Newbie here who just bought a 1998 V6 LX Honda Accord (automatic) with 60K two weeks ago ... and yes knowing many troubles with 98-02 V6 trannies.
Please bear with the complete history before my questions. Also if my questions seems too nitpicky, bordering on paranoia, I apologize. I've never spent this much for a car in my life. Took a lot of savings. As such, I like to make sure I got the tranny thing right before I drive the car another 10K or 1yr before the next D&F.
I bought it from 2nd owner, who only had it for 7 months. 1st owner is his trusted rich friend who always serviced at dealer, he said. Selling not due to problems. But, verifiable overseas job transfer. Test drive was very nice and good. Engine compartment looks like new (without steam clean or wash). However, no maintenance receipts except for 2 recent oil changes.
The first thing I did was bought a 12qt case of ATF-Z1 from dealer. Checked the fluid, dark brownish red, but still clear. Then I drained and refilled (D&F) with 3qts of Z1. The tranmission get a lot smoother. Idle seems smoother. Not much metal flakes in the magnetic drain plug. Drove 500 miles, D&F again. No change in shifting quality. Another 500 miles. D&F again. Still no more changes. After 3 D&F, the ATF color is like new now.
Then last week, after lenghty Internet research, I added a 10oz bottle of Lubeguard Red after emailing and getting (very fast & courteous) reply from the higher up senior person at Lubeguard. On the bottle it says add the whole bottle. If tranny more than 10 quarts, add 1 oz per quart.
Now, the shifting has changed a lot. The thing is I don't know if it is better (the way it should be), as I have been a stick/manual guy all my life.
1.
After 3 drains & fills (no Lubeguard), the 1st-2nd shift is pretty firm. From a dead stop, if I accelerate, the car started moving at 1500-2000 RPM and get into gear (or shift to another gear)* at 2250RPM. Even though not slipping, I think the acceleration is a little sluggish for a V6. I was told it's normal for a V6 due to V-Tec. Is my shift point normal? * Somebody told me that the first shift point from a stop is into 1st gear. Not into 2nd in Accord?
2.
After 3 D&F (no Lubeguard), once in a while my tranny will shift at 3000RPM. Is it too high for V6? even though the car moves relative to the RPM increase; no slipping.
3.
Is 10 oz the right amount of Lubeguard or too much for 7.6qt of total tranny capacity?
4.
After Lubeguard, the shifting has gone very soft. I can barely feel 1st-2nd that was firm before. Upshifts are just like before; on time and around the same RPM. But the downshifts are so much quicker and smoother. It is so smooth, it is scary. Now, I don't know if such buttery like feeling is good for tranny or bad or is it just personal preference. I guess what I'm asking is firm shifts = more wear or soft shifts = more wear? If a little firmness is better for the tranny, I guess I can D&F my last 3qts to dilute the Lubeguard to 5.0 oz for 7.6 ATF sump.
5.
MPG on the hwy which I'm told could be an indicator of bad tranny has been really good; 30-34 MPG (EPA rated 28). No delays in shifting. No funny noises. No jerking. No flashes on the dash. Still, I worry a lot about it since there are lots of people with 3rd tranny in 100K. Is there a best way to test any abnormalities in transmission shifting behavior?
6.
How can I improve and maintain the tranny to last a long time?
7.
Does anybody think I should get Lubeguard out?
I appreciate all your help.
Please bear with the complete history before my questions. Also if my questions seems too nitpicky, bordering on paranoia, I apologize. I've never spent this much for a car in my life. Took a lot of savings. As such, I like to make sure I got the tranny thing right before I drive the car another 10K or 1yr before the next D&F.
I bought it from 2nd owner, who only had it for 7 months. 1st owner is his trusted rich friend who always serviced at dealer, he said. Selling not due to problems. But, verifiable overseas job transfer. Test drive was very nice and good. Engine compartment looks like new (without steam clean or wash). However, no maintenance receipts except for 2 recent oil changes.
The first thing I did was bought a 12qt case of ATF-Z1 from dealer. Checked the fluid, dark brownish red, but still clear. Then I drained and refilled (D&F) with 3qts of Z1. The tranmission get a lot smoother. Idle seems smoother. Not much metal flakes in the magnetic drain plug. Drove 500 miles, D&F again. No change in shifting quality. Another 500 miles. D&F again. Still no more changes. After 3 D&F, the ATF color is like new now.
Then last week, after lenghty Internet research, I added a 10oz bottle of Lubeguard Red after emailing and getting (very fast & courteous) reply from the higher up senior person at Lubeguard. On the bottle it says add the whole bottle. If tranny more than 10 quarts, add 1 oz per quart.
Now, the shifting has changed a lot. The thing is I don't know if it is better (the way it should be), as I have been a stick/manual guy all my life.
1.
After 3 drains & fills (no Lubeguard), the 1st-2nd shift is pretty firm. From a dead stop, if I accelerate, the car started moving at 1500-2000 RPM and get into gear (or shift to another gear)* at 2250RPM. Even though not slipping, I think the acceleration is a little sluggish for a V6. I was told it's normal for a V6 due to V-Tec. Is my shift point normal? * Somebody told me that the first shift point from a stop is into 1st gear. Not into 2nd in Accord?
2.
After 3 D&F (no Lubeguard), once in a while my tranny will shift at 3000RPM. Is it too high for V6? even though the car moves relative to the RPM increase; no slipping.
3.
Is 10 oz the right amount of Lubeguard or too much for 7.6qt of total tranny capacity?
4.
After Lubeguard, the shifting has gone very soft. I can barely feel 1st-2nd that was firm before. Upshifts are just like before; on time and around the same RPM. But the downshifts are so much quicker and smoother. It is so smooth, it is scary. Now, I don't know if such buttery like feeling is good for tranny or bad or is it just personal preference. I guess what I'm asking is firm shifts = more wear or soft shifts = more wear? If a little firmness is better for the tranny, I guess I can D&F my last 3qts to dilute the Lubeguard to 5.0 oz for 7.6 ATF sump.
5.
MPG on the hwy which I'm told could be an indicator of bad tranny has been really good; 30-34 MPG (EPA rated 28). No delays in shifting. No funny noises. No jerking. No flashes on the dash. Still, I worry a lot about it since there are lots of people with 3rd tranny in 100K. Is there a best way to test any abnormalities in transmission shifting behavior?
6.
How can I improve and maintain the tranny to last a long time?
7.
Does anybody think I should get Lubeguard out?
I appreciate all your help.