No detectable issues in my accord cvt running Amsoil cvt fluid for last 55K miles. Two drain and fills, coming up on my third one
What makes CVT fluid special?
- Thread starter Jmoney7269
- Start date
The Idemitsu NS3 I bought for our Sentra smelled like new power steering fluid. The fluid that came out smelled like used power steering fluid - very metallicy. I know they shed a lot of metal and that's normal.
The valvoline universal CVT that I had to use because I was short 1/2 quart smelled very foul.
The valvoline universal CVT that I had to use because I was short 1/2 quart smelled very foul.
All gear/hydraulic oils I’ve used smell rancid.
Honda-hcf2, new and used smelled the same, putrid. Amsoil cvt, new and used smelled the same, putrid.
Valvoline gear oil smelled putrid
Honda-hcf2, new and used smelled the same, putrid. Amsoil cvt, new and used smelled the same, putrid.
Valvoline gear oil smelled putrid
It should not be normal for CVTs to shed metal but I think many do because of poor break-in service and maintenance. After break-in is finished and the system is clean, there should be very little metal accumulation. I think this myth (CVTs shed metal) is due to the sensitivity of the CVT to fluid contamination.
Keep the fluid / pan / magnets clean and you'll find very little wear and long service life.
I've found that most OEM service recommendations are lacking and deceiving but that's nothing new in the NA automotive market.
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Double post
That was the first drain/fill at 15000 miles. I'm sure a lot of it was breakin material.
The car's going to hit 30K today. Hoping to do a second drain/fill and change both filters in a month or so.
It doesn't get driven much in the winter. So if we can keep a transmission in it, the car should last us a while. I plan on doing 15K mile services going forward.
I would think that 15k miles is excessive for a fluid change (~100%) after break-in but if you're just doing a pan drop (does it have a pan?) that could be suitable.
I'm currently doing annual pan drops on Jatco CVTs (~50% fluid change) until the system remains clean, then I move to every 2nd / 3rd year. It's important that the pan & magnet is kept clean as it's a critical part of the filtering system.
After this next pan drop / filter change, it'll just be pulling the drain plug and refilling. Probably 2-3 quarts getting exchanged. Honestly, for the a few quarts per year, it wouldn't be too bad to just do a yearly drain/fill. The car sees 8-10k a year now that I've been driving it. Whereas it sat mostly its first 2 years.
Not all chains are alike
How did you get your fluid level correct? These things don't have a dipstick, so I assume it has a weep hole somewhere i gotta remove a bolt/plug from.
On her 2015 Altima (and my 17 accord) their is a check bolt you use after refilling to see if is at the correct level.
Unless it is tested by the manufacturer using similar R&D test you can't tell if it is just theoretical better or in practice doesn't matter as much. I understand that guarantee to work come from the additive package manufacturer who probably also sell to the car manufacturer, but they can't tell you how much better it is without knowing how the atf wears out in that transmission to begin with (like is it due to clutch pack material load, viscosity break down, detergent additive used up, the CVT friction additive used up, etc).
I would still use any aftermarket fluid the same amount of time, and treat it as "meet the spec" instead of seeing them as better, without test data.
