cjj2d,

Please see link below for sensor info.

Very interesting conversation with my transmission builder on the TL (click here)

 

Just thought I would comment, I have an '05 TL that I do drive pretty hard and it has about 68K miles on it, and I am just now replacing the trans fluid tomorrow.

 

Had my 07 TLS Transmission done at 30K and now getting it done at 60K. The TLS is high performance with more stress on the Transmission. Don't wait!! Don't mess with Acura Transmissions they are EXPENSIVE to fix!!!!!!

 

Mine didn't come on till 100k, but I do nearly all highway driving. The dealer said she's never seen one come on that late and that I must have done it once before (or dismissed it once before), but I really don't think so.

As many have said, you do not want to do a machine flush on the trans, especially with higher miles. Talking to my local Acura dealer's service manager who I trust, she said that their dealership did use a machine and she did not recommend it!

Instead she had me do a sequence of drain and fills (essentially the 3x3, but with a couple thousand miles between each drain and fill). Another dealer had the exact same recommendation.

 

I'm at 90K and my light still hasn't come on. I spoke with the Honda dealer here and they said they don't do the 3x3, but will drain it and refill then redo it after about 30k. They said if you use a machine or too much attempting to flushing it, you can actually push more bad debris into the tranny and it can cause more damage. They said just gently drain and fill over a few times will get it nice and clean without forcing gunk everywhere and taking a chance of something bad happening.

 

I had my transmission fluid changed on 24-JUL-10, replaced with full synthetic Motul Multi ATF. Because I switched to a synthetic the mechanic hooked up to a machine to push all fluid through, actually used 15 litres to ensure completely exchanged. Pricey though it cost $565 in Toronto, I have 85KM and plan on draining 3 Litres every 2nd oil change, this way it is always fresh. I'll keep posted on transmission issues

 

Hi - what fluid should I use (not synthetic) - do I have to use Acura brand? Or is there another one I can use?

 

There are literally 3 active threads on the first page on this topic. All answers are over there.

 

Holy crap. Was that you first trans. fluid change? I just changed mine at 9,800 miles, and I'm going to do 3x3 at around 20,000 miles with Redline D4. If you're going to stick with Z1, change it every 15-20K miles. Anyways, that just my .

 

the new TL-S uses the RL transmission and that is not the same one used in the 04-06 cars

 

Question: I have an 03 TL type S and I'm about to change the oil on my tranny as well myself. If I drain it, how much oil will it need?
Is 3 quarts enough?

 

No, read the entire post.....there is 3 pages. In short you will need 9 qrts all together for a 3x3 flush.

 

i just did the 3x3 method and the TL-S is running smooth!!! Thanks guys for the info. Hopefull it will contuine to run smooth.

 

Congrats on the job. There is always somthing soothing after knowing you did it yourself....and knowing that it was done RIGHT!

 

Sorry to revive an old thread everyone but having a dilemma here. I took my car for an oil change to a place I regularly go to since my car showed the "Service A1" on the MM. Its an Auto 06 TL with 61K miles. When he finished the mechanic asked when was the last time I had the tranny fluid changed since it looks "awful." I had it changed at an Acura dealer at 38K miles, not sure if it was the 3x3 method since it was done a couple years ago.

I did not get it done from the "quickie lube" since I wasn't sure and they were charging $129 for the service. Here is an attached picture of the dipstick.



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What do you guys think? Should I take it to an Acura dealer instead?

 

^i've seen way worse. if you had it changed at 38k and now you're at 61k thats only 23k miles.

find out what they did when you had it changed at 38k.

i do a 1x3 every other oil change in mine, but that's probably overkill and i'm weird like that. i think you're fine where you are.

 

Look like new ATF to me. Maybe the mechanic meant to say that his comissions are looking "awful" and he needs more work to do ($$$)

I would not trust that mechanic any longer if he said your fluid looked "awful"

 

Maybe he was color blind....anyways thanks guys. That's what I didn't understand, the car still shifts smoothly and then I get this "recommendation" from him. Freaking guy got me paranoid all morning....Been reading Innacurate and IHC's discussion about oil all day lol.

 

That looks an awful lot like fresh ATF fluid is what he must have meant!

 

Here are other pictures taken from my digi cam instead











What do you think? Looks good to me too

 

I have 68K miles on my '08, nothing signaled on message minder. Oil looks okay on the stick. Was in dealership for my free lifetime oil change this week and asked the service manager how they did their transmission oil changes. He said they use a pump and have never had a problem with it and their district manager is good with it. They charge $277 for the job. I am going to check with a reputable local transmission place for their pricing - this local company has a great rep and I'd bet they are about $50-100 less, and will use Honda fluid. My dealer also lists the timing belt and water pump job at $2,000 - that's crazy.

 

I dont have much mechanical knowledge so just trying to learn about all these terminology in this thread.
What is a 1x3 or a 3x3? and what is the difference between the two??
Also, I'm going to attempt to do my own transmission fluid change, would a basic drain and fill be ok?

 

and how many litres of ATF is needed for an 04 TL Base.

 

3x3 refers to the number of times (3) you drain and fill 3 qts.
1x3 = 1 time 3 quarts
3x3 = 3 times 3 quarts

The 3x3 can be done in succession as long as you have the car change through all the gears a few times between drains and fills. In Honda transmission like these where it is not suggested to do a complete drain, what we're doing is essentially diluting the old transmission fluid with new one. Every time you do a drain and fill, you replace more and more of the old fluid.

 

ok that makes sense. So how long do you drive before changing it?

 

Originally Posted by chet03tl-s
10-19-2004, 10:01 pm
chet03tl-s
registered user
post #13
join date: Jun 2003
location: Castro valley, ca
age: 25
posts: 594

doing the math. I assume 3qts are drained and the tranny holds 7.6qts. Each time you run the car a short distance through all the gear to mix the new fluid with the old and that you get a perfect dilution of the old and new fluid. If you keep doing this you should eventually get all the fluid out. Here are the number of fills and their related % of new fluid now in the tranny at each stage of the flush.

Drain/fill
1=39.5%
2=63.4%
3=77.8%
4=86.6%
5=91.9%
6=95.1%
7=97.0%
8=98.2%
9=98.9%

so using just 4 fills will only get 86.6% of the old fluid out.


I found this in another thread.Someone also mentioned around 20k ish interval is an ideal time to do the other drain/fills.
thanks for your help!

 

That's up to you. Honestly, it mixes quickly. 1 tank of gas is likely more than enough.

That's right. "Only" makes it sound terrible, but it's actually not bad at all. After 5 you get to a point with very little ROI.

 

Hey guys,

Rather than starting a new thread, just thought I'd revive this one.

First the particulars: I've got a '07 TL (base, 5AT), which I bought about 7 yrs ago with 60.5k on the clock. Right off the bat, I did a 3x3 refill on the ATF. (A local mechanic informed me that looked like previous owner had never changed it, judging from the color of the old ATF,.) Since that initial 3x3, I've driven about 46k miles. I've got a long road-trip coming up, and figured it was well past time to drain and fill the ATF again. Been reading the related (and fantastic) thread on this and am thinking of replacing the pressure switches, too. I have next to no wrenching skills (lol), so am looking for an independent shop to do the work.

I've contacted two shops, both of which told me:
1) that they don't do "drain and fill" on the ATF, but would have to perform a "full transmission service," meaning a flush and refill; and
2) that unless there some problem with the tranny, they would not recommend replacing the pressure switches for 3rd and 4th gears.

When I replied that Honda didn't necessarily have an approved method for "flushing" the entire tranny, the one shop told me that maybe Honda didn't recommend that, but the maker of the ATF did (and that Honda didn't make the ATF itself, even the oem DW1).

Regarding replacing the pressure switches, another mechanic told me that in 25 years of servicing cars, he'd never heard of someone asking to replace the switches as "preventative maintenance."

Again, I've got next to no wrenching skills, so can't really go the DIY route. In any case, just wondering if anyone has thoughts about the situation?

TIA.

 

Google search your local area (or even outside of it), high & low, for an Acura / Honda specialty shop where the owners may be a little more open minded on your maintenance request.

 

Well, in the end, I've opted to go with a full-flush on the tranny. (This vehicle probably hasn't had one in its 17 years on the road!)

The procedure supposedly helps to clean the ATF filter, which might do some good since that part's inside the case on the '07-'08 (UA7) TLs.

Holding off on replacing the pressure switches for now.

 

the only flush that I would ever consider is using a fluid exchange machine where the machine hooks up to the trans lines. The trans pumps the old fluid into the machine, the machine pumps new fluid into the trans at the same rate.

Do not use any sort of flush that involves chemicals, this will destroy the trans.

The person who said the oil co. recommends it is an idiot. Would you trust the folks that designed and made the object (honda acura), or the folks who were given specs (oil co) to make trans fluid for Honda/Acura.