Automatic trans fluid changes

[Otter74]

I'm doing an oil change on my Beige Transportation Appliance this weekend, and figure it's about time to do a trans fluid service, too. The BTA is a 2003 Accord with 55k miles. This is the first and only two-pedal car I've owned, so A/T service is not already in my car-maintenance repertoire.

Is it sufficient to do a drain and fill? (I can do this easily by removing one of the cooler lines), or should I flush it? I know that a drain and fill won't get anything out of the torque converter which is probably holding close to half the fluid in system.

Or perhaps do a drain and fill and then another one after some relatively short mileage interval? At the rate I drive it (especially with the 911) It takes me at least a year to rack up 5k miles.

Being rigorous about it tells me to flush and fill, but if it's not really needed I'll skip it since it's a lot more work.

[pete3799]

At 55k miles I wouldn't bother changing it.

[Otter74]

The factory service interval is 60k for the ATF, so I'm not too far off. Shifts fine, but I like to take care of my cars well.

[stomachmonkey]

Drain and replace filter.

If the ATF is a healthy red no need to flush.

[vash]

that car have a tranny dipstick?

my tacoma doesnt. ruined the DIY tranny change for me.

[fastfredracing]

There is no serviceable filter . It is inside the case, Drain and fill is all you can do . It is cheap , and easy . Cost you 3 quarts of Honda atf .

[VincentVega]

x2, buy the $$ Honda stuff

[Evans, Marv]

I did an ATF change on my wife's car. Holds 8 quarts, but you only get a little less than 5 out when you drain it. So I'm doing what you said about doing another drain this weekend. I measured the fluid I drained out & replaced it with the same amount. If I do changes a week or two apart, I'll manage to change out most of the old. If I took it to the stealer, they would do one drain and call it good. Maybe that's OK but not up to my standards. Same thing with my F350 cooling system. It holds 8 gallons. When you take it to the stealership, they drain out 4 gallons & replace it & call it good. Also not up to my standards. Maybe if Fred checks this thread again, he'll chime in about it.

[Noah930]

I'd listen to whatever advice Fred gives, as he's the professional wrench. But the two Hondas I've had hold about 7 or 8 quarts of ATF, yet can only drain a little over 3 at a time. So to be anal about it, the procedure (short of a flush) is to drain-and-fill, drive around 15 minutes at least, and then repeat. Takes about 3 or 4 cycles to get fairly clean fluid. I mucked through the calculations, once, and it's something like 81% fresh fluid after 3 cycles, and 90-something after 4. The alternative to doing it like this all at once is to do just the 3 quarts every oil change or two. Both Honda products we've had have been known to have less than robust transmissions (though we've never had problems), so I erred on the side of more aggressive maintenance.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Noah930

I'd listen to whatever advice Fred gives, as he's the professional wrench. But the two Hondas I've had hold about 7 or 8 quarts of ATF, yet can only drain a little over 3 at a time. So to be anal about it, the procedure (short of a flush) is to drain-and-fill, drive around 15 minutes at least, and then repeat. Takes about 3 or 4 cycles to get fairly clean fluid. I mucked through the calculations, once, and it's something like 81% fresh fluid after 3 cycles, and 90-something after 4. The alternative to doing it like this all at once is to do just the 3 quarts every oil change or two. Both Honda products we've had have been known to have less than robust transmissions (though we've never had problems), so I erred on the side of more aggressive maintenance.

My approach with my wife's Nissan Quest minivan is to do the drain and fill at every other oil change. You can drain about 60% of the fluid capacity, so if you repeat the cycle a few times you'll have almost entirely fresh fluid.

[Targa Me]

Check the repair/service manual.
After replacing the fluid, you may need to bring the trans oil up to operating temperature to check the fluid level. On a car with a dip stick this is easy, but on some cars, without the dip stick, you need to raise the car (level) and using a DMM check the oil temp and then fill as required.

[LakeCleElum]

Like those above have said, you can't really drain it all out yourself. Since I don't trust those Minute lube places, this is one of the few jobs I to to a dealer for. They flush and do it right.

Every 50,000 - Change brake fluid at the same time. Our spare car is a '99 Camry with 226,000 miles. Still shifts like new. Doing the same with the newer Accord that only has 56,000 miles.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Worth noting, on an older car a true flush can cause more trouble than it's worth. Pressure flushing can dislodge the deposits that are happily hanging out inside your transmission not causing any issues, until they are dislodged and pumped into the valves.

[Otter74]

It does not have a filter - I think one was added as a running change later in the model cycle, but in 2003 (or 2004, I can never remember what it is) it didn't have one. It does have a dipstick and it's still nice and red so, hell, maybe Petes advice is good. Doesn't seem to call for a full flush, though, so I think I'll just do a drain and fill. Already got the Honda ATF.

I got the car about 5 years ago wit all of 16k on it so it hasn't exactly required a lot of maintenance. I'm with Bob S. On brake fluid and I did hat early this winter.

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Worth noting, on an older car a true flush can cause more trouble than it's worth. Pressure flushing can dislodge the deposits that are happily hanging out inside your transmission not causing any issues, until they are dislodged and pumped into the valves.

I could not agree more . Keep it clean, adhere to factory maintenance schedules and that is about the best you can do .
Modern transmissions use solenoids to shift, sticking manual shift valves are not really much of an issue on modern transmissions .

[E Sully]

I just did this on my 2004 Civic at 98,000 miles. Very simple, and done with oil change at same time. Drain it out through the normal drain plug, and refill same amount as comes out. Don't do a power flush. Mine was about 3.5 quarts. Repeat after driving it a bit. Only use the Honda synthetic fluid.
My Civic still shifts great and can get 40mpg strict highway driving, 30mpg combined.
I'm not sure about your model, but Honda recommends checking the Civic fluid within a minute after shutting off the car after driving.

[sugarwood]

Much of the fluid is in the torque converter, so you need to do a couple of drain and fills to replace a good percentage of the fluid. Do a few until the fluid is cherry red again.

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Worth noting, on an older car a true flush can cause more trouble than it's worth. Pressure flushing can dislodge the deposits that are happily hanging out inside your transmission not causing any issues, until they are dislodged and pumped into the valves.

Glad to hear this....I want to hear from anyone that has had this failure occur.

Seems the internet is fully of opinions with nothing to back it up??????? I have followed the factory recommended procedure for 226,000 miles w/o an issue....

Tell me your 1st hand experience of a story to refute this????

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Glad to hear this....I want to hear from anyone that has had this failure occur.

Seems the internet is fully of opinions with nothing to back it up??????? I have followed the factory recommended procedure for 226,000 miles w/o an issue....

Tell me your 1st hand experience of a story to refute this????

If you change your fluid on a regular basis, like I do, it's pretty much a non-issue. But I've heard multiple stories of people who did nothing for 100k and then had a failure shortly after a flush.

[Noah930]

^^^ I have heard (via Internet) the same. Which is why I now change 3 qts of ATF with each/every other oil change, as opposed to waiting for 60K miles to do the complete flush (or the 3x4 method, which is a PITA). Heck, I'm down there anyway messing with the oil drain plug. Just reach over and undo the transmission plug, too.