2006 LX ATF fluid change

[mfisher1967]

I performed the first ATF drain/fill on my wife's 2006 Pilot this morning. For those who are curious, it takes 4 quarts and 4 ounces of ATF to refill with the same amount that drains out. I caught all of the used ATF in a bucket and measured it with a glass measuring cup.

I used the dipstick hole to add the new Z1 ATF (Turkey baster/funnel combo). I did want to use the correct fill hole, but the folks as my local Honda dealer's parts counter looked at me like I was crazy when I asked for a new 24 mm sealing washer for the fill hole. The guy working on the counter told me that they had never sold one, so they didn't carry them. Either the mechanics at the dealership are reusing the sealing washer, or they are using the dipstick to add ATF as well.

The magnet on the drain plug was covered with a layer of metallic sludge and some larger particles. It looked as though my transmission is wearing OK based on my observations on multiple Honda vehicles (Pilot, CR-V and Civic) over the last 11 years. I used my new torque wrench to reinstall the plug at the correct 36 ft/lbs as per the Helms manual.

After I was through, I idled the engine until it came up to temperature and then cycled through all of the gears while pressing the brake pedal. Here in Houston, Texas the largest "hill" is a highway overpass, so this is the only time I get to cycle through the additional drive gears (D3, etc.).

It was during this time that I made an interesting discovery. I could not move the transmission selector lever on the steering column past the "D" selection. I did not want to force, and possibly break, the selector lever, so I stopped by my local Honda dealer's service center to find out if I was doing something wrong. It turns out that you don't need to pull the selector lever towards the driver when moving from "D" to the extra drive gears. Oh well, live and learn.

On a side note, the ATF was fairly dark after 27,000 miles of driving. I will be performing ATF drain and fills during each oil change going forward (~5,000 mile drain/fills). It may seem like overkill, but keeping the ATF pristine has to be a good thing. Also, spending ~25 on ATF twice per year is fairly reasonable when one considers the cost of repairing a Honda transmission.

I also drained the engine oil while I had the Pilot up on the ramps. I opted to use Pennzoil Platinum 5W-20 this time instead of the usual Mobil 1. I had wanted to use Mobil 1 5W-20 EP, but my local Walmart has a great price on Pennzoil Platinum. The engine sounds ever so slightly smoother, but this may be due to the placebo affect. I will catch an oil sample for UOA the next time I change the oil to see if the claims on the Bob Is The Oil Guy site about Pennzoil Platinum hold true for my vehicle.

Total time to replace engine oil and ATf = 1.5 hours (Yes I have OCD).

[andyschneider]

I've drained/filled the ATF on 2 pilots a total of 3 times, and used the fill location on the top of the tranny each time. And each time I've reused the washer on the top fill bolt, and never had a problem. According to the Honda master tech at my dealership, the fluid sealing properties in that location are minimal, and it's mostly a dirt seal. All the other drain washers, including the fill washers on the VTM unit and the front diff, do need washers since you fill to the level line on each one.

andy

[mfisher1967]

I found the 24 mm fill hole sealing washers for a couple of bucks at HandA online. I realize that the fill hole is above the fluid level and does not operate under pressure. I just want to have a couple of these washers on hand in case I break or lose one while performing a drain/fill. Murphy's law is a bi-atch.

[SDpnoy]

Great info. Thx. I will be doing mine today.

[humanoid]

Have done the ATF refill through the dipstick tube myself as well. Couldn't break the seal of the ATF fill bolt, and didn't feel like having busted knuckles. Took a bit longer... no biggie.

[mclairmo]

I let my dealer do it. They have an Express Lube section that does it fast and for only $60. I figure that after the cost of the Honda ATF fluid, I would not save that much doing it myself and I would spend all morning doing it and risk getting ATF fluid on the driveway.

[jamesgarner83]

I have a 2003 with the trans recall oil jet installed on the fill hole. I think I will be filling mine via the dipstick hole as well. I dont really want to mess with the contraption Honda replaced the original fill hole with.

[isrb710]

Originally Posted by jamesgarner83

I have a 2003 with the trans recall oil jet installed on the fill hole. I think I will be filling mine via the dipstick hole as well. I dont really want to mess with the contraption Honda replaced the original fill hole with.

Did they install "trans recall oil jets" on 2004's also? Where I thought I would find the fill hole, there was something else there. So I used the dipstick tube to refill mine today.

[humanoid]

IIRC they added the jets to early 2004s as well.