Honda/Multi-Vehicle ATF Comparison Chart

[Woodster]

Great posts and SUPERB DATA, Men! This old-timer and his 2011 CRV appreciate it all!

 

[drew2024]

Is there a comparison against Toyota WS? Thanks

 

[wlk]

Dave sent a separate message to me for the 225k '08 CRV and said either Green or Blue would work but he recommended the Blue for the higher viscosity. I ordered up a 6 pack and will do a D&F as soon as I can. Daughter goes back tomorrow but will be home on some weekends.

The Pilot - Was at dealer for new windshield and camera calibration. I met with service manager, advisor and mechanic prior to going showing them what I had and how many D&F's. I had them do a 1x tranny D&F with DW-1 and a rear diff D&F with dual pump. They put the fluid through a paint strainer coming out and got a couple more small sandy gritty chunks but not like I did. They also gave me a sample so I can send in if I want. They don't like it either but with no CEL, no current drivability concerns, no shudder, not much to do but change fluid. It's in Honda system showing dealer D&F's at just over 20k and now at 52k which is the "severe service" of 1x change at 30k intervals. I'll have them do any future changes on it.

I have 3 months and 7500 miles left on factory power train warranty. I have 3.25 years and 68k miles with factory HondaCare. I will drive it everyday instead of my Accord so it gets 50 miles round trip mostly highway. VCM is re-enabled so it works the TC as factory engineers designed. Factory external filter is back in and since I'm not planning on towing might bypass external cooler. It will either have issues while under warranty and get a new TC or tranny and then I might keep it (with better fluid, better cooler, VCM disabled). If not it will get sold or traded in when extended HondaCare warranty is almost done. Totally against my normal of trying to prolong life but I don't feel as it is, it will last 10-15 years / 200k+ like my other cars.

Did you ever switch this and if so how is the transmission doing with it? I need to do a drain and fill soon and was contemplating using HPL Blue in my 05 Element. Thanks

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Did you ever switch this and if so how is the transmission doing with it? I need to do a drain and fill soon and was contemplating using HPL Blue in my 05 Element. Thanks

I've only done 1 D&F on it with the HPL Blue so it has DW-1, VML and HPL Blue currently. I haven't noticed any issues or concerns at low speed soft throttle or full throttle. It shifts well but did before also.

I need to see how many miles he has racked up and maybe do another D&F. She has a lot of classes/studying so hasn't been home much lately.

 

[wlk]

I've only done 1 D&F on it with the HPL Blue so it has DW-1, VML and HPL Blue currently. I haven't noticed any issues or concerns at low speed soft throttle or full throttle. It shifts well but did before also.

I need to see how many miles he has racked up and maybe do another D&F. She has a lot of classes/studying so hasn't been home much lately.

Thanks for the update. I have DW-1 in mine. In at the last drain and fill I had to do early as the DW-1 was dark in only 9k miles. I really want to put synthetic in it but haven't been excited about anything enough to try. Use Maxlife in most but have been a Honda fluid only for trans and drivetrain. Only I was tempted to try at the last d&f was M1 ATF but used it in my ford.

 

[parshisa]

Thanks for the update. I have DW-1 in mine. In at the last drain and fill I had to do early as the DW-1 was dark in only 9k miles. I really want to put synthetic in it but haven't been excited about anything enough to try. Use Maxlife in most but have been a Honda fluid only for trans and drivetrain. Only I was tempted to try at the last d&f was M1 ATF but used it in my ford.

Just got a jug of VML for my pilot. Ran out of the DW1 so maxlife going in in 9k miles (doing 10k D&F)

 

[ndarkside93]

Just wanted to say I have a 2013 civic currently running Valvoline extended protection with great results for the past 10k miles.
When I bought the car the fluid was old and burnt. Did a fresh drain and fill the first time with dw-1. After 5k miles I did 3 drain and fills in 50 miles to switch to the Valvoline EP

 

[wlk]

I went with Valvoline MV Import synthetic fluid for my drain and fill in the Element. After driving for a few days, I cannot tell any difference from DW-1. Will do a few more D&Fs after a few thousand miles and switch it over completely if no issues arise.

 

[dgvu89]

Thanks for the update. I have DW-1 in mine. In at the last drain and fill I had to do early as the DW-1 was dark in only 9k miles. I really want to put synthetic in it but haven't been excited about anything enough to try. Use Maxlife in most but have been a Honda fluid only for trans and drivetrain. Only I was tempted to try at the last d&f was M1 ATF but used it in my ford.

M1 ATF does not work in my 09 Honda Accord. Valvoline Dexron 6 works better for me. I don't see any differences after a D&F using DW-1 last week.

 

[ndarkside93]

M1 ATF does not work in my 09 Honda Accord. Valvoline Dexron 6 works better for me. I don't see any differences after a D&F using DW-1 last week.

I had similar experiences doing a d&f with dw-1. I have had good success with the idemitsu dw-1 equivalent. But the last 2 (which have happened in the past 30k miles) I’ve used the Valvoline extended protection atf with great success. Shifts well and when I dropped it after 25k miles it was still clean cherry red.

13 civic for reference.

 

[thunderous1335]

Swapped over factory fill on my 6AT to Castrol's Transmax Import. It's been fine, but I can tell it's time to change the ATF again. Is there a better synthetic alternative or is that pretty much it?

 

[Hall]

Swapped over factory fill on my 6AT to Castrol's Transmax Import. It's been fine, but I can tell it's time to change the ATF again. Is there a better synthetic alternative or is that pretty much it?

Castrol makes a "full" synthetic version of that ATF. They still sell both but the full synthetic is newer and adds applications that it covers.

 

[ndarkside93]

Swapped over factory fill on my 6AT to Castrol's Transmax Import. It's been fine, but I can tell it's time to change the ATF again. Is there a better synthetic alternative or is that pretty much it?

I had really good success with the Valvoline Extended Protection.

 

[Gasbuggy]

Props to picking the yellow white so I can't read it lol