04 Honda Odyssey RLI ATF 15,000 OCI 87,700 Total

[TrailRunner]

Below are results of 3 different analyses of ATF in my Odyssey by Terry Dyson at dysonanalysis.com. My tranny started making what appears to be a bearing noise at 25,000 miles. As you probably know, these trannies are really, really hard on ATF. And, there are a number of failures, usually with the clutchpacks. The noise is still there, but it's not getting worse. I think it would have if I had stayed with Z1.

The first fluid tested was Honda Z1 ATF. Note the high iron wear and high aluminum wear. Next was Schaeffer's ATF, made here in St. Louis. Wear is lower. The most recent analysis is of RLI BioSyn ATF, made from renewable resources. Note the much lower iron wear and reduced aluminum wear and the very, very low bearing wear with the RLI. As you can see, viscosity is very similar to Z1. Shift quality is excellent, too. The test results are excellent - I am going to order more RLI ATF.

ATF used RLI ATF Schaffer ATF Z1 ATF
Sample Date 19-Jan-2008 22-Sep-2008 16-Aug-2008
Miles on oil 15000 10637 10000 (partial change)
Miles on car 87700 58537 45000
Lab: Dyson Dyson Dyson

Wear Metals:
Iron: 13 31 128
Copper: 14 8 21
Tin: 0 0 0
Lead: 0 1 1
Chromium: 0 1 0
Nickel: 0 0 0
Aluminum: 33 74 85
Titanium: 0 0 0
Silver: 0 0 0

Additive Metals:
Calcium: 192 129 303
Magnesium: 2 35 250
Zinc: 11 71 429
Phosphorus: 222 166 14
Barium: 1 0 10
Molybdenum: 0 9 0
Antimony: 17 0 5

Contaminant Metals:
Silicon: 8 16 21
Sodium: 7 8 9
Boron: 84 105 353
Potassium: 0 0 0
Vanadium: 0 0 0

Physical & Other Tests:
Viscosity 40C: 22.6 33.4 23.7
Viscosity 100C: 5.1 7.1 5.4
TAN: 0.7 0.95 0.7
Flashpoint: 325 350 335
Oxidation: 133 85 43
Nitration: 4 5 9

TBN: .5 1.7 4.1
Insolubles: 0.0 0.0 0.0
Glycol: 0 4.5 .8
VI: 162 184 177
Sulfate: 103 71 NT

 

[benjamming]

What % of the tested fluid is actually in the case at each UOA?
Viscosity drop is significant with RLI (but what %). It starts out at ~ 7.5 now.

 

[TrailRunner]

The viscosity drop was from Schaeffer's to RLI. Notice that the RLI is very similar viscosity to Z1.

I am having a hard time getting the fluid replaced fully. The last time I drove fast enough to get it to shift into 5th gear, but according to Terry Dyson, I still didn't get it all changed out. So, there is no way I can tell you what the percentages truly are. I'll do my best to estimate.

The first test of Z1 was 100% Z1.
Test two was supposed to be 94% Schaeffer's ATF, but was probably more like 65% Schaeffers.
Test three was supposed to be 94% RLI, but due to driving inbetween drain and fills, it was probably more like 80-85% RLI.

Next time I do drain and fills, I'll drive a week inbetween. (sounds like a hassle, but I don't know another way to do it.)

Later,

 

[benjamming]

I don't understand how driving for only 5 minutes doesn't thorougly mix the fluid. You remove what 3.5 qt out of 8.4 qt total capacity (per AMSOIL guide) with every drain & refill. So the 1st drain is 42% new, 66%, 80%, 88%, 93%, & 96% by the 6th drain & refill.

 

[odessit]

Thanks for posting your findings.

 

[TrailRunner]

Yeah, I don't understand why it didn't thoroughly mix it fully either. However, it didn't/doesn't. It's measurable.

 

[herrhaus]

Interesting results. Are you a member of the ODYCLUB? Please post your results there too.

BTW: Which tranny....late 04 or an early 04 with oil jet??