Just on Honda this specific V6. A very old core design(1996 first iteration) and they have not changed core because it still performs amazingly well.
Honda Pilot 2021, V6 maintenance recommendations
- Thread starter burbguy82
- Start date
That's not ENTIRELY accurate, in the case of the OPs Pilot Touring.
- Joined
- May 4, 2025
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- 108
When it was designed pretty much all engines had belt driven timing sets. The J series has just survived for 30 years because it's a really good design.
It's been very simple for me on my 2019 Touring with the 9 speed after reading how to do it on the Pilot forum. Service manual says between 3.5 and 3.75 quarts come out with a drain when cold. I drain and measure to make sure that is what came out and replace the exact amount using the fill plug at the top of the transmission under the hood. Have done it 2 times now (every 30000 miles) with no problems and many other owners do it the same way. In fact some owners have seen Honda dealers do it the same way according to them.
Purchased the Pilot new and have 67000 miles on it. I use only Honda 3.1 ATF
Fords in general love to eat chains for breakfast and phasers for lunch. Toyota guys do warn about the chain on the 20-22R, if allowed to go loose it will wear the timing cover and take out the engine in the process.
Timing chains are seen as a maintenance item on Mercedes in the past, every 60-100K on the older models since the guides are brittle. It was a roll-in/out job using a ton of cable ties, a lot of patience and nerves of steel.
JHZR2
Staff member
I don’t know. I’ve watched the 9AT change process and it’s as easy, if not easier (based upon fill access) than our Odyssey or Accord Hybrid.
That’s a 2020 - did things change that much for 2021?
JHZR2
Staff member
Because it’s a non-issue.
A belt at 90k and ten years looks practically like new, as does the OE water pump.
Is $3500 absurd for the change? Sure. It’s a few hundred in parts and a few hours of labor once you have everything set up.
Here's a discussion on it: https://www.piloteers.org/threads/9-speed-transmission-fluid-change-procedure.142545/
The approved method involves lifting all four wheels, setting transmission to service mode, shifting through the gears, and checking at the fill hole when the transmission is at the proper temperature. Some use other methods...
That's a tough one to swallow. The price to do the work and the parts removed look new-like. Almost enough to drive one mad.
