Skirmich

So I decided to do the first step of the 3x3 with the New OEM Formula "DW-1" that replaces the Original Honda "Z1".


Now I really dont know if the new DW-1 is Synthetic or Not!
But there is 2 BIG Differences between the DW-1 and the Z1:

1.- The SMELL! It doesnt smell like your ordinary ATF, Amsoil or Redline nor the original Z1.
It has this wierd strong smell to chemical I cant quite explain it but having made alot of Z1 changes I can tell you it doesnt smell like a "Lower Viscosity" Z1 its a different type of Oil.

The bottle itself looks the same as the Original Z1. but with a New Green Label and Red Cap.



Now this is the Bottle comparison between the new DW-1, Z1 and AMSOIL (Old Replacements).



Back Label Difference
HONDA Z1:


HONDA DW-1:




2.- Driving:
I just did a 3.5q Change out of the New DW-1 and I can already tell its exactly as the AMSOIL in the way it feels.
Quick Shifting while Gassing, Smooth Shifting when driving Normal.
Its Day and Night compared to Z1.
And this is only with a simple 3.5q change out of the 3x3.

Sport Shifting at last feel like its "Sporty" and not laggy as Fuck as it has always being. Its incredible how quickly the car now Shifts, Automatic Downshifting is Incredibly fast and seemless.

I dunno if you have this exact feel like I had, It was like the car lagged when shifting into 2nd. My trans is 1 year old so it isnt a Bad Tranny I know how a Bad tranny feels and this has always be the way my TL Shifted since I bought it, Even before my first tranny was "KIA" using AMSOIL Syn ATF. This is My 2nd and Have always worked with Honda Z1.
BUT DW-1 Literally give me a Whole New Car, Its exciting when it auto-downshift now and not a hassle.



I cant express how Happy I am with this Oil it gives the TL a New Breath of Life. If this is the result with only a 3.5q Change Im looking forward to the complete 3.5x3!

Total Cost: 98.6 Bucks for 10q of Oil + 30 for the OEM Tranny Filter.
Final Toughts: Its worth it, You wont miss the Z1! HECK You Wont Miss AMSOIL or its Price Tag..

(I Need 2 More Quarts since Using only 3q the dipstick only had enough Oil to fill a single hole out of it Not the Middle, Using 3.5q is enough for it).

01tl4tl

it should drain up to 3.4 qts if you are patient

always verify level with 15 minute freeway warmup and immediate fluid level ck-
BETWEEN the upper 2 dots is correct- at that temp

I am guessing the 3rd-lowest dot is for techs to get a cold reading- no proof,, just a guess

my.daily'tl'

Skirmich - How many miles are on your current trans? I dont think mine has ever been changed and I also have that same lag to 2nd gear. I like to see the good results from coming from the Z1 to the alternatives were trying. I think honda just got it wrong in the first place.
So ive been looking into amsoil or redline really, im leaning towards redline but its also good to know the DW-1 helps too. But this may also be a case by case basis. But anythings got to be better than the old Z1.

Skirmich

Well it Actually got a 200Mile test (Checking level at every Gas Station every 30 minutes or So) But Yeah the mark sits at the middle with 3.5q!

There´s a 3rd Dot? My dipstick only got 2 tough.

swllen_cu

iTrader: (1)

I will be doing this soon and changing my tranny filter too. Should be a nice improvement!

Karanx7

iTrader: (2)

Yea, I don't have a third dot. I have two dots, and a twisty end. I think there was a thread about the twisty end.

gold2003tl (90)

awesome, i am looking forward to getting some dw-1. keep us posted on the long term effects of dw-1.

Skirmich

My 2nd Tranny is over 25-30K Perhaps.. Still running strong.
I can tell you DW-1 gives you the exact feel of the AMSOIL, Im starting to really think DW-1 its completely Synthetic.

Also my Tranny Coolers seem to work a little warmer now.


To "Karanx7"
Yup my Dipstick is like that too.

To "gold2003tl"
Yeah I will, Ill be doing the 2nd change this friday it will have over 400miles now soo I think its the time, Also my Engine Oil comes at the time again. Im wondering to switching to RoyalPurple instead of Mobil 1 but I dunno?..

tomf

skirmich- when was the last time you did a drain and fill with the Z1 ? Or I should say - how many miles has it been...

SloTls

So after the initial 3x3, isn't there still Z1 in the transmission?

pickler

i have NEVER changed my tranny fluid, no joke, i havent. im still on original tranny but lately it has started to downshift roughly. its not only because im too cheap and lazy its because i have heard that there are too many coincidences where the tranny fails few miles after fluid change lolz. call me superficial...

anyway i need to change now since its getting a bit dark, but this new fluid costs 8$ per quart at my dealership. this will cost me +$120 not considering labour for a 3x3?! so cant i use ATF/DM (40$ for 10 quarts)

my.daily'tl'

Yes there will still be some old fluid in there. The trick is to introduce the new fluid to the trans and let it work itself in.

Skirmich - I think in one of these new trans fluid threads I hate cars said that the new dw-1 was a semi synthetic allowing for higher temps if I remember right and it also improves driving during warm up too.

Skirmich

I changed my last Z1 in December and it had a little more than 1K as you may think it came out cherry virgin.

To "pickler"
I dont believe in superstitions I would change that dark oil ASAP... Dont pay for the change, DIY!!!! Its a -10 Minute Job. I can actually do it in less than 5 now.

pickler

lol I would do it my self but I need a set of tires first, no tires, no driving. and if I do it myself it costs me 120$ of fluid for a 3x3. I'll just get Acura to do it for that price.

M T L T L

I went with Redline 3X1 at my last oil change 3K km ago. I was thinking of doing another 3X1 at my next oil change. Would you suggest going with DW-1 next be safe ?

Skirmich

I Dont think the DW-1 compares to the Redline. I Can guarantee that it feels like AMSOIL Syn ATF in the way it shifts, But havent tried the Redline I would not know if you will have harder shifts or So...

I think its better to Upgrade from the Z1.. But Redline Nahhh...
Or if you are having hard time Getting AMSOIL (Like I did) the DW-1 is a Nice Replacement.


Well I think they charge Labor too so it would cost more than that, wont it?

01tl4tl

stick with the redline..commit to one brand and its additive package

M T L T L

varies from 15 something to 20$ a quart in my area...

Skirmich

Whoaaa?? Its that made with Gold or Something??? And I tought a 13 bucks quart of AMSOIL was Expensive!

DW-1 = 9.60 Bucks a Quart = Same feel as AMSOIL.

pickler

definitely not wasting my money on 3x3, just from personal experience and hearing other people's stories flushing usually hurts tranny. the fact that 2g owner transmission usually fails after ATF change is proly cause of the flushing. none of the cars i ever owned i have done flushing. i just drain and fill it up with new fluid. i had a '94 Mitsubishi galant with 400,000km or 250k miles and i think i only did ATF changes every 50k miles and it was always drain/fill. then i got a '00 corolla with lots of miles i did drain/fill with dexron 3, it was always silky smooth after. i only changed the ATF once on the corolla lols and it was fine. as for my TL never had it done, will do drain/refill probably tomorrow with z1.

btw im not saying ignore regular maintainace, just that don't waste your money much. drain/refil every 2 years and flush every 100k miles.

01tl4tl

gonna disagree pickler,,,the TL trans is unlike your past cars and has its own issues

NEVER FLUSH with a powered machine on the TL

do the gravity drain and refill however many times you are comfortable with on older trans,
and starting early on a rebuilt trans wont hurt anything!!
every year or 2 do at least 3 qts is my opinion for rebuilt units

or the engine running method, with hose from trans into a drain can
while adding fresh fluid thru filler hole,
a little tricky- but effective at actually replacing the fluid without massive mixing of old and new

01tl4tl

I think many `post machine flush failures` can be traced to machines use of Dextron3 atf.
the very fluid whose use in the smallest amounts used `in an emergency top off`
--REQUIRES a full 12 qt 3x3 (read the owner book) to get the bad fluid out!!
dex3 eats TL trans in a hurry,,minutes to days average life afterwards

the good news to the consumer is: places that do that= owe you a trans for using not just crummy fluids--- but the actual `NO USE` spec dex3 fluid
the stuff the book says NEVER to use!!!!

other times its waiting till 100kmiles when its too late and then trying massive fluid change by any method will cook the trans..or remove all sources of grip

Before doing that on 100k trans, I would send a 3 ounce atf sample to `blackstone labs` for analysis of whats loose and floating around in the oil,,a lot of clutch bits or metal that shouldnt be wearing? = not gonna do the fluid change at that point~

Everything ok, just worn out fluid not lubricating?? go ahead and start a fluid replacement with your choice of brands

Question for the fluid changers- anyone have the very slight shudder shift UP into 2nd and 3rd at low rpm in D5? like a wave feeling or small speed bumps in a row?
does the new honda or redline fix that?
or do I need to clean or replace the shift selenoids/pressure switches??

40kmiles on warranty unit from 2007,,disclosure-prob started at 5kmiles and stayed mostly the same feeling all this time,,
have done no fluid changes and deciding new honda or red now--thanks for any actual experience--not good guess of what should happen

Neejay

iTrader: (3)

Should I use the DW-1 instead of Redline D4?

I just had my transmission replaced with a 07 AV6 transmission (and unfortunately, I *think* they did a power flush since it was a junk yard motor/tranny)

Anyway, they used Z1 or whatever was currently available from the dealer in March. I currently have 3 bottles of Redline D4 sitting...

Skirmich

To "01tl4tl"..
Nope I didnt have that shudder you mentioned, What I did had a Lag between 1st > 2nd that was very noticeable, Any other shift was OK to a lil Laggy. But not Anymore with the DW-1.

To "Neejay"
If you already have Redline I would go for it, From what I read its the best Oil around...

But if you have the Original Trans (Like I Do) I wouldnt waste alot of Money on Oil since it will fail Eventually with ANY OIL you just make it more comfortable before the Unavoidable, I Have read that the Redline is very Expensive!.
Anyway my new (well used) And Shiny 07 AV6 5Spd is Sitting here waiting for my Current Transmission to Fail LOL...

tomf

To "01tl4tl"..

Yes !! That's exactly what i have... I just received my small bottle from blackstone labs yesterday...

I will get that sample and send in. I will report later on what they find.

I have 155k miles orig trans.. i do a 3 qt drain and fill about every 10-12k miles. Standard ATF Z1

pickler

that's exactly what I do bout at longer intervals which I'm going to shorten because of it's age. I drained and filled with DW1 yesterday and shifting is much smoother now. only thing 1-2 gears and 3-2 are still a bit jerky. but car shifts much smoother now.

Skirmich

[deleted]

Skirmich

Im on my Second change now 3.5x2 wow 4 and 5th gear are now imperceptible they have dissapeared!!

Tranny runs even cooler and ATF smell is starting to change to the Chemical smell I mentioned before.

Ill post more Info in the next 20 Miles.

Lchan

Where do they sell the DW-1? Can i get at auto stores or only at dealerships? I'm thinking about trying myself.

Skirmich

Since its A Newer OEM ATF most likely Online Retailers will take longer to have Stock. To but it right now its a Dealership trip! 9.60bucks/e

01tl4tl

honda dealer of course,,
and smaller `Import Parts specialty shops` will carry the honda fluid line as well as redline and amz if you prefer

Lchan

Thanks, I will see if dealership will sell me some. On another note, is there a better way to remove the drain plug? other than using the 3/8" ratchet. I'm pretty sure they over torqued it. I tried using a cheater bar but it wouldn't break loose.

Neejay

iTrader: (3)

Damn, now Im wondering if I should even bother with this Redline D4 or not. haha

01tl4tl

if you have it D4 on the garage shelf waiting for a project--use it

stuck drain plug--spray wd or penetrating lube on there overnight
use a breaker bar and a cheater bar/tube over that to increase your leverage
Or Use a hammer on breaker bar!! when in doubt use more force
Torque spec is 29 foot lbs same as oil drain plug for referance

Tip- on stuck on tight bolts in general--try to tighten it slightly -then loosen
that often breaks any corrosive bond from dissimilar metals

Tip- apply plug anto sieze to threads for next time!

01tl4tl

Lchan: the honda dealer will happily sell you whatever fluid you want--for about 2 dollars less than acura for the exact same product!

parts dept is in the business of selling parts!

Neejay

iTrader: (3)

yeah, I have 3 bottles of it for now. Cool.

swllen_cu

iTrader: (1)

I get a case of DW-1 for $75 =)

pickler

gah my shifting is still rough DW-1

Skirmich

To "pickler":
Well you got the Original Tranny cant expect too much, My trans is 1/2 Year old...
Is a Miracle by itself your still running your original Trans no Tranny fluid can make Wonders by now.

pickler

not all the gears are rough, its fine on the highway 3-5 gear. but on the streets cruising at 25-30mph is a pain in the ass. The car engages in random engine braking which i think is cause by downshifting into 2nd and 1st. very annoying and again a real pain in the ass in traffic. Who gave acura the idea of using the tranny to stop the car? no wonder the trannys are failing left and right, brakes should be used for stopping not gears. because of this im using the SS mode everytime i drive to get it in overdrive and disable grade logic control.