Which Valvoline ATF for 06 honda pilot

[ctechbob]

Millions of Hondas out there with DW-1 in them. The formulation of Z1 and DW-1 is different and even the knock-offs from Idemitsu, Aisin, etc don't replicate it for their Honda-specific fluids. Why is it so different ? No idea but Honda did it that way for some reason.

It is discussed in the Honda thread pinned at the top of the forum. Z1/DW1 are heavy in Zinc in order to soften shifts up starting in the early 2000's when Honda started going upmarket with their cars and they were keeping their AT design to one that without the ability to slip the clutches to a certain extent would result in harsh shifting.

 

[Hall]

Z1/DW1 are heavy in Zinc in order to soften shifts up starting in the early 2000's when Honda started going upmarket with their cars and they were keeping their AT design to one that without the ability to slip the clutches to a certain extent would result in harsh shifting.

I always seem to remember reading the opposite - that Honda formulated the fluid to have 'firmer' shifts, not soft or slip-like. What people found when using Valvoline, etc was that their shifts were much softer than with the Honda fluid.

 

[kschachn]

I always seem to remember reading the opposite - that Honda formulated the fluid to have 'firmer' shifts, not soft or slip-like. What people found when using Valvoline, etc was that their shifts were much softer than with the Honda fluid.

That's not been my experience in my old Accord, the shifts are more firm using Maxlife than when I bought DW-1 at the dealer. But I'd also note that I've never experienced soft shifts with this type of transmission regardless of the fluid. I also used Dexron III, then Dexron VI as well as Transmax, etc.

 

[wlk]

Valvoline MV Import synthetic atf and a bottle of Lubegard Red. Based on visc closer to Z1 and it has been running fine in my 05 Element

 

[skaughtz]

Deleted.

 

[ctechbob]

I always seem to remember reading the opposite - that Honda formulated the fluid to have 'firmer' shifts, not soft or slip-like. What people found when using Valvoline, etc was that their shifts were much softer than with the Honda fluid.

Yea, it is the opposite. There's a couple shifts in some of the Honda boxes that are on the same shaft and overlap just slightly. That's usually where the harshness comes from, a slight bind. So they worked around it with a softer fluid.

That's why if you look in the manuals right after Z1 was released they say you can use Dex III but that you will experience harsh shifting.

 

[Cressida]

Yea, it is the opposite. There's a couple shifts in some of the Honda boxes that are on the same shaft and overlap just slightly. That's usually where the harshness comes from, a slight bind. So they worked around it with a softer fluid.

That's why if you look in the manuals right after Z1 was released they say you can use Dex III but that you will experience harsh shifting.

Does this harshness or slight bind you are mentioning result in just the more noticeable and difference in the shift feel, or is there some concern with more wear and long-term reliability resulting from this change in condition?

The Dw-1 fluid uses a large amount of Zinc and the other "suitable" fluids use only very small amount, but have a much higher amount of Phosphorus instead. So then with an aftermarket ATF fluid change one ends up with a fluid that has both a high Zine and also a much higher Phosphorus. I wonder how those two work in that new cocktail ratio considering none of the ATF's start with this type of formulation of high Zinc AND Phosphorus ?

 

[Johnny919]

I'm not sure if it's just me but my 2006 pilot with 5 speed auto seems to shift better with honda dw1 (which is spec'd for z1 but discontinued) than the valvoline MaxLife (red) container. I think the maxlife formula changed when they added CVT compatibility. Maybe maxlife works better on newer hondas.

 

[Johnny919]

Welcome to BITOG.

I have been doing vast similar research on trying to learn and determine which ATF fluid to use in a Honda 5 speed as used in our CRV. Valvoline will recommend the MaxLife; however I plan to do a drain and refill with the valvoline extended protection in the next week or two. I have not found any reports of it not working well in these Honda applications. Many are using the Idemitsu Type H-Plus as well, but I'm going with the EP. I would not use their import multi vehicle (blue).

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Why would you not use the blue import mutlivehicle? It's recommended for honda z1 except cvt which is what my 06 pilot calls for.

 

[Cressida]

Why would you not use the blue import mutlivehicle? It's recommended but honda z1 except cvt which is what my 06 pilot calls for.

Just based on a user report who tried the blue import MV in a 4th Gen. Honda CRV with the 5 speed. The report was:

Two weeks after doing the fluid change the transmission started making noises. Drained out the Valvoline (blue import) fluid and replaced with the OEM Honda ATF fluid. The transmission quieted immediately...

 

[ctechbob]

Does this harshness or slight bind you are mentioning result in just the more noticeable and difference in the shift feel, or is there some concern with more wear and long-term reliability resulting from this change in condition?

The Dw-1 fluid uses a large amount of Zinc and the other "suitable" fluids use only very small amount, but have a much higher amount of Phosphorus instead. So then with an aftermarket ATF fluid change one ends up with a fluid that has both a high Zine and also a much higher Phosphorus. I wonder how those two work in that new cocktail ratio considering none of the ATF's start with this type of formulation of high Zinc AND Phosphorus ?

I don't have anything concrete on that. Normally firm shifts are better for a 'normal' autobox since you're (generally) saving on clutch wear. Being an actual momentary bind its hard to say what effect that will have. I'd venture a guess as somewhere between 'none' and 'slight'? Total WAG on my part, but I don't think it would be an issue in the stronger 4 shaft 5 speeds, but the 3 shaft 5 speeds are made of glass, so maybe it would have some effect on those over the long haul, but like I said, I've got nothing concrete on that.

Either way, I like how mine shift with the MaxLife/Platinum combo, so I'll be sticking with that until their demise. I'm hoping to retire the poor 2003 Accord sometime in the next 12 months. That car owes me nothing, but it does look like a meth-head car now and I want to get the wife into a Hybrid CRV at some point. 22 Years and 330,000 miles is plenty enough service for me out of that car.

 

[kschachn]

Just based on a user report who tried the blue import MV in a 4th Gen. Honda CRV with the 5 speed. The report was:

Two weeks after doing the fluid change the transmission started making noises. Drained out the Valvoline (blue import) fluid and replaced with the OEM Honda ATF fluid. The transmission quieted immediately...

Uh huh.

 

[Snagglefoot]

I haven’t decided what to use next but here is a photo of some of the ATF I drained in a spill and fill vs new DW-1. I may do two more at 3.5 quarts each. The Maxlife is 30% cheaper, but then again it will be years until I need to do it again if I get the next two spills done soon. Right now the transmission shifts fine. Not sure when the last change was done but here is a photo of the accumulation on the magnet.

 

[BrendanC]

DW-1 with a bottle of lube guard red. change the external filter aswell.

 

[martinq]

DW-1 with a bottle of lube guard red. change the external filter aswell.

If you need to add something to your ATF then you're using the wrong ATF. Valvoline MaxLife and Valvoline Restore and Protect ATF are far superior to DW-1.

 

[HyundaiAbuser]

If you need to add something to your ATF then you're using the wrong ATF. Valvoline MaxLife and Valvoline Restore and Protect ATF are far superior to DW-1.

Just because the Valvoline Restore and Protect atf is out doesn't make the years of lubegard praise are unjust. I am planning on running Valvoline Restore and Protect in my crv through.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Any of those will be fine, but your transmission will still grenade

The V6 Honda automatics are among the worst. Even using DW1 every 15k won't prevent transmission failure.

My choice would be Maxlife. Some people also mentioned adding Lubegard. This might be worth doing. Another option is to just use Lubegard Complete ATF which has some additive already included.

 

[Snagglefoot]

I’m not sure what the expectation is on a Honda Pilot transmission. I have 146,000 miles on my 2009.

 

[Snagglefoot]

One of the Honda dealers has a flat rate cost for a transmission spill and fill. The interesting thing is they do two drains separated by 10 minutes of driving. They feel it’s the best bang for the buck and each subsequent drain is a diminishing return. The cost is about $250 USD equivalent and they supply 7 quarts of DW-1 ATF.

 

[ctechbob]

Any of those will be fine, but your transmission will still grenade

The V6 Honda automatics are among the worst. Even using DW1 every 15k won't prevent transmission failure.

My choice would be Maxlife. Some people also mentioned adding Lubegard. This might be worth doing. Another option is to just use Lubegard Complete ATF which has some additive already included.

3 Shafts, yes, 100% fail. 4 shaft units are solid except for some that have converter issues. Plenty of high mileage Ridgelines and Pilots out there, along with the TL's and lat(er) 2007+ Accord V6's.