eddieE

I have been researching the transmission fluid change interval for the 2010 civic. It seems that most are saying 30k miles is a good time to change the fluid. The car has about 60k miles and the maintenance minder has not told me to change the fluid. I'm leaning toward changing it now.

I have also heard that if the trans. fluid has not been changed by 100k miles, you will cause more problems then you solve by changing it. Fair enough. But, 60k miles is not "too late" to change the fluid I assume?.

I spoke with the dealership and they said normally they will drain and refill. This means only about 2.5qrt. is replaced, which is what the dealership does normally when the minder calls for trans. fluid change. He said if I want a total replacement, they will drain and fill 3x (run the car on the lift between each filling) and this is considered a full replacement of the transmission fluid.

Is it worth doing the 3x fill and drain? $ not being a factor. Will it be better to just replace 2.5 qt. and be done with or go for the full replacement. Will it harm the trany if I do the 3x fill/drain for the same reasons it is bad to change the fluid after 100k miles?

Thanks.

m_shake

I honestly think you'd be fine, I've done the same one my gf's 99 accord v6 (one of Hondas worst trannys) without any issues. I'd never buy an auto but if I did I def keep up on the fluid intervals.

eddieE

I would never buy auto for the same reason. This is my fiance's car and I want to make sure she has the best chance of running it to 200k miles. I will always drive a M/T since I hate the issues seen with A/T, but after reading about the 3rd gear problems on here (the first I heard of them), makes me think there is no safe bet when it comes to cars.

The honda dealer wanted $300 for drain/fill 3x. I think I will do it myself, even though its a pain to jack it up, drain/fill, drive, jack up, and repeat.

97emsedan

Save yourself the chances of ruining your fiance's car. Take it to the dealer and have them do the flush and fill. You can do some serious damage shadetreeing the tranny yourself. My two cents.

eddieE

Thanks. Point taken. I have been changing my own engine oil for years. From what I have gathered, transmission fluid change is about the same difficulty, but since I haven't done it yet, I don't know. Is there anything in particular to that makes the job more dangerous/difficult then an engine oil drain and fill?

Thanks

SlammedDC2teg

Plus, auto trans fluids must be flushed which takes up to 9qts of fluid, that's why it cost so much.

eddieE

The dealer said they drain and replace it. That is 2.5 qts of fluid. They said that is standard. They don't do power flushes, which I heard are not recommended for Honda.

m_shake

What I've done before with the woman's accord is drain and fill, drive a couple miles and drain and fill again.

97emsedan

Auto trannies have a filter in them as well, and sometimes if you mess up the filter swap, you can get a drain pan gasket leak... we don't want that happening when we are flying down the highway any time soon do we?!!

av911

The AT filter is not part of Honda's maintenance items.

Changing the ATF is easier than changing the oil, why would anyone pay a dealership that kind of money? And that's 1x drain and fill!!

I do it every 40K miles.