Mixing ATF's (Z1 and Amsoil ATF)

[Mau]

Hey guys,

I was wondering what are your thoughts on mixing Amsoil ATF with Honda ATF-Z1.

I have a sensitive tranny in one of my hondas, and lately I've been noticing it is a bit rough downshifting into 1st when I come to a stop.

With winter starting I'm betting it can only get worse so I'd like to try a few things out. One person told me to try mixing Lucas ATF Additives with ATF-Z1.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Pablo]

In a word, don't. Choose a fluid and use it 100%.

 

[Chris Meutsch]

I agree. I've gone full Amsoil in one Honda. I wouldn't mix. It loves the Amsoil.

 

[Mau]

doesn't the atf-z1 have special characteristics that are required? to work on a honda tranny.

 

[Quest]

Originally Posted By: Mau
doesn't the atf-z1 have special characteristics that are required? to work on a honda tranny.





From what I understand: if you have a Honda CVT gearbox then DO NOT MIX Z-1 with some other gawdknowswhat, just stay with genuine Honda Z-1 and you'll be fine.

Q.

 

[Blokey]

I had no issue mixing the two in my '00 3.2TL. I was a firm believer in using ONLY ATF-Z1 but was convinced to try Amsoil ATF after being BITOG'ed

I did a series of drain & fills over a period of about 2 years and never experienced any issues as I transitioned from Z1 to ATF. Using the d&f calculator I'm basically now at 100% ATF and everything's great.

YMMV

 

[Mau]

Hi Blockey,

Your tranny is quite the delicate one(same with mine) both were first generation of Honda's Tiptronics and were test beds for it.

What I meant by mixing is when doing the flush using 3 parts honda atf-z1 and 1 part amsoil atf?

I may just stick with ATF-Z1 and just do the changes more often (I do it every second oil change which is about 16-20K KM's for me)

My car has about 178K KM's on it so I'm happy she has gotten this far I just don't want it to leave me stranded during the harsh winter months coming up.

 

[Blokey]

Originally Posted By: Mau
Hi Blockey,

Your tranny is quite the delicate one(same with mine) both were first generation of Honda's Tiptronics and were test beds for it.

What I meant by mixing is when doing the flush using 3 parts honda atf-z1 and 1 part amsoil atf?


Yeah, my car has one of the trouble prone trannies but mine's still running great with 92K+ miles on it. Your mix is effectively the same as my early d&fs: mostly Z1. Like I said, I never had a problem during the transition or now with all Amsoil ATF but there are no guarantees - so far, so good...

Originally Posted By: Mau
I may just stick with ATF-Z1 and just do the changes more often (I do it every second oil change which is about 16-20K KM's for me)

My car has about 178K KM's on it so I'm happy she has gotten this far I just don't want it to leave me stranded during the harsh winter months coming up.



OK, that sounds like a plan. I think you'll do fine using Amsoil but if you feel more comfortable using Z1 exclusively then by all means do so. The most important thing you're doing is the d&fs, removing some of the muck with each drain and topping off your trans with fresh fluid.

 

[Mau]

I changed the tranny fluid last night with Z1 (I have about 15L or so of the stuff)

Shifts are a lot smoother this morning coming into work. I guess I'll do a drain and fill every oil change, I get the oil for dirt cheap plus I only put in 3L.

 

[BuickGN]

I run straight Amsoil ATD in mine and have done so for most of it's life. There's a guy with a TL that runs a mix of Amsoil and Z1, has over 100,000 miles on the original unit, and 60,000 of them with a supercharger.

 

[Junior]

Originally Posted By: Blokey
I had no issue mixing the two in my '00 3.2TL. I was a firm believer in using ONLY ATF-Z1 but was convinced to try Amsoil ATF after being BITOG'ed

I did a series of drain & fills over a period of about 2 years and never experienced any issues as I transitioned from Z1 to ATF. Using the d&f calculator I'm basically now at 100% ATF and everything's great.

YMMV


I did the exact same thing on an 04 accord V6. Slowly went from Honda ATF to Amsoil ATF 3 quarts at a time. Changes 3 quarts every 10-15 thousand miles.

 

[dorkiedoode]

doing it right now. i have a mix of valvo, z1, and amsoil. i am waiting til 15-20k until i D&R with amsoil again.

 

[benjamming]

Originally Posted By: Pablo
In a word, don't. Choose a fluid and use it 100%.


What is the mechanism that causes the heartburn?

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: benjamming
Originally Posted By: Pablo
In a word, don't. Choose a fluid and use it 100%.


What is the mechanism that causes the heartburn?


I can't say the exact mechanism. I can't even say for sure in every transmission or in any transmission it will be harmful in any way.

Heck even in our Odyssey I have a mix, well there could be about 10-20% Z-1 left (I don't have the book with me and can't remember how many swaps I have done now).

That said I started to form the opinion earlier this year that ideally any ATF is best when it's 100% fill. The FM, additives, the base oils were tested as a finished product. Not mixed with other fluids. This is not to say that some combo "discovered" by drain and filling ends up as the uberATF…...

 

[milehighassassin]

Also make sure if you have a CVT transmission, you use the correct fluid. Amsoil is not for use in a CVT.

 

[Dominik]

I also have one of those Honda delicate units in my 2002 CL TypeS sofar 150,000 km on it and no problems of any sort I have done three D&F's with straight Z-1 then one full Amsoil then two consecutive mixes (1 Litre AmsOil + 2Litre Z-1) No change in shifts all D&F's done 6-8K Km apart