I just gave Honda a call to ask about changing out my MTF during my first (5k) maintenance.

"I wouldn't recommend it – in fact I wouldn't recommend anything other than Honda MTF fluid. What are you thinking of putting in there?"

"Maybe like Amsoil Synchromesh."

"Yeah I wouldn't recommend it. It has a lot of wax in it that will decrease the longevity and increase the wear on your car. Plus it would void your warranty."

"What, the warranty on my transmission?"

"Yes."

Any of you guys have more detail on this? Really? I have to use HONDA MTF or I'm voiding my warranty? Seems like total BS to me. And haven't we already established that Synchromax/Synchromesh are much better fluids?
Thanks in advance!

 

Its kind of a gray area of the warranty to be honest. You could PROBABLY get away with using other fluid but youre better off doing it yourself and not letting your dealership know you did so. If the transmission blows up two weeks later they probably cant prove that a different fluid was to blame... whereas if you have them put aftermarket fluid in and the trans takes a **** you'll more than likely be SOL.


Just play it smart and dont even involve the dealership if you end up swapping out the fluid.

 

but how would a fluid like MTF ruin a tranny? non-honda engine oil doesn't ruin it warranty so why should mtf? and shouldn't amsoil, redline, motul, etc. be BETTER than oem fluid? when i put amsoil in mine at the dealership, they did not have a problem with it nor did they say it would ruin my warranty.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by reaper702 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">but how would a fluid like MTF ruin a tranny?</TD></TR></TABLE>

It probably wouldnt but its still grounds for voiding the warranty on the transmission.

 

like TRE said.. show up now with a tranny grind and see what they try and blame it on... it won't be anything from the factory, they'll point the finger at that tranny fluid change they did for you and have on record.

I changed mine out to the new 07 Honda MTF @ 4k miles and have noticed a little difference.. smoother going into gears.. cold morning stuff people complain about hasn't been noticeable since then... I don't know how much of a difference it really makes though..

 

What about just having it changed at an independant shop (i.e. I don't want to do it myself)?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by L-Dawg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What about just having it changed at an independant shop (i.e. I don't want to do it myself)?</TD></TR></TABLE>

You could do it that way, but its really not that hard to DIY.

 

I think that's ridiculous that it would void the tranny warranty. Like the OP mentioned if alternate engine oil doesn't void the warranty why should the MTF?? Especially if it's supposed to be better than the OEM stuff.

That's bogus....sounds like their spoon-feeding you some cow dung based on the advisor's response to your question. If it were true that ANY fluid would void the warranty then why would he even ask "what are you thinking of putting in there?"

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TRE_ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

You could do it that way, but its really not that hard to DIY. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I wish everyone didn't have that freakin' mentality. I'm scared to death to work on my own car, plus I have no tools. -rep for me

P.S. I didn't mean that in a mean way, I just wish I had that same confidence. Anyone in the Portland area wanna help me learn this stuff?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RICO_ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think that's ridiculous that it would void the tranny warranty. Like the OP mentioned if alternate engine oil doesn't void the warranty why should the MTF?? Especially if it's supposed to be better than the OEM stuff.

That's bogus....sounds like their spoon-feeding you some cow dung based on the advisor's response to your question. If it were true that ANY fluid would void the warranty then why would he even ask "what are you thinking of putting in there?"</TD></TR></TABLE>

exactly! plus wouldn't they have to PROVE the fluid caused the tranny to malfunction?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by reaper702 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

exactly! plus wouldn't they have to PROVE the fluid caused the tranny to malfunction? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Thats the thing... if you have the DEALERSHIP install NON-Honda fluid and your transmission fails after the fact you'll have a hell of a time getting it covered because they know it had the "incorrect" MTF in it. You can totally avoid this and still be under warranty without a question if you A) install the fluid yourself B) have an independent shop install the fluid.

Yes its stupid that a fluid can "void" a warranty but thats just how it is... and how each dealership deals with it varies greatly

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by L-Dawg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I wish everyone didn't have that freakin' mentality. I'm scared to death to work on my own car, plus I have no tools. -rep for me </TD></TR></TABLE>

Hell I don't blame you, I'm an ASE certified master tech and I hate changing my own damn oil, I just drag my oil and filter of choice and pay a shop 10 bucks to do it for me. Its faster, smoother, and a WHOLE lot cleaner, jacking up the stealth and changing out the oil is a pain in the ***, 10 is worth keeping my clothes and my garage clean.

If your a car enthusiast but not very mechanically inclined there is nothing wrong with having a shop install things for you, you know its done right, saves you time, and almost always come with a warranty

 

it's easier than doing an oil change. do it yourself, there's no possible way u can overfill and there's diys for you.

 

I really have to put this amsoil in the tranny is it just me or like every 4 or 5 throws form 1st into 2cd its notchy its bs i really hate it i am def clutching all the way anyone ?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RICO_ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think that's ridiculous that it would void the tranny warranty. Like the OP mentioned if alternate engine oil doesn't void the warranty why should the MTF?? Especially if it's supposed to be better than the OEM stuff.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Engine oil is all made to the same basic specs. Specific fluids such as auto and manual transmission fluids vary between almost every car brand. They test and design specific fluids for their own application. They have no way of knowing how a part will respond to a different fluid so in reality they can deny you warranty coverage on that part if it has a abnormal failure with a non-honda reccomended fluid in it. I have seen a few auto transmissions with dextron or other types of fluid but still within warranty have a claim denied due to using wrong fluid.

Simple solution is to just use the Honda MTF if you care about your warranty. If you don't like it, it's your risk.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxmatt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Engine oil is all made to the same basic specs. Specific fluids such as auto and manual transmission fluids vary between almost every car brand. They test and design specific fluids for their own application. They have no way of knowing how a part will respond to a different fluid so in reality they can deny you warranty coverage on that part if it has a abnormal failure with a non-honda reccomended fluid in it. I have seen a few auto transmissions with dextron or other types of fluid but still within warranty have a claim denied due to using wrong fluid.

Simple solution is to just use the Honda MTF if you care about your warranty. If you don't like it, it's your risk. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah but I thought transmission fluid such as synchromesh was weighted similar to oil (ex. 5W-30). If the exact same specs are used as from Honda, why would it cause any problems?

Im not sure that's why i'm asking these questions. It just doesn't really add up that using the correct type of Mobil 1 Synthetic oil in your engine doesn't void your warranty....but yet using a different MTF with the same specs as Honda does.

 

Guy at the dealership said my warrenty would be voided if I changed my own oil. Talked to another guy at the service department, and he said, "what kind of idot told you that"" and I responded, "your coworker." ROFL! Dealerships are so stingy with their warrenty that they're willing to lie to you.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RICO_ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> It just doesn't really add up that using the correct type of Mobil 1 Synthetic oil in your engine doesn't void your warranty....but yet using a different MTF with the same specs as Honda does.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Motor oils have a standard set by the API. Using a different brand will not make a significant difference as they are all basicly the same kind of standards like gas. Even though the MTF may be weighted similar does not mean it's the same as Honda or Syncromesh. Different companies use different additives, weights, and detergents for their own designs.

Honda spends millions of dollars and has top engineers to figure out what fluid is best for your car. If you are not content with their fluid and keeping a warranty then do what you want.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxmatt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Honda spends millions of dollars and has top engineers to figure out what fluid is best for your car. If you are not content with their fluid and keeping a warranty then do what you want. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Oh i see. Well i'm content with keeping my warranty.....but i'm NOT content with screwing up my 3rd gear because it keeps popping out and Honda not doing anything about it. I've confronted them about the issue but according to them they can't "duplicate the problem". Maybe it's their tranny fluid maybe not. Don't know.

All i know is that people have seen much better results using the AMSOIL....but if it'll void the warranty I guess i'll just settle with Honda's fluid.

Thanx for the info!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RICO_ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Oh i see. Well i'm content with keeping my warranty.....but i'm NOT content with screwing up my 3rd gear because it keeps popping out and Honda not doing anything about it. I've confronted them about the issue but according to them they can't "duplicate the problem". Maybe it's their tranny fluid maybe not. Don't know.

All i know is that people have seen much better results using the AMSOIL....but if it'll void the warranty I guess i'll just settle with Honda's fluid.

Thanx for the info! </TD></TR></TABLE>

expletive that **** man, don't give in! i am keeping my amsoil because honda's millions of dollars + 'top' engineers just figured how expletive the tranny up with their shitty fluid. when the time is up to change the fluid again i will ask for them to put the honda pos fluid in then switch it out myself back to amsoil

 

I just called Aamco to ask them what kind of fluids they have available (want them to change mine with Amsoil) and the guy was like "Honda's is already partially synthetic, you're not gonna notice any difference if you change it...if your shifts are sometimes notchy you should take it to Honda...blahblahblah"

What ever happened to just freakin' answering my question and doing the service I ask for?