hatepotholez

Hi everyone. Seems as though my tranny fluid isn't the color I would like it to be(pinkish) along with that, it seems my motor oil looks pretty dirty for a 7800 mile car(2011 AWD). I am seriously contemplating switching the trans fluid to a mix of Redline Type F, D4 and light weight racing trans fluid and also Redline motor oil with a Pure one oil filter. Let me know what you guys think of the pics.

BTW I on many occasions drive with a heavy foot but I haven't in the first 1500 miles!

Thanks.

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JM2010 SH-AWD

Can't speak to the trans (I have the MT), but your motor oil looks pretty normal. I've noticed mine gets dark looking pretty quickly.

If you haven't already done so, you should probably be about due for your first oil change at 7800 miles.

hatepotholez

Oh yea on that note, I did my first oil change when the MID indicated as I didn't want to "disrupt" the motors break-in oil. so basically this oil has about 2800 miles on it. It seems so strange for it to be so dirty, as if the filter isn't working properly.

Blackstone labs will have my samples pretty soon!

vinnier6

iTrader: (1)

i am not 100% sure, but i know acura switched what they use for transmission/awd fluid from the traditional atf fluid to the new dpsf....the new stuff might not be what your used to looking at, and might be a different color too....

if you have 7800 miles on your motor oil, i would expect it to be dark...change it...

TinyRK

Agreed!
THe fluid you have in your new TL might be DPSF fluid, which is caramel in color vs pink for the ATF-Z1 in "older" models.

Read here: https://acurazine.com/forums/4g-tl-2009-2014-123/sh-awd-diff-fluid-816522/

hatepotholez

The engine oil actually has around 2800 miles on it, I did my first oil change around 5k. The DPSF fluid is related only to the rear differential. The fluid in the picture is of the actual transmission which was swapped to DW-1 this year accoding to Acura. I also test drove a '11 loaner(FWD) and the fluid was pink as it should be.

I may have worn out my trans fluid already and will be trying a better filter for the engine compared to the standard Acura one, probably the "blue filter" from H and A accessories.

jnc2000

you want the oil to change as it ages... this means the filter, and oil are working. Simply put the oil is containing the contaminants and suspending it within its molecular structure.

hatepotholez

I agree, still a little annoying seeing it that dirty with only 2800 miles on it. I also beleive the filter isnt doing that great of a job compared to the oil, but I read that the current Acura filter isn't as good as the "blue" one from Filtech?

vinnier6

iTrader: (1)

acura made the switch to the new fluid sometime during the 11 model year production...some cars came with the pink fluid, and some came with the new fluid...

hatepotholez

Hmm, probably still have that Z1 in my trans

Bearcat94

I dont' believe you can determine oil health by just looking.

Better to take a sample at the OCI and send it off to Blackstone Labs (http://www.blackstone-labs.com/) for a Used Oil Analysis. They will help you determine the optimum OCI.

If I'm not mistaken, they also do analysis of used Transmission Fluids.

And before changing to a Type-F fluid, better read this thread: https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/optimal-percentage-racing-atf-834299/

hatepotholez

Bearcat: I am definitely going to send my samples over to blackstone(have used them a couple of times). I have been following IHC and Inaccurates threads for a while and luckily saw that thread he made a few days ago. Still considering doing only D4 but haven't made a decision yet.

TampaJim

Do realize that changing fluids from OEM to another product is NOT recommended by Honda/Acura. If something fails during the first 4 years and 50k miles, are you going to be looking for warranty coverage?

hatepotholez

Ofcourse Honda/Acura wouldn't approve it because I am taking away business from them. The dealer would still have to prove that the fluid I put in the transmission violates the Manuson-Moss Warranty act.

Redline D4 is acceptable in our transmissions per Redline and was discussed on the 3G forum.

Redline D4: "Popular applications: Toyota Type T-III and T-IV, Honda ATF Z1, NissanMatic D, J, K, & S, Diamond SP-II, SP-III, Mazda ATF M-V, most BMW, Audi, VW automatic transmissions"

jnc2000

Well thank goodness I drive 40k a year... I wouldn't trust Honda fluids one iota.

hatepotholez

True story!

Mr Marco

+1 on both!

TampaJim

The Magnuson-Moss warranty act simply states that a manufacturer cannot require OEM fluids for a warranty to be valid. It does allow for a manufacturer to require a fluid to meet the specifications set forth by the manufacturer.

Do you really want to provide documentation on the fluid, showing that it meets the Honda/Acura specifications AND sitting around waiting for tests to be performed on the non-OEM fluid? This takes a few days at best, plus shipping time. In the meantime, nothing is happening to repair your vehicle. Tick-tock, tick-tock.

In respect to "universal" applications ... they really aren't as great as folks like to believe. In addition, the product that you referenced couldn't be equivalent to Honda/Acura DW-1, the proper fluid for the vehicle in question, based on the technical data on the Redline website.

hatepotholez

Redline has met or exceeded Honda/Acura's transmission fluid specifications(Z-1), and you do bring up a good point in regards to the current Redline D-4 and the new DW-1 in comparison. DW-1 can be synthetic or non synthetic, I really don't know(but will confirm with Redline) with the controversial posts on the web of possibly only the Canadian DW-1 being fully synthetic.

My TL is a 2011(and uses DW-1 per the Acura master tech) and it's already varnishing at 7800 miles? Granted as I stated in my above posts I am not an easy driver but this fluid has not held up and has to replaced by a better fluid.

I am all for OE parts and fluids but not their transmission fluids or oil filters, too many horror stories. If my trans fails while using D4 which I believe to be better than DW-1 than I WILL get all the analysis done for my warranty claim.

Some food for thoght, here is some Physical and chemical properties for DW-1 provided by WORLDPAC and below Redline D4:

Appearance Red
Flash Point 170°C / 338°F
1664-L42 - Honda Genuine ATF DW-1, 12 x 1 Liter Case
Method COC ASTM D92
Odor: Mild
Revision Date: 12-Jul-2010
Density 0.85 g/cm3@15°C
Physical State: Liquid
Viscosity @40C= 25.09 cSt; @100C = 6.835 cSt

and here is Redline D4

TYPICAL PROPERTIES

Vis @ 100°C, cSt 7.5
Vis @ 40°C, cSt 34
Viscosity Index 198
Pour Point, °C -60
Pour Point, °F -76
Flash Point, °C 225
Flash Point, °F 437
Brookfield Vis @ -40°C, P 52

vinnier6

iTrader: (1)

not totally related, but i just changed out my rear diff fluid, and the case was stamped "ATF", and the stuff that came out was red...the new stuff i put in was dpsf, which i was told was carmel in color, but its not, its pink translucent...

TampaJim

D4 simply can't be a viable replacement for DW-1, based on Redline's own information. They show D4 as being an acceptable replacement for Z-1 ... you can't have it both ways.

DW-1 is a full synthetic (Group III).

TampaJim

Your gearcase was stamped ATF which was correct at the time of manufacturing. It used Z-1, the old ATF formula. With the discontinuance of that product in lieu of DW-1, the new requirement for your gearbox is DPSF. You did just fine.

hatepotholez

I hope that isn't the case. I contacted Redline and they said it was comparable to DW-1 hopefully they aren't giving everyone and myself false information.

I know Blackstone checks used oil, do they compare new oil?

vinnier6

iTrader: (1)

i already knew all of that, i was just making a comment on the color of dpsf...the notice put out by acura said that dpsf was clear/carmel in color, dpsf still has a pinkish color to it, not as much red, but its not carmel in color either....

vinnier6

iTrader: (1)

honda doesnt produce any of the fluids that they put into their cars...so i guess its another brand that you wouldnt trust one iota....it would be funny to find out that whatever fluid you use in your car is manufactured by the same company that manufactures the fluids for honda...