Honda DW1 performance in cold weather

[mclasser]

My Accord and Pilot both have DW1 in them. With the frigid temperatures lately, I've noticed the shift quality has changed in both cars. In city driving, the shifts are more firm and noticeable. It isn't anything serious but definitely a contrast from the smooth and seamless shifts both cars usually have. The temperatures I'm talking are the 20s and lower. Initially, I thought maybe the fluid hadn't fully warmed up but I experience the same thing when driving around town after returning from long drives on the highway.

The Pilot has 15K on the factory fill ATF and the Accord had a D&F done a few thousand miles back. The common denominator in both cars is DW1 (and Honda transmissions, of course). For comparison, the temps today were in the low-30s and both cars went back to relatively smoother shifting again. I'm eager to hear how others using DW1 would rate its performance in the current cold temps. I thought DW1 was supposed to provide better cold weather performance compared to Z1...

 

[antiqueshell]

Firm shifts are actually better for reduced wear and tear on the friction surfaces in the transmission=longer life.. The smoother shift the more wear on those friction surfaces.

 

[Georgiey22]

Own a 2012 Accord SE with 63K miles and 2013 Acura TL with 16K miles and both have fresh DW1. D&F was done 2 months ago on both vehicles with 15K mile intervals and shifts are firm even in our tropical warm weather of 75 degrees in California. Just my opinion however sounds normal, enjoy your Hondas they are great cars.

 

[gregk24]

I think its a Honda trait, and its a good one! We have 3 GM's, an Uplander, Silverado, and a Park Avenue. All three of those have buttery smooth shifts when the temperature drops, yet when the fluid warms up they arent as smooth, yet they are still slow shifting. My Accord has firmer quicker shifts when its cold, this will equate to longer clutch pack life vs if the transmission had slow and smoother shifts. When the Accords transmission warms up, the shifts smooth out however they are still quick shifts.

 

[zpinch]

My '03 CRV has 1/3 Amsoil SS ATF and the rest DW-1. Since replacing the 1/3 Amsoil, the shifting is noticeably more consistent when the temps drop. Before when running pure DW-1, when very cold out, and before the transmission warms up, the locking torque converter would not lock sometimes, now with Amsoil in there, it has not done this.

I plan to replace all the fluid with Amsoil soon. DW-1 is good stuff though, much better than the outgoing Z1 fluid.

 

[Hokiefyd]

In my experience with Honda transmissions and various transmission fluids, these transmissions are more sensitive to fluid type than other transmissions I've owned have been, but I have not noticed them to be more sensitive than normal to temperature. You may find that as the transmission temperature warms up, your shifts will smooth out, and perhaps quicken as well. I find this with ours. On hot Honda fluid, our transmissions shift with the snap of a finger. On colder fluid, it can take longer...or be more jerky. I've observed this with nearly every automatic I've owned, from older Turbo Hydramatics from GM, to Mopar 41TEs in minivans, to an Aisin 6-speed in a Camry.

I've had mixed results with other brands of fluids in our Honda transmissions, and I stick with DW-1 now.

 

[MalfunctionProne]

I don't like DW-1...

 

[Chris Meutsch]

Mine do/does the same exact thing. I "only" have 215k on my CR-V and it shifts just fine at 0 degrees (yesterday, today, tomorrow, in the past, etc).

It's fine.

 

[LotI]

In the severe cold lately, the first few shifts of the Accord are firm and positive. Once warmed up they are "normal".

 

[threeputtpar]

Originally Posted By: LotI
In the severe cold lately, the first few shifts of the Accord are firm and positive. Once warmed up they are "normal".


Same deal here in NE WI, where it was -13F this morning. The van had 100% DW-1 with an initial D&F at 5k miles, and the shifts are crisp and firm at first and go back to normal within a couple of miles.

Keep in mind that DW-1 in the US is not a full synthetic, only in Canada.

 

[EdwardC]

I think my element came with Z-1, but has had one drain and fill with DW-1 so far. This morning at a little under 0 degrees Fahrenheit, I actually didn't notice any hard shifting. I did notice heavier steering though. I've done periodic reservoir vacuum and refills on the psf, might be time to do it again.

 

[Chris Meutsch]

Originally Posted By: EdwardC
I did notice heavier steering though. I've done periodic reservoir vacuum and refills on the psf, might be time to do it again.


I had that yesterday at 5 degrees also. Once it warms up it's OK.