Last year around october i did an auto-rx treatment on the transmission in which i must say did an excellent job. So I went to the honda dealer and their technique is to drain and refill three times. The process gave me a nice red looking fluid. The I used LC, after about maybe 3k miles, the fluid started to looking darker then about 7k-8k my fluid is now browen looking. Why did the fluid change so fast? is it because that I probably had some varnish or arx in there? The tranny still runs smooth and I did 2 drain and fill services and one machine flush service since i had bough my car brand new in 02. its a 2002 accord dx with 52k miles.any suggestions?
LC and ARX in transmission
- Thread starter Bluj40
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its a 2002 Honda Accord F23A5 2.3L SOHC Non-VTEC engine with Automatic transmission. Hondas transmission are very picky with ATF, so i use the Hondas formaulated fluids.I guess I will do another flush from the dealer, but its almost 10k since the arx and lc that was dropped in, dont you think the varnish should be completely gone now? I always changed and flushed the tranny system since day one
A 2002 Accord with 52K miles needs this much attention???
Auto-RX and Lube Control work in totaly different manner! Each will remove stuff that the other left behind. Varnish and Clutch material are what is usualy being removed. I have used both products in transmissions and I have to admit I have never had Lube Control remove anything from my transmission! ARX does such a bang up job in transmissions I have never had what you describe happen.
I have had what you describe happen in an engine though! ARX did not touch the varnish in my wifes engine at all. LC elimanated that same varnish two years latter in no time flat!
Chances are strong that even though a rinse phase is not required in a transmission that what is happening is that a lot of stuff did not release from the transmission. In this case the LC helped it along after you refilled it! If Honda's ATF is loaded with esters this might explain why the "junk" did not release. I am just speculateing though!!
I have had what you describe happen in an engine though! ARX did not touch the varnish in my wifes engine at all. LC elimanated that same varnish two years latter in no time flat!
Chances are strong that even though a rinse phase is not required in a transmission that what is happening is that a lot of stuff did not release from the transmission. In this case the LC helped it along after you refilled it! If Honda's ATF is loaded with esters this might explain why the "junk" did not release. I am just speculateing though!!
Must be one of the years where Honda is known to have failure prone tranny and he is doing PM to extend its life.
MolaKule
Staff member
It would be nice if you prefaced your problem with some engine/tranny specs.
For example, explain that you have a Honda of a certain year with an XX engine and an automatic transmission.
Yes, most likey the LC and ARX dissolved some varnish and plate friction material and this was pushed into the fluid stream and mixed.
Do another pan drain and refill with an ATF such our AutoGlide in Z1 formulation.
For example, explain that you have a Honda of a certain year with an XX engine and an automatic transmission.
Yes, most likey the LC and ARX dissolved some varnish and plate friction material and this was pushed into the fluid stream and mixed.
Do another pan drain and refill with an ATF such our AutoGlide in Z1 formulation.
Have you done any UOAs on any of the fluid drains?
So far , 20z of LC went into the transmission since the treatment. I just dropped in 1 oz of LC , whatever is left behind in the tranny, i hope everything is removed. I dont really just the honda dealers for a couple reasons,. I requested a tranny flush, i understand that the procedure requires 3x drain and refills. But you dont get a chance to observe what the mechanics are doing so they probably drained and refill only once. IMaybe I should should go for the t-tec procedure becuase it will virtually remove all the contaminated fluids from the tranny
update on tranny fluid procedure, i did a drain/refill 2xand im down to my final drain/refill.I am going to put the formulated fluid from Molakule ,Is it necessary to do a new drain/refill procedure since a new chemistry is going in the tranny?
JHZR2
Staff member
My co-worker got a civic for commuting, as he sits in a lot of traffic, and he wanted an economical car with an AT.
At 40k miles, he is complaining that it is flaring or possibly slipping... and it has had nothing but honda ATF, changed often at the dealer...
I have to wonder about honda transmissions...
JMH
At 40k miles, he is complaining that it is flaring or possibly slipping... and it has had nothing but honda ATF, changed often at the dealer...
I have to wonder about honda transmissions...
JMH
sitting in traffic a lot in NJ during hot summers = a tranny cooler is needed to exteed the life of the tranny ....$100 well spent !
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