I took my 95 Honda to Midas to get my Transmission fluid changed among other things. But when i told them I wanted my transmission fluid changed. They said with older vehicles it's safer to not change it because it may make problems occur or problems already there worse. Is this correct or are they wrong. fyi: my fluid is dirty and could use a change.

 

I've had literally dozens of old cars come in for a transmission service and leave with a slipping and/or non-operational transmission. They don't want to change it for you because some customers aren't as understanding as others and will freak out when their car runs worse after a service and when changing dirty fluid on an old car, you run the risk of that happening.

 

Midas just doesn't want to be blamed for if the transmission is so worn that the friction material suspended in the fluid is what keeps the clutch packs from slipping.
If the fluid is brown or burnt smelling, change it.
If the transmission does start slipping afterwards then it was already on its way out. Best to find that out now a few blocks from home rather than at the end of a 100-1000mile trip.

 

if u decide to change out the fluid, get urself honda ATF. it works better than the other stuff since it is made for honda trans. but u need to find the older version of it, not the newer version of it.
i cant remember what it was called. maybe someone else can chime in on what its called. if i find it i will post it later.

edit: just found it! look for honda ATF DW-1 or honda ATF Z-1. both formulated to work better for honda tranny

 

FWIW, the 90-97 ATs seem to last well into 200K miles with little to no maintenance. And even then it seems the most common fault is the filter becomes clogged due to the trans NOT being given a fluid change. Not because it has had a fluid change.

 

I hope you're right Mad Mike, mine already slips at 167, xxx km's. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the flush more harmful then just a fluid change? I have had my transmission fluid changed twice in the past 3 years and it seems to slip less after I recently got the new DW-1 ATF put in. And Op, don't take your car to places like Midas.

 

The flush is potentially harmful because it can push any floating debris into things like valves, solenoids, and small passageways. If the fluid has been changed that frequently (alot more than most) I wouldn't fear a pressure flush.

 

Been talking with one of the trans techs at the Marietta, GA Honda Service dept. He's 28 years working on AT's and the last 16 on Honda automatics.
Clogged filters are the most popular source of failures.
Overheating is next,,, usually caused by partially clogged filters.
Honda now recommends a trans fluid drain and replace with every engine oil change. It should be about 3 quarts on a simple drain and replace.
Never, never, never allow a Honda AT to be "power-flushed". There are two internal valve bodies and multipl accumulaters with valves and flow parts.
Honda ATF is not absolutely mandatory (this from the actual Honda service technician),,, any brand of import ATF (Honda, BMW, VW) are all acceptable and have the same additive that the Honda brand ATF contains. At the same time, always read the bottle and never use one with a detergent component or ingredient. The internal design will cause extreme foaming and starve the pick-up of fluid.

Mad Mike is right-on,,, Seafoam is OK for an internal cleaner and 3 quart drain and replace of fluids can sometime save one that is slipping. Unfortunately, if you do the 3 quart drain and replace 3-4 times and it doesn't clear the clutch dust goo,,, it will have to be pulled and torn down to be cleaned and replace the filter.

I have someone's '92 apart on my workbench right now doing a total rebuild. It's a relatively simple and easy trans to rebuild. It was slipping, dropping line pressure, dropping gears into neutral. Looking at the filter and valves, I don't know how anything was getting through. This trans is reported to have had random service but not neglected or abused. We had tried the drain-replace 3 times, even did and overnight soak with mineral spirits, used seafoam on the changes,,,, but it would not correct.

Moral of the saga,,, drain and replace on a routine tempo. If you do the 3-quart drain and replace along with every motor oil change, you have the best chance of keeping the filter operational. I know way more now than I ever wanted to know about Honda AT's.

 

Been talking with one of the trans techs at the Marietta, GA Honda Service dept. He's 28 years working on AT's and the last 16 on Honda automatics.
Clogged filters are the most popular source of failures.
Overheating is next,,, usually caused by partially clogged filters.
Honda now recommends a trans fluid drain and replace with every engine oil change. It should be about 3 quarts on a simple drain and replace.
Never, never, never allow a Honda AT to be "power-flushed". There are two internal valve bodies and multipl accumulaters with valves and flow parts.
Honda ATF is not absolutely mandatory,,, any brand of import ATF (Honda, BMW, VW) are all acceptable and have the same additive that the Honda brand ATF contains. At the same time, always read the bottle and never use one with a detergent component or ingredient. The internal design will cause extreme foaming and starve the pick-up of fluid.

Mad Mike is right-on,,, Seafoam is OK for an internal cleaner and 3 quart drain and replace of fluids can sometime save one that is slipping. Unfortunately, if you do the 3 quart drain and replace 3-4 times and it doesn't clear the clutch dust goo,,, it will have to be pulled and torn down to be cleaned and replace the filter.

I have someone's '92 apart on my workbench right now. It was slipping, dropping line pressure, dropping gears into neutral. Looking at the filter and valves, I don't know how anything was getting through. This trans is reported to have had random service but not neglected or abused. We had tried the drain-replace 3 times, even did and overnight soak with mineral spirits, used seafoam on the changes,,,, but it would not correct.

Moral of the saga,,, drain and replace on a routine tempo. If you do the 3-quart drain and replace along with every motor oil change, you have the best chance of keeping the filter operational.

 

Is it slipping because of wear on the clutch packs or slipping due to the shift solenoids not fully seating(dirty)?
If you have Trans Tune SeaFoam in your area add the correct amount, drive around and then drain. I was having a bit of a funky upshift issue a month or so ago added some TT and withing moments the shift was back and even better than before. Varnish is a mean mug, get rid of that gunk.

A flush on the Honda transmissions can be harmful, the simple reason is Honda automatics are more like manual transmissions and use a lower pressure to operate. Less than 100psi in some instances. Where-as the typical sun gear AT may have closer to 300psi in normal operation. Using a power flusher on a Honda AT may cause damage and blow out an internal seal.
I would find some SF TT and dump it in.

 

How much goop came out after the mineral spirits? And do you think it helped at all or just cleaned the inside of the case?

 

Thanks for the advice Mike