Is Honda ATF all that? Are there better choices?

[fdcg27]

I've just bought an '02 Accord EX with just under 119K.
I think a 3X drain and fill would be a wise idea.
There are a number of fluids that claim to be compatible with Honda's requirements.
I've seen Mag 1, Valvoline and Valvoline Maxlife multi-vehicle formulas that claim to be full synthetic as well a syn blend Kendall product and one from Castrol making no claim of basestocks used.
Does anyone have any insight as to which of these fluids would work as well or better than the current Honda ATF and has anyone used any of them?
All of these fluids are around 5.00/qt either off the shelf or delivered, while Honda DW-1
would run around two bucks more a quart delivered, so the cost difference is not a real issue.
I think I'll need twelve quarts.
I would just like to use something that would work well in the transaxle and will help maximize its life.

 

[barlowc]

You're going to get A LOT of opinions here. And all of them will be just that... opinions.

After having done a lot of reading on this forum and others, I switched to Valvoline MaxLife DEX/MERC in our VUE which has a Honda 5-speed AT. It's been for around 11K miles and less than a year, but thus far I like it better than the spec'd Z-1 fluid. Shifts have been crisper and what I consider more precise where Z-1, while like butter, were pretty sloppy.

 

[antiqueshell]

Honda automatic transmissions are SIGNIFICANTLY different in design than most others so different parameters are used to design that fluid. Use the OEM Honda DW-1 and be confident that you will get at least 250k miles on your unit if it isn't abused.

 

[Mr Nice]

For me:
Only Honda ATF goes into a Honda transmission

 

[Voltmaster]

I wouldnt put anything but OE ATF in any cars. I've had many success with other ATF like maxlife and castrol , but they dont compare to HONDA ATF.

 

[Sayjac]

Oh boy, this should be good.

As clear already, some Honda OEM devotees will ALWAYS say use only OEM, period. Fact is Z-1 was one of, if not the most criticized oem ATF's on this board. It was not synthetic and it's shear stability was poor. That said, I used only Z-1 on an infamous 01 Civic for about 163k, until discontinued. But, now the Civic is on it's second single d&f using MaxLife and approaching 200k, still going. And I just did a single d&f using ML on my 3.0L V6.

I say any of the synthetic ATF's listing suitable for Honda Z-1 will be better than the Z-1 your car is spec'd for. But none say "meets DW-1" specs.

Is DW-1 worth the extra, guess it all depends on your perspective. MaxLife cost me, $17 a gallon at Wally and it currently is in three of my vehicles, two Hondas and Tacoma. Until proven otherwise I'll be sticking with it. So far so good.

 

[Donald]

I would go with Amsoil. One of their ATFs meets the Z spec and the other the DW-1.

Look up your vehicle in the product guide and use what they say.

I believe it is the best ATF (or very near the best) ATF available.

 

[JethroBodine]

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
For me:
Only Honda ATF goes into a Honda transmission


+1 me too. I just buy it by the case and use a dealer sale coupon. That usually gets it to about $5.50/quart.

 

[SigQAEngineer]

All you need is 9 quarts of Honda DW-1 as each drain/fill takes 3 quarts. But you might get a better deal with a full case of 12.

DW-1 is synthetic & far superior than the Z1 it replaced. The main concern w/ Honda ATF is not whether one brand is superior to another, but the proper viscosity.

Whenever possible. Honda ATF should always be used. $2 extra per bottle will only amounts to $18 over the course of next 30,000 miles.

Very insignificant IMO.

When performing drain/fill, try to drive a week before next drain/refill. This allows the refresh fluid to circulate thru the torque converter & remove the varnish back there.

Best way to maintain these Honda transmissions is to perform ATF drain&fill every other engine OC so the ATF never gets dirty enough to cause any excessive wear & tear on the transmission. Consequently the transmission will last longer for having clean fluid all the time vs. change it out until its dirty after 60K or so.



Originally Posted By: fdcg27
I've just bought an '02 Accord EX with just under 119K.
I think a 3X drain and fill would be a wise idea.
There are a number of fluids that claim to be compatible with Honda's requirements.
I've seen Mag 1, Valvoline and Valvoline Maxlife multi-vehicle formulas that claim to be full synthetic as well a syn blend Kendall product and one from Castrol making no claim of basestocks used.
Does anyone have any insight as to which of these fluids would work as well or better than the current Honda ATF and has anyone used any of them?
All of these fluids are around 5.00/qt either off the shelf or delivered, while Honda DW-1
would run around two bucks more a quart delivered, so the cost difference is not a real issue.
I think I'll need twelve quarts.
I would just like to use something that would work well in the transaxle and will help maximize its life.

 

[Sayjac]

Quote:
I would go with Amsoil. One of their ATFs meets the Z spec and the other the DW-1.

OT Can you post a link to the "meets" Z-1 and DW-1 specs?

To be clear, not saying Amsoil ATF is not a solid choice for either spec. Many here have posted using Amsoil rather than Z-1 when it was the spec. Just like to see the "meet's" wording. If like other MultiVehicle ATF's recommended and/or suitable for is the wording I've seen used.

 

[dgsbikes]

Is DW-1 really true/full synthetic? I have been trying to find more info on this, but no luck so far...any pointers to product data sheets or something that affirms that it is indeed a synthetic?

(p.s. not challenging that it is a synthetic, just trying to affirm based on documentation rather than hearsay)

 

[antiqueshell]

I believe that in some markets the bottles are marked as synthetic, but supposedly all HONDA OEM Genuine DW-1 is the SAME exact formula around the world, only the labeling might be different.

 

[bourne]

I've used Maxlife in our old '05 civic lx and my Acura which is my daily driver. Both fluid exchanges produced positive results in shift quality. I've been wanting to try out Redline D4 but it costs a pretty penny. Maxlife for $16.99/gallon is so much cheaper.

 

[pbm]

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
Honda automatic transmissions are SIGNIFICANTLY different in design than most others so different parameters are used to design that fluid. Use the OEM Honda DW-1 and be confident that you will get at least 250k miles on your unit if it isn't abused.


2002 was the last year of that generation Accord (I think it was the 6th gen ...it was 1998-2002). They had notoriously poor A/T's and 250K would be almost miraculous on those units. The 4 cylinder versions were bad enough but the v6's were worse.

I sold my 2001 at 109K because I didn't have any faith in the A/T lasting as long as the rest of the vehicle.

I wouldn't hesitate to use Maxlife or Castrol IMV. I don't think Honda Z-1 was anything special.

 

[itguy08]

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
Honda automatic transmissions are SIGNIFICANTLY different in design than most others so different parameters are used to design that fluid. Use the OEM Honda DW-1 and be confident that you will get at least 250k miles on your unit if it isn't abused.


On what planet will a 5 speed Honda AT from the early 2000's go 250k? 100k is pushing it with those turds.

 

[fdcg27]

From what I've observed of this car and the generation prior to it, which I believe used the same four speed auto, these transmissions are pretty durable with the four cylinder and less so with the V-6, especially in the heavy Ody.
Judging by the number of fifth and sixth generation Accords still running around, the newest of which is eleven years old, I'd say that the automatic really can't be all that bad, since sticks were uncommon in either the fifth or sixth generation, although we have a stick Accord of both of those generations, a '97 and a '99.

 

[fdcg27]

My mother still has the original and flawless automatic in her '03 Accord EX four cylinder.
The '02 is the eighth Honda we've bought, although only the third automatic. Our other automatics were a first-gen Ody, totalled at 120K, so too young to have failed and my '12, too new to have failed.
In our extended family, there have been probably a couple of dozen Honda/Accura products, with everyone other than me buying automatics, and nobody has had a single transmission failure going back to the mid 'eighties.
I think that unusual rates of Honda automatic transmission failures, at least with the four cylinder cars, may be an internet myth.

 

[cchase]

I think 2005 is the final year on the "bad" Honda V6 transmissions.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: sayjac
Quote:
I would go with Amsoil. One of their ATFs meets the Z spec and the other the DW-1.

OT Can you post a link to the "meets" Z-1 and DW-1 specs?

To be clear, not saying Amsoil ATF is not a solid choice for either spec. Many here have posted using Amsoil rather than Z-1 when it was the spec. Just like to see the "meet's" wording. If like other MultiVehicle ATF's recommended and/or suitable for is the wording I've seen used.



Feel free to quibble about exact wording. If Amsoil recommends an ATF for a vehicle you can be sure it will be as good or better than OEM.

You should certainly use whatever ATF you feel is best. Its kind of a free country as long as you do not call, text or email.

[/quote]

 

[hsd]

I will only provide my own personal experience on my 2000 Accord 4 cyl. I ran the old Honda Z1 ATF for the first 120k miles with drain and fills every 20 - 30k. I then switched over to Valvoline Maxlife and added a Magnefine filter 4 years ago (40k miles), due to concerns about other reported trans failures. My transmission has never given any problems and shifts slightly better (firmer) with the Maxlife. I dont plan on switching brands of ATF again even tho the new Honda ATF is apparently better.