Howdy, I am in the process of changing (drain and refill) the automatic transmission fluid in my '93 Del Sol Si. I drained the old fluid, used a new crush washer when I reinstalled the drain bolt, and refilled using new Honda AT fluid which took about 2.5 quarts before measuring "full" on the dipstick. HOWEVER, ~4.5 quarts of old fluid came out when I drained it.

I've heard that you have to refill the amount that came out, but my dipstick reads "full" at 2.5 quarts, so I don't know what to do... Should I just keep it at 2.5? Or fill it more? I'm about to take a 2-3 day drive with this thing and I don't want to screw the tranny up right before.

 

2.5 sounds about right, sounds like the previous owner overfilled it for some reason. Owners manual shows 2.7l or 2.9 us quart 2.4 imp quarts. so you are bang on.

 

I'm just afraid that the transmission is too used to having an exceeded amount of fluid and that if I put in less, it could damage the trans. And who knows how long it's been like that; the old fluid was pretty dark colored.

 

No, there is no such "memory". Don't overfill.

You only change part of the fluid when you drain the pan. If the new fluid gets dark from mixing with the leftover old, drain the pan and refill with new again. Three or more changes may be needed if it's really bad.

 

Please download FSM and follow procedure to ensure proper lvl of fluid for the transmission.

 

Straight from ALLDATA. Typically I put .2 more than what it says just because I've found some to be slightly off. If it were me I would put in 3.1 qts.

CAPACITY, Refill*:
Accord 2.4 liters 2.5 quarts
Civic, Del Sol 2.7 liters 2.9 quarts
Prelude 2.4 liters 2.5 quarts

Remember ATF is temperature dependant. So super cold it will read lower than when hot.

-Amp

 

Well I'm back from a two hour nap and what happened beforehand was that I took a drive around the block after reading the dipstick ~10 times at "full". When I came back The dipstick had no reading/trace of ATF on it, so I guess some of the fluid recirculated through out the system? I then poured the remaining 0.5 quarts of new fluid in and now the dipstick reads below the "low" line (just the very tip has fluid on it). So now I guess I'm going to pick up another quart from the dealership. Is this anywhere near normal?

 

 

I only ask because I was reading the manual and this is one of the few cars you check with the engine off. I wonder if the previous owner filled it when the engine was running

1993 Honda Civic Del Sol Owner?s Manual | JustGiveMeTheDamnManual.com

page 110

 

The first times when the dipstick read "full", the engine was off and cold. After my drive when there was no reading on the dipstick, the engine was off and below operating temperature. I don't know what the deal is, but I just got another quart of ATF which hopefully is all I'll need.