet and outlet since the filter is directional. I was very surprised at the volume of fluid that flows through this thing.

Costco

Pics of filter? Did you just let it dangle in the engine bay or something?

I hate cars

Just replaced the filter at 5K since I had no idea what sort of interval to run. I cut it open to find the filter looking brand new and the magnet had next to nothing on it. I think I'm going to take the next one out to 30K.

I've got 20K on the Amsoil ATD fluid, 10K on the cooler, and 5K on the filter. The fluid still looks like the day I put it in. No smell whatsoever. Shifts are better than stock.

CasperTL04

very nice. Do you have any install pics? Do you know the model # of the Magnefine filter? Does it matter? Which way is the fluid flowing?

SRT-11

yeah not to resurrect this thread but if this is for an AT, I really would love to do this mod, I know the 04 TL auto trannys crap the bed pretty frequently and anything I can do to add to the longevity of the transmission would be great. if this is for MT, then oops.

I went AMSoil for the tranny fluid, great decision. very happy I did.

I hate cars

I thought I posted pics in this thread a long time ago. Maybe it was on a different forum. I can't access my webshots page from work but I'll upload a few when I get home.

Yes, it's for an auto. Takes about an hour. Once the cooler is installed, the filter takes an extra 10 minutes since you're just cutting a cooler line and installing the filter inline. I've noticed now that that last time I did a drain and fill there was pretty much nothing on the factory magnet. Not sure if it's because the magnefine is catching more of the magnetic particles or the Amsoil is reducing wear or both.

I highly suggest the fan and cooler combo from Summit. It has a built in thermostat that turns the fan on at 170 degrees and the fan is already mounted to the cooler. All you have to do is run the + and - and hook up the cooler lines. With this setup, you can mount the cooler anywhere, you're not limited to direct airflow and it would be much more effective in stop and go traffic.

SRT-11

Man, you'd be my best friend if you'll post those pics and DIY this, also if you could post some linkys to everything you used. I really want to keep my tranny as healthy as possible, it's not a cheep component and I'm outside of my warranty.

I really appreciate it! I'm sure other people will too.

CasperTL04

agreed. The only concern I have with this would be about potential pressure drops from installing this inline filter. Supposedly this transmission is a "sealed unit".

I hate cars, any problems with Amsoil or the cooler/filter combo? Do you remember the name or part # I could search for on Summit for the exact one you used. Thanks

SRT-11

rut ro...

this wouldn't be a seemingly awesome mod that will shoot me in the foot later will it?

CasperTL04

i dunno, that's what I'm hoping to find out. Through other searches, looks like he installed the cooler in November so if he's been running it this long with no problems it should be OK.

SRT-11

pics....?

CasperTL04

since I found out that the transmission has a factory filter I'm gonna change that and not worry about adding an additional filter.

I hate cars

Not the 04-06.

tidus888

Where Are The Pics!?!?!?!

I hate cars

I had many more pictures, don't know why the host took them down. I'll have to download them again. These were shot during the installation but don't show that much. In the last pic toward the bottom, you can see the two hose clamps where I tapped in.

SRT-11

the last picture I see hose clamps but I still would have no idea how to tackle this... how much extra fluid did you need? does the tranny automatically bleed out air or did you have to burp it somehow? did you just drain it and then refill everything and the transmission generates enough pressure to circulate the fluid through all the new piping and the cooler? what were the parts you needed? did you get fluid everywhere or when you drained it the fluid was out of the hoses? I want to do this and an oil catch can, next mods.

SRT-11

I just noticed from that other thread in 3g that we DO in fact have a tranny filter, still worth adding this?

I hate cars

I'm almost certain the 04-07 TLs don't have a filter, just a screen mesh in the transmission. The magnefine is still better than the factory filter since it contains not only the paper element but also a magnet.

SRT-11

but check this thread out:

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=182741

CasperTL04

I just ordered the parts today from Honda. One item is backordered until 6/28 so I won't be attempting this until then. I am changing my ATF right now. I'll look for this to make sure.

I hate cars

Very interesting. I know what I'm doing after work today...

The line I tapped into for the cooler and filter is the one going to the factory filter.

CasperTL04

Ok, I just looked and this filter is def. there. It's right under the factory airbox; just like in the diagram. Looks like it will be kind of a bitch to change though. The bolts you need to remove are basically right beside the frame. Not a lot of space. Hmmm...

SRT-11

ironic. do you still think another filter is necessary? post up some pics if you pull out the filter, see if it's the same as the Honda one. I'm interested in the cooler still...

CasperTL04

yeah I will def. take pics. However, one of hte parts I ordered is on backorder until 6/28 so it won't be until sometime later next week.

SleekAV6

I hate cars, do you have a transmission oil temperature gauge? If so, can you list what temps you are getting now vs without the cooler? I wanted to know what others with and without trans coolers are seeing during daily driving, both freeway and stop and go.

With my trans cooler, I see about 160-170 freeway cruising, 185-195 in stop and go driving (LA 405 rush hour) and 205+ with hard driving.

Thanks.

CasperTL04

I just did a 3x3 ATF flush using Castrol Multi Import ATF. So far so good.