A Plug For Changing ATF Early

[wgtoys]

On modern vehicles it seems that more are hit by the automatic transmission failing as the first really big expense than are by major engine failure. Even so, most automakers compete for bragging rights for the longest ATF change intervals.

On my Acura TSX the book says 60k miles for extreme duty or to just wait for the maintenance minder to nag you someday. Well, a few days ago I ignored the manual and changed the fluid for the first time at 34k miles. I didn't expect to notice anything, but in fact the shifts post-change are both smoother and cleaner than they were before. The fluid which came out was brown and had a slight odor. I don't generally push the car hard, so this isn't from playing boy racer.

Anyway, with the cost of new automatic transmissions, changing the fluid at least every 30k miles seems like a wise thing to do.

P.S. I used Honda/Acura original ATF-Z1 seeing as the car is still in warranty. Also I did the drain, fill, drive, drain, etc. routine three times to get most of the fluid changed over.

 

[EricZoom]

I just do a Drain-Refill with Redline D4 every other oil change on my Mazda6. That combined with my ATX cooler should be enough to keep it going.

 

[02zx9r]

i beieve the general consensus on here by most mechanincs or people who really like to maintain their cars is 30K intervals for all fluids.

Eric-how long are your oci's?

 

[JTK]

Yep, especially when it's a Honda trans with fill and drain plugs to make the job a super easy DIYer. Your Acura most likely has a return line ATF filter like most of the Honda 5spd autos, so you may want to change that sometime between now and the next ATF-Z1 swap.

Joel

 

[bubbatime]

Does that Acura TSX have a transmission dip stick? I heard that they dont???

 

[cos]

I do a "drain 'n fill" every 10K on my Ford Escape. Overkill? Probably, but I feel much better about the trans, and for $8 it's no-brainer.

 

[Kestas]

You're wise to maintain the trans fluid in the Acura. These cars are know for their transmissions that often need to be prematurely replaced. They'll probably last through warranty, but you want them to do better than that.

 

[EricZoom]

Originally Posted By: 02zx9r
i beieve the general consensus on here by most mechanincs or people who really like to maintain their cars is 30K intervals for all fluids.

Eric-how long are your oci's?



I just started a 1 year OCI using Amsoil ASM 0w20. I only do about 8k miles a yr. on my car. I'll see how well this oil does.

The Jatco ATX in my 6 is also known for it's heat issues, so the drain-refills and cooler in my case is not overkill.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: JTK
Yep, especially when it's a Honda trans with fill and drain plugs to make the job a super easy DIYer. Your Acura most likely has a return line ATF filter like most of the Honda 5spd autos, so you may want to change that sometime between now and the next ATF-Z1 swap.

Joel

It probably does. I took a picture of one on a 09 TSX:

Originally Posted By: bubbatime
Does that Acura TSX have a transmission dip stick? I heard that they dont???

All Honda automatics have a dipstick. The 4-cyl models can be refilled through the dipstick, but on the V6 models you need to fill the unit through the fill plug.

 

[Audi Junkie]

I changed my '07 Accord 2x to AMSoil ATF about 10k. I'm at 18k and was going to do it again, but decide to wait for a year then do 1x a year in spring.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Kestas
You're wise to maintain the trans fluid in the Acura. These cars are know for their transmissions that often need to be prematurely replaced. They'll probably last through warranty, but you want them to do better than that.

There seems to be little correlation between fluid changes and transmission failures in the failure prone Honda automatics.

The 4-cyl 5-speed automatics have been bulletproof.

 

[BuickGN]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: Kestas
You're wise to maintain the trans fluid in the Acura. These cars are know for their transmissions that often need to be prematurely replaced. They'll probably last through warranty, but you want them to do better than that.

There seems to be little correlation between fluid changes and transmission failures in the failure prone Honda automatics.

The 4-cyl 5-speed automatics have been bulletproof.


Are the transmissions different or is the extra power from the V6 killing the transmissions? If it's the latter, I should be good since I get left by 4 cylinder accords all the time from redlights.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: BuickGN
Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: Kestas
You're wise to maintain the trans fluid in the Acura. These cars are know for their transmissions that often need to be prematurely replaced. They'll probably last through warranty, but you want them to do better than that.

There seems to be little correlation between fluid changes and transmission failures in the failure prone Honda automatics.

The 4-cyl 5-speed automatics have been bulletproof.


Are the transmissions different or is the extra power from the V6 killing the transmissions? If it's the latter, I should be good since I get left by 4 cylinder accords all the time from redlights.

The transmissions are different, but I'm not sure what's causing the failures. BTW, the quality of the remanufactured Honda units have been VERY spotty. I was at the Acura dealership not too long ago and the service writer told me that himself.

 

[twentynine]

Changing ATF early?

Can't hurt, but their is no need to go to the extreme of changing ATF every other OCI. 5000 interval so ATF only sees 10,000 miles. Then spending the money on the super expensive Redline, shucks if you banked the money you would might have enough to rebuild the tranny when the time comes.

My maintenance book says ATF and filter change at 30,000. I change at 30,000. ATF-4 cost $3-$4, filters $35. No way I am forking over more money for a cafe ATF.

Auto trannies start wearing out the second you drive them off the lot, you can delay it, but they will not go forever. The disc, bands and stuff like that are wear items.

 

[Steelers]

No need to go crazy with the transmission services. I did a series of drain/fills every 10K (recommended engine oil change interval) beginning at 50K. That's basically a slow, cheap fluid exchange. Now I do a drain/fill every 30K. Fluid stays nice and pink without busting my wallet.

 

[Jim Allen]

I've been doing a drain& fill on out '00 Accord 3.0L V6 auto about every 15K (every other oil change). Changed it the first time at 30K. The car has only 65K at present, but most of those are highway miles so the trans doesn't get many cycles compared to a town-driven car. Thee are moments when I have worried thoughts about the trans but between the service and the almost pefect duty cycle, I doubt we'll have any trouble.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: The Critic

There seems to be little correlation between fluid changes and transmission failures in the failure prone Honda automatics.

The 4-cyl 5-speed automatics have been bulletproof.


That's the truth. The 4cyl ATs last forever regardless of service history it seems. OTOH, many an Odyssey owner paid dearly to have a Honda service dept do 30Kmi and 60K ATF-Z1 swaps, only to have transmission failure anywhere from 60Kmi on up. I've read of failures right up to the ~2004 model year and few spotty issues later on. Why Honda can't buy transaxles from Aisin-Warner, Jatco or ZF for their V6, large vehicles and just concentrate on building vehicles and engines is beyond me. BTW, great pic of that inline filter Critic! You're average servc dept doesn't know it's there!

Joel

 

[PT1]

I have always had excellent results from doing a fluid exchange at 30k intervals with whatever fluid is speced by the manufacturer. Never had a failure yet and my daily drivers all get lots of stop & go driving. I know that fluid exchanges won't solve mechanical problems. But having a fluid related transmission failure is really stupid since the cost of fluid replacement is so minimal in comparison to a trans rebuild. Plus it is really the only maintenance you can do.

 

[Saturn_Fan]

I just drain the ATF through drain plug and measure exactly how much comes out in a one gallon jug. I then take a fresh clean gallon jug and fill it with new ATF to the same measure as the other jug and put into car. No more guessing games with automatic dipsticks, although I do check it double check. All things considered, if the car isn't leaking ATF and is in good shape, has an ATF drain plug, then this is very fast and foolproof, unless I'm missing something. I do the above method x3 and that gets me to around 90% fresh fluid in there.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: Saturn_Fan
I just drain the ATF through drain plug and measure exactly how much comes out in a one gallon jug. I then take a fresh clean gallon jug and fill it with new ATF to the same measure as the other jug and put into car. No more guessing games with automatic dipsticks, although I do check it double check. All things considered, if the car isn't leaking ATF and is in good shape, has an ATF drain plug, then this is very fast and foolproof, unless I'm missing something. I do the above method x3 and that gets me to around 90% fresh fluid in there.


This does get the majority of the old fluid out. However I contend that a Shadtree Mechanic cooling line flush is a more cost effective way to replace the ATF. When you are doing a 3rd drain and refill, you are dumping a lot of almost new expensive ATF to only get a slighly higher percentage of new ATF in your tranny.

If you do a "refresh" of 2-3QTs every 15K-20K miles that is a different story.