Unlimitationz

I am about to change my oil filter, air filter, engine oil, ATF, spark plug, and spark plug wire. Thats it for now atleast.

My question is, do I have to go to a Honda dealership and tell them to change my ATF? Or can I just buy some ATF from Honda and them go somewhere else to change it?

I don't want to spend so much at the dealership because you know they aren't exactly a wallet saver

SoOHiGH

do it yourself. buy the tube thing from a autozone and fill her up.

omgdudewtf

Drain the ATF. Fill the trans with ATF. Done. Just like changing oil y0!

darrinbrewer

iTrader: (1)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by omgdudewtf &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Drain the ATF. Fill the trans with ATF. Done. Just like changing oil y0!</TD></TR></TABLE>

do that 3 times, so buy about 9 qt's ..fill.. drive through all gears 5 times, repeat, and repeat,and clean the metal shavings off the magnetic drain plug each time, you want the fluid to look like new each time you drain, if it's crappy, do it again. honda auto trannys have no kind of filter to change, so the above methed is the best to prolong the life of your transmission

sharkcohen

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by darrinbrewer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">drive through all gears 5 times</TD></TR></TABLE>
(there's only 4)

Eddiebx

i think he meant drive through all 4 gears 5 times, , or maybe he included reverse

sharkcohen

ROFL I totally read that wrong.

darrinbrewer

iTrader: (1)

yeah, i meant drive, through all the gears of the tranny, stop, take off and do it again, like 5 times

Unlimitationz

So buy some ATF from Honda?

darrinbrewer

iTrader: (1)

YES definanatly buy from honda..i know you have to buy powersteering fluid formulated specifically for honda's, but i've always used honda ATF, not sure if any kind will work..

sharkcohen

Amsoil ATF would be one alternative.

mattmw88

Honda Genuine ATF fluid is like 7.29/qt at thehonda dealership in madison...

Where can you get amsoil, online? how much longer is it supposed to last in hondas? Is there any additives needed to convert the fluid to the honda formula?

MC_HondaRacing

I've used the Mobil 1 synthetic ATF since about 10k miles. I did the complete flush, and I've done a drain and refill with each oil change (7500 to 10000miles). I'm at 75k miles now without any problems.

The Mobil 1 ATF is only $4/qt.

darrinbrewer

iTrader: (1)

find it online and order it..i don't remember it being that high..mid $5 range i think..it's a special formula for hondas..i guess thats why honda is the only one that makes it..if you dont change it...you'll start slippin..that that tranny will slip from then on out..it's just a 1 time a year thing for most people anyway..

TimeRacer

What else other than Honda ATF contains the Z1 additive that Honda puts in their ATF? I wouldn't fill my Honda auto tranny (if I had one) with anything other than Genuine Honda. Same with PS fluids as well.

K-Spec

iTrader: (1)

You change your tranny fluid every time you change your oil?
If so, that's fkn expensive!

K-Spec

iTrader: (1)

You really flush the tranny fluid 3 times and spend 9 quarts?
Isn't that overdoing it?

MC_HondaRacing

No, I don't flush the system every time. I did the first time, but at each oil change I just pull the plug and let 2~3 quarts drain out. Tops, that's $12 each time.... Not a big expense if it keeps the transmission working. Also, since there is no serviceable filter on the Honda transmissions, this is the only way to keep it clean. At 75k miles, I've only done about 7 or 8 oil changes, so this hasn't even cost me $100. Pretty cheap in my opinion.

sharkcohen

Amsoil claims that their ATF meets Z1 requirements and is fully compatible in Honda trannies. I haven't tried it though. For the price, I might go ahead and try the Mobil 1 ATF. MC, does it say that it is Z1 compatible on the bottle?

MC_HondaRacing

Mobil doesn't make any claims on their packaging about Honda Z1 compatability. They only claim mercon/dexron compliance.

Honda's mission with their own transmission fluids is to develop a single common fluid that will work in all of their transmissions.... That is auto, manual, and CVT. A friend of mine who used to work at Honda on transmissions sites several fluid evaluations where dexron comliant fluids were tested in the Honda transmissions, and it increased the torque holding capacity of the transmission by a noticeable amount. It also produced much firmer shifts. Basically... if you want to tow a trailer behind your Odyssey or Pilot, you should switch to a dexron fluid. The tests on the dexron fluids also showed no difference in durability.

I've been using it for 65k miles, and I'm happy with Mobil 1's product.

sharkcohen

Hrmmm, sounds like a dexron fluid would be better for my supercharger setup.

Any suggestions on flushing the fluid at home? I have 60k miles on it and have never done a full fluid change for the tranny, just drain and fills. I would hate to drop the pan, messy messy.

K-Spec

iTrader: (1)

Ya, I use Mobil1 ATF and was wondering how you can flush it? I've been using the Mobil1 for about 30k+ miles now and it superb!

MC_HondaRacing

Just follow the flushing instructions in the manual. There's no pan to pull, just a drain plug with a 3/8" square drive. Each time you pull the plug you get about 3 quarts of fluid. The capacity of the transmission is about 6 quarts, if I remember correctly. Pull the plug, and refill three times, and the system is as flushed as it's going to get. Drive around the block between drain and fill cycles to circulate the new fluid through, and dilute the old fluid. There's really not much to it.