Max Utility

Hey everyone, new here. Want to give you this DIY video for anyone considering changing their ATF anytime soon. Let me know if you need any more clarification.

I did an ATF change the other day and decided to film it. Tried to make it as forward as possible. I used Honda ATF DW-1. My car is at 71k, and the fluid in there was stock.

Video: 2007 Honda Accord V6 Automatic Transmission Fluid ATF Change/ Flush - Drain and Refill - YouTube

Post Fluid Swap: I really let it rip after I changed the ATF fluid. I could instantly tell the difference in the shifty quality. Considering the transmission is pretty much right below me, I could always feel the transmission as I drove. I would feel the shifts with the old Z1/stock fluid, but after this swap I feel absolutely nothing. They're smooth, especially in the cold now. I drove with the temperature in the teens, and the transmission was nice and swift when shifting. I definitely recommend a fluid swap with the new ATF DW-1 if you feel hard shifts or drive in cold temperatures. A night and day difference in my opinion

Going forward: I think the smart thing to do would be to drain and refill the ATF fluid only once every year/15k miles. I think it beats the 30k interval that they suggest. I think having new fluid in there every year beats waiting 2-3 years and replacing all of it through multiple drain and fills. Also gives me a reason to work on the car.

I also look forward to changing the transmission filter in the future. I understand it is external, but that is a video I'll do sometime in the future.

Charlie Moua

iTrader: (3)

you have a 4cyl right?

I'm at 108K... i was thinking about changing mine out.

apexi_rsx

100k it should be flushed. i flush mine by taking the 2 hoses off the radiator putting them in a bucket. flush the pan out by draining it and refilling it to the top mark on the dip stick. put the car on jack stands and have somone hold the brake and put the car in drive. as the torque converter flushes its self u can be adding fluid at the same time or just flush 2-3 quarts and stop put it back in park refill it with 2-3 more quarts and continue to do this until the fluid is all nice and new. if u can change the filter do that as well but i know when i used to work on my d series auto there was no filter to change it was all internal. goodluck on your flush.

Charlie Moua

iTrader: (3)

where is the external filter on the 04 accord non v6?

Arthas

Where is the external filter on a V6?

GoLowDrew

Flush should not be a word we want to mix in with ATF fluid change. Some new members might take it as is, and ask a shop to flush out their transmission.

"Flushing" loosen up all the junk which will float around to cause more problems.

GoLowDrew

Thanks for making the video.

As for the OP, that smoothness from the Honda AT will soon disappear and the old clunkiness of Honda's non-planetary AT feel will come back. That's just the beauty of new fluids, I guess.

Did the OP buy this car new? And was it your first change? If this is the first, I would recommend doing a 3X change first. And then go 15K or 20K intervals. That way, you can get all the old stuff out and start fresh. 1X change will only remove 33%.

For example. If it's 100% dirty, a 1X change will bring it down to 66%. So it's still somewhat "dirty."