Hey guys, my dad recently purchased a 99 accord V6. Anyway, its time to change the tranny fluid and power steering fluid. I've heard from people that they INSIST on staying with only honda fluids. Yes, it says only use Honda fluids as well in the manual, but i personally think its just to scare people into buying their fluids to get more money.
So what do you guys use? Is it true that using other aftermarket brands, that problems can arise?? anyone have proof?
Any thoughts you guys?
THanks

 

well, you can go aftermarket, but even in our race cars we use only Honda transmission fluid

 

The question is does Honda make their own fluids? Do you think Honda has a refinery to refine their own oil? Answer those questions and it becomes clear.

 

Honda fluids are not necessarily better than fluids from major oil companies. Since Honda is not an oil company, their fluids are in fact manufactured and supplied by the major oil companies and branded with the Honda label.

However, Honda knows best which specifications are necessary in a fluid to match the specifications required for your car. So if you are not sure which of the name brand fluids meet the spec's required for your car, then you can be 100% certain you're using the correct fluid if you use the Honda brand label.

If you know which spec's are required for the fluids for your car, then you can use the major brand name fluids and lubricants with confidence.

For instance, most of the power steering fluids manufactured by major brands intended for other make vehicles do not meet the spec's for Honda's and will only sometimes say so on the container. You need to find a power steering fluid that is labled specifically for use in Honda's.



[Modified by zavalo, 9:02 AM 1/11/2003]

 

I use whatever brand fluids in my beater..
only honda fluid(and filter) for my newer accord..

 

Hey thanks for the posts u guys..
Do they have anti-freeze that is specially formulated for Honda's, kinda like they have for the transmission fluid and such? Just curious.
Thanks again

 

AFAIK there is no special requirement for the engine coolant other than it must be compatible with aluminum. My owners manual only says use Honda recommended coolant. I've always used Prestone, which says is compatible with aluminum engines. Honda most likely provides their own brand of coolant over the parts counter.

 

there is infact a Honda coolant. It is available in both premixed(diluted) and straight, make sure you know which one you got before you start pouring it in. it is a low silicate formula (or is it high, i can never remember) at any rate, using a brand of coolant that does not have the correct silicate level can be bad for your radiator, gaskets, and even the block. do a search in the tech forum for some posts about coolant by a guy named bigmoose. He had a lot of problems that were traced back to coolant.

personally, I'm about as cheap a bastard as you can be, and even I will pony up a few extra bucks for the Honda brand fluids. As good as any major brand may be, I do not know anything at all about their formulation. I KNOW the Honda brand has the correct formula.

Honda MTF is not just a relabled 90wt oil, it is definately different from any other "gear oil" i've ever seen. it has a different smell and color to it.

 

the p/s fluid is probably the biggest thing that Honda fluid should only be used in. The Honda ATF and MTF is something I would stick with based on tranny issues.
The Honda oil 5w-20 is something I would also use if it's required along with filters.
fyi, Honda oil is made by mobil, but to Honda spec.

There are some premixed coolants out there probably cheaper than Honda and are within spec that are ok, i have used fleet guard. you can also use whatever brake/clutch fluid you want so long as it's dot 3. I use ate super blue.

 

Thanks you guys for the help. It was very helpful to me and my dad..
Peace

 

Is there anything wrong with using MOTUL Dot 4?

 

dot 4 is ok too, just as long as it's not dot 5. the only problem with motul i think is that is more of a racing fluid than a street fluid, so it absorbs water quicker than some other stuff, but it also can take higher temps before boiling, for best performance you should change it once a year cause water makes it boil at a lower temp. that's why i went with ate superblue, it's good for 2-3 years and provides plenty of protection from heat.