Acura Legend ATF recommendation

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Hello, I am looking for ATF recommendation for 1994 Acura Legend L Sedan with 75k miles. Thanks!
 
Im assuming they called for Z1 when new... I like sticking with Honda OEM z1 or dw1, but ive also had good success with Amsoil universal atf in my old 95 Acura Integra. Shifted like new when I sold it at 20 years old with 217k on it.

P.s. a 94 legend with only 75k? That would be awesome to find. I test drove a 93 with about 100k on it back in 04 and loved it.
 
Originally Posted By: ThirdeYe
Im assuming they called for Z1 when new... I like sticking with Honda OEM z1 or dw1, but ive also had good success with Amsoil universal atf in my old 95 Acura Integra. Shifted like new when I sold it at 20 years old with 217k on it.

P.s. a 94 legend with only 75k? That would be awesome to find. I test drove a 93 with about 100k on it back in 04 and loved it.


Thank you for your recommendation. Yes, I am pretty excited about the car, a family friend had it, over the last 10 she maybe put 5k miles on it.
 
When I had my 2001 Accord I found that Castrol IMV worked very well as did VML ATF......I didn't find the Honda Z-1 to be anything special.
 
You can still find Owners Manual online. It says Dexron II. Maybe 1994 is before infamously bad Z-1 was introduced. Since you cannot buy newly made Dexron II or Z-1, might have to try Dexron III or a multi vehicle ATF.

http://owners.acura.com/vehicles/information/1994/Legend/manuals
http://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/pubs/OM/LG9494/LG9494O00158A.pdf

Preferred engine oil is 5W30
http://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/pubs/OM/LG9494/LG9494O00149A.pdf

If it misfires, look for oil in the distributor.
 
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Redline D4 will make your Honda/Acura very happy and unless you drive it extremely hard, allow you to push the drain and fill intervals. Redline is a little more expensive...especially in the case of a 3x drain and fill conversion, but worth it in my opinion. We had a 2004 Accord V6 sedan that we were able to get 188K out of the auto trans before failure of 2nd gear; even with their design flaws. I have no affiliation with Redline but have been a user in various forms since the early 90's and have no complaints.
 
How long your transmission lasts will be a combination of

How reliable the transmission is straight from the factory (the typical trans)..some are much better than others.
The odds that you got a transmission built a lot better or a lot worse than a "typical" one.
Using the proper fluid
Changing the fluid as recommended
How the car gets driven - driving styles - short trips/long trips/heavy pedal or light pedal.
Environment/ambient temps typically seen

No one thing guarantees a long transmission life. But if there was one better than the others, it's probably changing the fluid and filter frequently enough. And sometimes that's more often than what the OEM recommends.
 
Originally Posted By: thrace
You can still find Owners Manual online. It says Dexron II. Maybe 1994 is before infamously bad Z-1 was introduced. Since you cannot buy newly made Dexron II or Z-1, might have to try Dexron III or a multi vehicle ATF.

http://owners.acura.com/vehicles/information/1994/Legend/manuals
http://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/pubs/OM/LG9494/LG9494O00158A.pdf

Preferred engine oil is 5W30
http://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/pubs/OM/LG9494/LG9494O00149A.pdf

If it misfires, look for oil in the distributor.


Honda says to use DW-1 now.
 
Maxlife ATF is good stuff. Full synthetic and at a great price by the gallon at Walmart or Autozone. It will give you years of trouble-free miles
smile.gif


AAP has Castrol Full Synthetic ATF on sale 2 quarts for $11 (must buy in multiples of two). Sale ends 10/28

Originally Posted By: ThirdeYe
Im assuming they called for Z1 when new

Z1 did not exist until 2000. Before that, they just used Dexron II/III
smile.gif
 
Great, thank you for your recommendations. Maxlife ATF seems like the best choice. Before this thread I was thinking about Castrol Transmax Import ATF.
 
I've read many good things about Castrol's ATF. People like Valvoline because it works well and is real inexpensive. I wouldn't hesitate to go with either.
 
Originally Posted By: slacktide_bitog
Z1 did not exist until 2000. Before that, they just used Dexron II/III
smile.gif

I believe it existed before 2000. I have a '99 Accord that specs Z1. That suggests it existed in '96-98 when this generation was being developed.
 
Another vote for MaxLife Synthetic ATF. Valued priced in gallon size (~$18 WM online order). Anecdotally have over 150k miles between two Hondas specing Z1. IMO, should work well in your application.

75k miles on a 94 legend, wow that's low miles. Good for you.
 
Originally Posted By: thrace
You can still find Owners Manual online. It says Dexron II. Maybe 1994 is before infamously bad Z-1 was introduced. Since you cannot buy newly made Dexron II or Z-1, might have to try Dexron III or a multi vehicle ATF.

http://owners.acura.com/vehicles/information/1994/Legend/manuals
http://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/pubs/OM/LG9494/LG9494O00158A.pdf

Preferred engine oil is 5W30
http://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/pubs/OM/LG9494/LG9494O00149A.pdf

If it misfires, look for oil in the distributor.


Whats so bad about Z1? My Integra used it for years before I purchased it. Never had an issue with that transmission.

My Accord has seen only Z1 and DW1 since new, changed every 50 to 60k and its still working perfectly at 591,000 miles.
 
Originally Posted By: ThirdeYe
Originally Posted By: thrace
You can still find Owners Manual online. It says Dexron II. Maybe 1994 is before infamously bad Z-1 was introduced. Since you cannot buy newly made Dexron II or Z-1, might have to try Dexron III or a multi vehicle ATF.

http://owners.acura.com/vehicles/information/1994/Legend/manuals
http://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/pubs/OM/LG9494/LG9494O00158A.pdf

Preferred engine oil is 5W30
http://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/pubs/OM/LG9494/LG9494O00149A.pdf

If it misfires, look for oil in the distributor.


Whats so bad about Z1? My Integra used it for years before I purchased it. Never had an issue with that transmission.

My Accord has seen only Z1 and DW1 since new, changed every 50 to 60k and its still working perfectly at 591,000 miles.
I think it did have a reputation to shear wheras DW1 is a huge improvement, but yeah I think it was fine if you changed it more often than the Honda recommendation of first change at 105k...especially with the lousy 98-04 V6 autos that were basically not great under perfect circumstances
 
what a beautiful car, 94 Legend. IMO one of the classiest sedans ever built. Engine even pointed the right away in those!
 
I remember trying to talk my dad into a 94 Legend coupe in bright red. It did have cloth seats and I did spot some waves in the passenger door. Noticed some white powder on the door sill. The salesman then admitted that it was repaired after scraping the door while pulling it into the showroom. Dad didn't want it after that. Nice car though. Oh well.

 
what a beautiful car, 94 Legend. IMO one of the classiest sedans ever built. Engine even pointed the right away in those!

Since it's so dated, modern import/universal fluids might be a little hit or miss. That's probably a Dexron car. If the shifts don't feel "acura" I'd try another.
 
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