I have a 94 accord DX auto with almost 200,000 miles. I have had it since 130,000 miles and have never done anything with the trans (besides checking fluid level). I have been catching up on maintenance and need to replace my radiator as a lot of the fins are corroded and have fallen off (not leaking yet though). While I have the radiator out I figured I would change out the transmission cooler hoses and add an external transmission filter (wix or magnaflow). I looked in the service manual and it doesn't state which way the fluid flows through the radiator. I drew some arrows showing what I thought might be the right way. Was going to see if anyone could confirm that this is correct so I don't have to pull the lines and run the trans to find out.

Also, the service manual says to replace with Honda premium auto trans fluid or an equivalent dexron ii. I would think that the new dw-1 honda fluid wouldn't work right in a transmission built in '94, since they designed it around dexron fluids. Woudn't a dexron fluid like valvoline maxlife atf work better than a synthetic honda fluid that might be too thin/slippery?

Thanks!

 

I am not sure on the flow direction...gotta think on that. As far as the fluid...when something like a new fluid is introduced by a manufacturer, it is always back compatible. I have talked with too many people who are more in the Honda know than myself, and it is ALWAYS the reccomendation to not put anything down the hole except the good red stuff from Honda. It isn't cheap, but it is always the best.

 

Guy in this video points to the top hose as flowing out of the trans at around 3:00. He has a 6th gen but I doubt this would matter. He actually connects a hose to the outlet and runs the car to flush the trans fluid.

 

Just to be clear, "Not ALWAYS". You have to read to be sure. Yes in the case of DW-1 it is.

However, there are two different types of CVT fluid that ARE NOT. Yes, I realize this doesn't come into question in this Section (90-02).

 

If your transmission uses Dexron II, you can also use Dexron VI - which is readily available, very high performing, and fully backwards compatible.

 

I will play it safe then and get some dw-1 to replace any old fluid.

Still don't think I have an exact answer to my transmission fluid flow question. I know the video says pull both hoses and run your engine for a second or two to find the flow, but I am going to be doing this work on my own so it would be difficult to run from the drivers seat to the front of the car and back in a second.

 

I Picked up a wix inline filter. It has instructions on how to install. It has the flow the way I had it in my first post. But it says that it is for 90-93 accord/civic/prelude. Is the 94 any different?

 

Be careful with aftermarket inline filters. Installing one will interfere with lube oil due to the added resistance over the geartrain. If you are not removing chunks or burned up fluid, I would advise you to not install a filter inline. Where the text says "joint pipe" goes to the differential, and this is the output of fluid. You would need to see a fluid schematic or use common sense to see that.

Use the fluid specified in the original manual. While newer fluids will work fine, this transaxle does not require any special fluids, and you should treat it as such for the sake of your wallet. If you are doing this to prevent future problems, you are doing it in error. Any material in the cooler circuit that makes it back into the transmission will be caught by the transmission filter, as this circuit is a lube circuit that returns to the sump.

 

Undo the hoses from the radiator start car what ever one fluid pumps out of is the supply