Starting the Valvoline Restore and Protect ATF journey

[HyundaiAbuser]

I had a previous thread on our 2002 CRV that had weak torque converter lockup and shudder since we bought it i think around 15k ago. According to the previous owner there had been no transmission services before our purchase and since then i had done a couple d&f with valvoline import mv to clean magnets and then a cooler line flush with aisin DW1. In the last 15k or so miles the shifting has gotten smoother and the lockup has improved although still not perfect and the shudder has completely gone away. Now that it has a few miles on the fluid I figured I'd go in to clean the drain plug magnet and while I'm at it, see if Valvoline Restore and Protect name can make any further improvement.
As you can see the magnet wasn't too gunked up since this was a pretty fresh change. Current mileage is 191,6xx, will update with another d&f at 200 with any updates.
About 4 quarts out hot, added 3.7 quarts in ambient temp

 

[JeffKeryk]

How does she like the Valvoline Restore and Protect? I generally stick to Honda fluid. Thanks in advance.

 

[HyundaiAbuser]

How does she like the Valvoline Restore and Protect? I generally stick to Honda fluid. Thanks in advance.

I’ve only had a few miles on the 35% Valvoline Restore and Protect fill and detected no difference. There was a significant improvement over time going from the worn out oem and import mv to the aisin dw1 so still positive so far.

 

[amateurbob]

Please keep the updates coming.

 

[tah8436]

Wow, not much buildup on the magnet the second go-round vs my journey with a neglected Honda 5 speed. I guess that can only be a good thing!

 

[HyundaiAbuser]

Wow, not much buildup on the magnet the second go-round vs my journey with a neglected Honda 5 speed. I guess that can only be a good thing!

This would be my 4th magnet clean since first getting the car. The first was pretty nasty and the one before this had considerably more which is what put the Valvoline Restore and Protect itch in my brain in the first place. I’m very interested to see what it will look like at 200

 

[kschachn]

I'm not sure I understand what problem this ATF would fix that would show up on the magnet?

 

[martinq]

Keep the pan and magnets clean. They're working hard, 24 hrs a day.

 

[cptbarkey]

I'm not sure I understand what problem this ATF would fix that would show up on the magnet?

If doing a first time ATF change at 175k wasn't risky enough, might as well keep going.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

You can get a Magnefine filter and will clamp into the the same bracket with no issues if you want added filtering. Just verify direction flow, the factory one does have an internal bypass also. I found the one on my '04 because it was rusted and starting to leak fluid.

The Blue bottle Valvoline Multi-import is a bit higher viscosity like the original Z-1. Many used the red bottle Max Life with lots of recommendations. Cost and availability is good. New Valvoline Extended Protection also an option. My daughters '08 CRV has some HPL Blue, Dave recommended as closer to Z-1 viscosity vs their Green LV. Hers has a mix of stuff (HPL Blue, Maxlife red and DW-1) in it currently at 254k and working well.

 

[HyundaiAbuser]

You can get a Magnefine filter and will clamp into the the same bracket with no issues if you want added filtering. Just verify direction flow, the factory one does have an internal bypass also. I found the one on my '04 because it was rusted and starting to leak fluid.

The Blue bottle Valvoline Multi-import is a bit higher viscosity like the original Z-1. Many used the red bottle Max Life with lots of recommendations. Cost and availability is good. New Valvoline Extended Protection also an option. My daughters '08 CRV has some HPL Blue, Dave recommended as closer to Z-1 viscosity vs their Green LV. Hers has a mix of stuff (HPL Blue, Maxlife red and DW-1) in it currently at 254k and working well.

View attachment 341364

View attachment 341365

View attachment 341366

View attachment 341368

I forgot to mention I did replace the in line with the oem Honda when I did the line flush with the aisin stuff. I do have a spare magnefine laying around I’ll probably swap that in next time I plan to change the filter. Very cool it hooks right up.

If doing a first time ATF change at 175k wasn't risky enough, might as well keep going.

I figure if it dies it dies. I won’t leave old fluid in.

 

[kschachn]

I figure if it dies it dies. I won’t leave old fluid in.

Fresh fluid is always better than old fluid. And that mileage is not something to worry about.

Clutch debris never held a transmission together

 

[OM617YOTA]

Lots of people claiming that if a transmission has never had it's fluid changed, best not to change it, because they had some cousin's uncle's dog's C6 or TH350 that went flawlessly for hundreds of thousands of miles and then they changed the fluid and it died shortly after. Ask WHY they changed the fluid then after not doing so for so long, and they always look at their feet and go "well it was starting to act a little funny ......" The end cascade of failure had already started and the transmission was already doomed. This myth needs to die.

 

[kschachn]

Lots of people claiming that if a transmission has never had it's fluid changed, best not to change it, because they had some cousin's uncle's dog's C6 or TH350 that went flawlessly for hundreds of thousands of miles and then they changed the fluid and it died shortly after. Ask WHY they changed the fluid then after not doing so for so long, and they always look at their feet and go "well it was starting to act a little funny ......" The end cascade of failure had already started and the transmission was already doomed. This myth needs to die.

Very much so.

 

[melk]

I have a 2007 CRV with 168k I recently took over from my sister in law. I did 3x drain/fills with DW1 (still coming out dark on last drain) but from here on out will likely be using Valvoline Restore and Protect ATF.

Overall it shifts great and there was a huge improvement after the first round of fills specifically with shifting into Reverse which used to come with a giant CLUNK. The only remaining issue is that it sometimes likes to hold onto 1st a bit too long.