Our 2001 Accord has the trouble prone 6th generation 4 speed automatic transmission. My sister used to own the car and the original transmission started acting up at 84K miles so she had Honda replace it. After 40K miles, the transmission is still working well. How often should I change out the transmission fluid, and is this job difficult? Also, does Honda use their own type of ATF, like they do with power steering fluid?

This car is in really nice condition, and is for my son and I am hoping it can last him though college without needing another $3000+ transmission rebuild, so any tips on getting the kmost life out the current transmission would be appreciated.

 

At 40k miles you are due for a drain and refill. Typical wisdom calls for Honda ATF-Z1. Drain plug is on bottom of trans and refill plug is on top. Takes 2.6 quarts.

 

ATF should be replaced every 15k miles for A/T and 30k miles for M/T according to the manual. However, I both A/T and M/T every 15k miles

 

Thanks all. In any case, it sounds like it's due. I checked out TF-Z1 and since it was discontinued is getting hard to find. Does anyone know if DW-1 (which is synthetic?) in mixable with Z1? I found some genuine Z1 online but it will cost $42 to get 4 quarts shipped.

 

The DW1 is Hondas new fluid. Its hard to find z-1. Both are backwards compatible. As stated above, change every 15k.

 

If I were to drain the ATF and add DW-1 to it, is it a problem if there is still some Z1 in the transmission or would it all have to be flushed out first?

 

no need to flush,doing a drain and fill on a honda auto is easier than changing the oil!

 

No. You can use the new DW1 in older transmissions but you cannot put the old z-1 in a 2013 Honda Accord automatic transmission.

 

Thanks. I can get a case of DW-1 on Amazon for $98- looks like the best price I can find. After 40K miles on the rebuilt tranny, would irt be wise to do a refill & drain 3X flush or just a refill. The fluid in there now looks OK (bright red color). I want to keep from having to replace the tranny again for a good long time.

 

$98 for a case and you have to wait for it?

Heck, where I'm at carquest sells this all day long for $7.99. I know that is only like $2 less but you don't have to wait for shipping....or pay shipping.

Then if you go to the local dealer and talk with the parts guy I bet you can do even better . Again the local dealer around me is the best price I have found....I'll use carquest if it is the weekend and I need a quart or two (replaced the rad and thought I had some DW-1 trans fluid in the garage, I was wrong)

 

Well I changed the fluid today. Quite easy once I put the car up on stands to change the engine oil at the same time. The fluid that came out (I believe this is the original fluid that came with the Honda rebuilt transmission 40K miles ago) was still a ice bright red, but there was a decent coating of shavings on the magnetic drain plug, so I'm sure it was due for a change anyway. I'm thinking of doing another change in a few thousand miles (which would theoretically leave the transmission with about 80% of the new DW-1 fluid. Now back to the power steering noise that also returned- but that's in another thread...