TonemanTLS

Hi guys, been reading a lot of threads regarding changing the transmission oil on the TL 5AT, but what about the Type S...i know it has a whole different transmission (like the RL ) than the base TL so when do i have to do the fluid change on it, do i wait for the MID to tell me or is there a mileage i should do it at...

thanks for your help

rkan121

change the fluid every 20-30k miles. some people like to wait longer to change the fluid and sometimes never because of our weak trannys. A trannsmission can become used to the old fluid in it and by changing it make cause a tranny to fail ( I dont believe it ). Honda doesnt recommend a tranny flush and i dont either for this particular car. Just do the good old 3x3 also do a search in this forum and you will find good stuff.

rkan121

sorry i thought i was in the 2g section, 3g trannys are not weak, my bad. just do a change, not sure about a flush for a 3g though

BradE

3x3 every 30k miles.

Don't wait for the MID. Fluid is cheap, a new trans isn't.

BradE

There have been failures reported on 2004's and 2005's. The trans is still a weak point for these cars, just not as bad as the 2G's.

A 3x3 every 30k miles is still a very good idea for the 3G TL.

rkan121

ic wasnt aware of the 3g's but will research as time goes on. yah you wanna take care of any tranny. you should always keep track of all your fluids soomwhere just make a note.

Izzy-Type-S

iTrader: (1)

One guy at the dealer told me every 15-20k and another tells me a service light comes on at 100k! I'm at 39k and want to do this asap, I do mixed driving highway vs city traffic. The dealer also quoted me $105 for a drain & refill! I think I go do it myself or get it done cheaper elsewhere.

TonemanTLS

That's the problem you can't get a straight answer form the dealer, one tells you wait for the light the other tells you do it every 20K, it's annoying

Izzy-Type-S

iTrader: (1)

VERY! I'm nervous about it cuz my trans went out on a 2nd gen at 95k, less than 5k under the certified coverage. I think I'm just gonna get it done soon but trying not to pay the dealer $105k. Every other shop gives me weak shitty answers like "we use an all purpose oil, works perfect in very car"...hell no.

TonemanTLS

i would then buy the oil from the dealer and do it myself in that case...seems to not be that hard but do we need to do the 3 x 3 like the the 3.2or just a flush and refill?

Izzy-Type-S

iTrader: (1)

I would just do a drain and refill for now, THEN do a flush when the service light comes on. The parts guy at the same dealership laughed when I told him the price his service guys gave me. The price is $8.95 per quart & we only need 3 on a drain & refill.

TonemanTLS

cool thanks i'll do it soon as i'm at 36k now

Izzy-Type-S

iTrader: (1)

i drive allot...mines an 08 with 39k. good luck! check back with me and let me know how it goes or if u felt anything different.

TonemanTLS

will do man thanks

StonedCL

iTrader: (1)

I flush 3 quarts and fill up with 3 fresh new quarts of honda z1 every 25K in my girls 06 TL. A 3 X 3 is overkill, just pull the drain plug for the tranny next time u change your oil and put the plug back on and then refill 3 new quarts and you will be fine!

Izzy-Type-S

iTrader: (1)

I think I'll probably get mine done the weekend after Christmas & will let you know too. Thanks.

El Banilejo

im hitting 55k miles and plan on changing mines next month also, any recommended ATF people are using? hear about mobil 1 ATF which is fully sythetic and amsoil ATF also or should stick with regular honda z1? thank!!

princelybug

iTrader: (16)

Never "flush" the transmission. Always "drain & fill". Base/Type-S only has minor differences. The fill bolt is 1/2" instead of 3/8".

Izzy-Type-S

iTrader: (1)

Thanks, never flush even when I get to like 100k miles? The plan is to drain & refill right after Christmas.

Izzy-Type-S

iTrader: (1)

Always use Honda/Acura fluids.

El Banilejo

aight thanx bro!!

VQPower37

doesnt acura recommend that you do a tranny fluid change at 60k??? i was going to wait til then is that too late?

somrltl

I just went to dealership and the service manager told me the trans fluid should be changed every 30 thousand miles. I dont know if this is a pitch but I'm getting mine done. Cheap money if it saves a transmission.

Izzy-Type-S

iTrader: (1)

Yeah but they make tons of $$$ giving you wrong info & getting people to service their cars there. You can do a drain & refill yourself, that is what is recommended about every 30k depending on your driving style & amount of stop & go traffic. The flush should only be done by a professional & I've been reading its not as recommended as we used to think. The dealer wanted to charge me $105 for a drain & refill yet the 3 quarts of trans fluid are only $8.95 at the same dealer...I'm gonna do it myself, its as simple as an oil change.

VQPower37

i dont know if the dealership duz the 3x3 fill and drain process, it would be best if you did it yourself. I think they only drain 3 quarts and put three fresh quarts in. i doubt they even touch the transmission filter

OStateBeaver

Anyone thats done this notice a difference?

RBeachTL

If you check the owner's manual you will see that the ATF replacement is determined by the MID; unless you drive in stop and go or mountainous driving. If you are in the mountains or stop and go you change at 60K and then every 30K.

What I found interesting was "replacement" is just a single drain and fill; not the 3x3.

BTW, the ATF filter can only be accessed as part of a transmission overhaul so no dealer is going to do anything with the filter.

Inaccurate

The ATF replacement is determined by the Honda/Acura Marketing Department.

BTW, auto maker's marketing departments are very aware of "cost of ownership" and the need to keep it low.

Riga89

For people who have done this service. How many quarts of ATF do I need to buy??

BigJack75

Yes it is. I bought my TL-S with 46k on it and I thought the trans shifted hard so I took it to the stealer to have them look at it. They said it was fine but I had them do a fluid change. I'm sure it was just the 1x3. It cost me 40 bucks but didn't change anything. Car still shifts hard and has lag. I'll just beat on the trans till it dies and then get a new one.

Izzy-Type-S

iTrader: (1)

I got the ATF Honda Z1 this past weekend and am going to change it tonight. We'll see how it goes, I dont think I'll have a noticeable difference.

Izzy-Type-S

iTrader: (1)

I ended up getting the drain/refill done at the dealer & I felt a noticeable difference on the way home, car shifts much smoother & easier. I have 38k miles & do allot of stop and go driving. Highly recommend! Will now do every 30k at least.

wasupdog

iTrader: (2)

i've done the 3x3 before. now i just do a 1x3 every time i change my oil. i might be wasting money on fluid but i don't trust the tranny all that much.

TonemanTLS

Hey Izzy thanks for the update, still didn't do mine, its winter here (can't do it myself) so i guess i will have it done on my next oil change

Izzy-Type-S

iTrader: (1)

No problem...hopefully your oil guys can do it, thats what I thought too and the guys at the oil place I go to either didn't feel like doing it with 30 minutes left to closing or the Acura parts are hard to get at as they said. They recommended a shady, runned down trans place down the street...so of course I ended up having the dealer do it. It does feel pretty good, I was not liking my shifting during take off...I did not drive aggressively on the way home but might push it a little more this weekend.

tl5155

Okay, Major Newbie question:

What does 3x3 mean and what does 1x3 mean?

GOOSEej

iTrader: (2)

I was a newbie once too.

Youre probably gonna get flamed for resurrecting and old thread and me for replying but just trying to help out


3x3 means you drain the tranny oil put in new oil and do it 3 times same day.
so drain oil put in new oil run through gears, drain oil, put in new oil run through gears, drain oil put in new oil.


1x3 means you drain the current tranny oil and put in new oil and do it 3 times but once every month.

i hope im right

tl5155

Goose,

Thanks for helping me out. Not sure why we'd get flamed. I would guess it's better to respond to an old thread than start a whole new one.

Seems to me that either method is a bit excessive. Why not just drain it then replace it and be done?

KJ TL-S

iTrader: (9)

Because when you drain it, you only get the amount of fluid that is not locked up in the trans, so about three quarts. Doing a 3x3 replaces a good portion of the fluid, but still not all of it.

1black_seven

iTrader: (2)

I do a drain and refill every oil change. Takes the guesswork out the change cycle.