06 AWD CRV differential noise at low speeds

[MaximaGuy]

My colleague has a 06 AWD CRV with 28K on the odo. At very low speeds when the vehicle is turned left or right there is a differential noise.

Checked with dealership they told her to do a "burnishing procedure" for the differential and replace gear fluid ($275). Now I checked up online there was a TSB from Honda and many dealerships are doing as a good will measure for some screwup from Honda. I know if she presents the TSB she will get the "procedure" done at no cost.

Now the gear fluid recommended is "Honda Genuine Dual Pump Fluid". Only god knows what this soup is all about, I told her I distrust Honda engineering and that she should upgrade to a better fluid. I was on this hondaforum where a master tech said the diff fluid needs to be changed every 15K miles. Bizzare, never heard 15K differential service.

Anyway long story short, is there a subsitute like Amsoil/RL/RP/M1 fluid that is a direct replaced for this Honda gear fluid.

I felt terrible thinking she has 28K on the odo and differential is acting up -- [censored] Honda engg!!!

Experts chime in..

 

[bepperb]

So, you don't know anything about the fluid, except that you don't like it.

My advice would be to stop giving it.

The dealer will probably do a drain/fill for free via the tsb, and that has been known to resolve this. If it doesn't, at least it won't void her warranty like your advice will. Plus, there will be record of the issue in case the notoriously bad Honda engineered differential explodes into tiny bits in the near future.

 

[VK56VD]

Use the Honda recommended OEM fluid. She may even get this done for free if she's still under the warranty.

There is no substitute for this fluid.

 

[RiverWolf]

Most likely, your "colleague" drove through water deep enough to contaminate the diff fluid. A potential problem that is documented in the manual, not an engineering problem. Otherwise, the service interval is either 30K or 60K. Happened to ours some where around 15-20K...reminds me, I think I'm about due for the regular service.

It's a whole 1.1 quart of fluid to drain & fill...no lift required. Maybe $15 total if you have to buy a gear oil pump to DIY. I'm not aware of a suitable replacement for Honda's Dual Pump fluid.

Working from fuzzy memory, I don't think the TSB you found applies to 05/06 CR-Vs (Gen 2.5), which had a few mecanical changes from the 02-04 (Gen 2). Either the Gen2 or Gen1 did have some sort of issue where the published maintenance schedule was found to be too long. Not your, sorry, your colleague's problem with only 28K on a G2.5.

-Brent

 

[Dave Sherman]

What RiverWolf said. Takes about 1.1 quarts, and there is no known substitute. Groaning from a CR-V differential is usually because of the fluid is bad, and it's easily fixed. It's not that unusual to have to replace it at 30,000 miles, depending on driving habits.

 

[mechtech2]

Let Honda do their thing.
After a year with no problems, change the fluid if you want.

 

[webfors]

Use Honda Dual Pump fluid and change it regularly. It seems to get contaminated easily, my 06 CRV had is swapped before 20K when I presented the TSB to the dealer.

 

[posty]

I change mine yearly. never a noise in 75,000 mi.

 

[Johnny]

I believe the Elements and CRV use the same drive train. I have a 2005 Element with 85K on it and a 2006 Element with almost 35K on it. I have never changed the rear diff fluid and I have no unusual noises. Everyone is correct, only use the Honda Dual Pump fluid as there is no substitute, and don't let someone convince you there is.

Oh, and my Honda dealer told me the cost to replace the rear fluid would be $65.00. Where the heck do they figure it's worth over $200.00 to do that service.

 

[Boss302fan]

Should be free or just take it in have the rear fluid changed for around $60... I have an Acura MDX and that is all they charged me to replace my rear fluid.

 

[webfors]

Make them change it via the TSB. Then for $12/year (or every two years) you can do it yourself.

 

[MaximaGuy]

I would have bought the fluid and changed it myself, the clearance is great and the bolts are easy to access. There is a burnishing procedure for which the vehicle has to be raised on all legs. May be the $270 is for fluid xchange and the procedure documented in the below TSB. Anyway Honda sucks, period.

http://www.in.honda.com/Rjanisis/pubs/SB/A07-024.PDF