How crucial is changing the ATF based on time interval?? I know with engine oil its a different story but on auto transmission what would cause the fluid to go bad besides putting alot of miles?..The reason I ask because on my 2004 Honda accord manual(severe service) it says to change the ATF at 60k miles or 3 years whicever comes first, 30K miles or 2 years thereafter..I'm at 22K miles right now and debating if I should drain and fill...TIA
Replacing ATF based on Time Interval
- Thread starter stang5
- Start date
- Status
Originally Posted By: stang5
How crucial is changing the ATF based on time interval?? I know with engine oil its a different story but on auto transmission what would cause the fluid to go bad besides putting alot of miles?..The reason I ask because on my 2004 Honda accord manual(severe service) it says to change the ATF at 60k miles or 3 years whicever comes first, 30K miles or 2 years thereafter..I'm at 22K miles right now and debating if I should drain and fill...TIA
Yes, it should be replaced. Under short trip driving, moisture is not given a chance to burn off. Moisture is very damaging to the friction materials.
How crucial is changing the ATF based on time interval?? I know with engine oil its a different story but on auto transmission what would cause the fluid to go bad besides putting alot of miles?..The reason I ask because on my 2004 Honda accord manual(severe service) it says to change the ATF at 60k miles or 3 years whicever comes first, 30K miles or 2 years thereafter..I'm at 22K miles right now and debating if I should drain and fill...TIA
Yes, it should be replaced. Under short trip driving, moisture is not given a chance to burn off. Moisture is very damaging to the friction materials.
He does not say his trips are short only that he has not put on a lot of miles. Maybe its a weekend car and he takes the train to work.
You should drain/refill. Time or mileage is easy to use. used oil analysis would give a better answer. Drain/refill costs less then a used oil analysis.
I can't believe that you would debate on practicing a better maintenance interval. At 22k, the ATF is probably shot regardless of calender time. Z1 is nothing special.
I can't believe that you would debate on practicing a better maintenance interval. At 22k, the ATF is probably shot regardless of calender time. Z1 is nothing special.
Moisture in AT? i remember someone mention water is the worst thing for Honda' AT because one of it's friction materials is water soulable?
i also agree to change the fluid, i have a 04 TSX 5AT. the manual call for 160K normal and 80k severe services but i can feel weakening at AT at 45k km (28k Miles) last November, the car still drive smooth, but getting "too smooth", not crisp.. not willing to shift, AT response is slow(er) at highway. a drain and fill with Z1 bring the car back to life. the fluid color looks good, smell normal, very minimal(almost none) ferric on the magnet, but it's "shot" like unDummmy said. UOA is more $$$.
now 32k miles, at i just did another drain and fill at 51K with 2q Z1 and 1q castrol import ATF. i have 5 q Z1 from 2 years ago before i know Amsoil. i also cut a access hole at the under body covering (or aero management thing) and that make access to AT drain bolt much much easier, i want to do another 2 drain and fill with Amsoil ATF this year. hope this helps.
isnt it funny the transmission warrenty is 10k but service interval is 160K
i also agree to change the fluid, i have a 04 TSX 5AT. the manual call for 160K normal and 80k severe services but i can feel weakening at AT at 45k km (28k Miles) last November, the car still drive smooth, but getting "too smooth", not crisp.. not willing to shift, AT response is slow(er) at highway. a drain and fill with Z1 bring the car back to life. the fluid color looks good, smell normal, very minimal(almost none) ferric on the magnet, but it's "shot" like unDummmy said. UOA is more $$$.
now 32k miles, at i just did another drain and fill at 51K with 2q Z1 and 1q castrol import ATF. i have 5 q Z1 from 2 years ago before i know Amsoil. i also cut a access hole at the under body covering (or aero management thing) and that make access to AT drain bolt much much easier, i want to do another 2 drain and fill with Amsoil ATF this year. hope this helps.
isnt it funny the transmission warrenty is 10k but service interval is 160K
Moisture in ATF from short trips? How?
A trans is not an engine that produces H2O when gasoline is burned.
I've never seen milky ATF, except is a few cars that were in a flood.
The ATF breaks down primarily from heat , additive depletion, and shearing, therefore mileage is the most critical in determining the change intervals.
A trans is not an engine that produces H2O when gasoline is burned.
I've never seen milky ATF, except is a few cars that were in a flood.
The ATF breaks down primarily from heat , additive depletion, and shearing, therefore mileage is the most critical in determining the change intervals.
Transmission can breath. Normal temp swings can cause moisture that can enter during cool down in high moisture or high humidity conditions. Usually just a minor issue and rarely seen.
Get transmission hot will evap out the moisture. Short trips and too cool of a unit in a high humidity environment..... can cause a build up of moisture.
You can also have a measureable moisture level without seeing the peptobismal pink milky solution.
Get transmission hot will evap out the moisture. Short trips and too cool of a unit in a high humidity environment..... can cause a build up of moisture.
You can also have a measureable moisture level without seeing the peptobismal pink milky solution.
Certainly some small amount of moisture will be present in the ATF since the transmissions have case breathers that are unfiltered and open to the atmosphere.
The condition of ATF cannot be judged by it's smell, look, taste, etc. At the point which you see or smell an issue it is FAR, FAR too late. Unless you want to monitor the condition of the oil via used oil analysis then you must use a time based OCI. You'll have to base that on conditions that the vehicle is operated under and the make/model of the transmission.
On most of my personal stuff I change the ATF about every 10-20k miles. On the smaller stuff I have put drain plugs in the pan and just drain/refill what is in the pan around 10-15k miles. On my larger stuff the torque converters have drain plugs and they get complete fluid changes around 10-15k miles since these see high load, high power conditions. The bigger stuff I have also put spin-on trans filters on. This has been working very well for a number of years, very few transmission problems.
The condition of ATF cannot be judged by it's smell, look, taste, etc. At the point which you see or smell an issue it is FAR, FAR too late. Unless you want to monitor the condition of the oil via used oil analysis then you must use a time based OCI. You'll have to base that on conditions that the vehicle is operated under and the make/model of the transmission.
On most of my personal stuff I change the ATF about every 10-20k miles. On the smaller stuff I have put drain plugs in the pan and just drain/refill what is in the pan around 10-15k miles. On my larger stuff the torque converters have drain plugs and they get complete fluid changes around 10-15k miles since these see high load, high power conditions. The bigger stuff I have also put spin-on trans filters on. This has been working very well for a number of years, very few transmission problems.
well, I did a drain and fill.. It only drained 3 quart and $7 a quart of Z1 from honda...fluid wasn't as red like the fresh one and got some little fussies on the magnet as well.. now, this auto transmission looks like a 5 speed from underneath ( meaning no oil pan that can be remove) is there even a filter on this honda transmission that needs to be service?? thanks again for all the input..
Originally Posted By: stang5
well, I did a drain and fill.. It only drained 3 quart and $7 a quart of Z1 from honda...fluid wasn't as red like the fresh one and got some little fussies on the magnet as well.. now, this auto transmission looks like a 5 speed from underneath ( meaning no oil pan that can be remove) is there even a filter on this honda transmission that needs to be service?? thanks again for all the input..
Don't stress over the color of the fluid, Honda ATF loses its pink color quickly. There is no serviceable filter, a drain/fill is all that's needed. Repeat this service every 15K-30K to keep the transmission clean and shifting properly. Shop around on the Z-1, $7 a quart is expensive.
well, I did a drain and fill.. It only drained 3 quart and $7 a quart of Z1 from honda...fluid wasn't as red like the fresh one and got some little fussies on the magnet as well.. now, this auto transmission looks like a 5 speed from underneath ( meaning no oil pan that can be remove) is there even a filter on this honda transmission that needs to be service?? thanks again for all the input..
Don't stress over the color of the fluid, Honda ATF loses its pink color quickly. There is no serviceable filter, a drain/fill is all that's needed. Repeat this service every 15K-30K to keep the transmission clean and shifting properly. Shop around on the Z-1, $7 a quart is expensive.
Originally Posted By: stang5
well, I did a drain and fill.. It only drained 3 quart and $7 a quart of Z1 from honda...fluid wasn't as red like the fresh one and got some little fussies on the magnet as well.. now, this auto transmission looks like a 5 speed from underneath ( meaning no oil pan that can be remove) is there even a filter on this honda transmission that needs to be service?? thanks again for all the input..
both V6 or I4 has a filter. try this link
http://www.slhondaparts.com/browse.asp?Model=ACCORD
well, I did a drain and fill.. It only drained 3 quart and $7 a quart of Z1 from honda...fluid wasn't as red like the fresh one and got some little fussies on the magnet as well.. now, this auto transmission looks like a 5 speed from underneath ( meaning no oil pan that can be remove) is there even a filter on this honda transmission that needs to be service?? thanks again for all the input..
both V6 or I4 has a filter. try this link
http://www.slhondaparts.com/browse.asp?Model=ACCORD
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
- Locked