Substitutes for honda fliuds

[gogozy]

i had done many reading of failed Honda/Acura failed AT unit on honda forums. at the first, the dealer were quick to blame owner due to abuse or poor maintenance. the proper fluid, and goooood relationship with dealership does play a important role for warranty clams. however, as Honda 1st gen 5AT failure piled up, there are more and more evidence the failure is "random" and point to design issue, and Honda issue recall, and extend the warranty on the AT unit; and when a transmission failed within the period, the dealers are permitted to perform swap only, they are not allow to open, diagnose, nor run test on the failed transmission in this particular case unless authorized regional rep. seems to me that Honda acknowledge the failures were due to design and they are not going to question the customer, to me this also signal Honda acknowledge there are other fluid compatible with Z1.
having used both Z1 and other substitutes, my personal opinion is side with "respected" substitutes; they are "at least" just as good, and mostly perform admirable better than Z1.
side track for a sec... here we talk about fluids, but consider other accessories such as spark plugs, battery, light bulbs, floor mats, tires, or even down to nuts and bolts, and crush washer, there are just too many items that manufacture found too crumble to stamp their logo on all those parts. but i am sure there will always have some owner insist on Honda Tires (if they ever come out one). nothing wrong, just there are substitutes just as good or better or worst.

 

[FZ1]

Thanks. My point was not that the Z1 was, in some sense, "best" but that, if you have all your R and M done by your Honda dealer,they are more likely to try to get you the best replacement trans price reduction from Honda. I let the Honda dealer do my ATF drains and fills and oil changes. So far;so good. 100k on my 02 V6. Agree with random,no sense in fighting the fickle finger of fate.

 

[benjamming]

I can certainly understand that point FZ1, & it may even work out that way (has for many) but I believe that will be less true as time & miles march on. However, I have chosen to buy different fluid & use UOA to guide rather than lean on the dealer. I just don't feel right depending upon a dealer. To me it's like depending upon the government, something is out of place there.

 

[FZ1]

Different strokes. I hope we will both be lucky.

 

[PandaBear]

Honda Power Steering Fluid is different, as pointed out in the difference in spec in 3rd party PSF blender. The viscosity is higher (around 30W rather than 20W), and it has more detergents like calcium, zinc, and phosphate. Other than that nothing special.

Honda Z1, according to Molakule, is different only in the ZDDP additives that no other ATF out there uses. Molakule "think" that Honda uses it because of the way its transmission is laid out more like a automatic shifted manual than a typical planetary gear automatic, and other ATF blender believes that ZDDP is not necessary for Honda and will plug up other manufacture's wet clutch pack friction material, so no one else uses it (or stopped using it since 20 or so years ago).

I personally am using Maxlife and am happy with its shift quality, others (AudiJunkie I think) have tried Castrol Import Multivehicle that passed JASO A1 spec or Amsoil with great result. So it is up to you if you want to take the chance. If you don't, just stay with Z1.