Easy DIY ATF Fluid Change PICs

[carguy07]

See post 206, coolant is blue and the coolers are know to fail and dump coolant into the tranny. I would rule that out and quick if it was me.

[ShortBus]

After reading all 12+ pages of this thread, I don't see this addressed, so...
My 2010 2WD Pilot appears to have a different ATF drain than that pictured on page one of this thread. What I believe is my drain bolt is on the opposite side of the transmission case (passenger side of vehicle) and looks to be a 3/8-inch-drive square-socket bolt, and not a hex-head. It is at the lowest point of the case, and is nearly flush with the surrounding surface.

I haven't tried to loosen it yet, but can anyone with a current-gen Pilot confirm this? I suppose if ATF runs out, I've got a winner.

Thanks.

[bnbhoha]

reply is a little late, I too have a 2010 pilot and the square bolt for the socket wrench. This is the correct tranny drain bolt. Drained, cleaned the magnet, put new washer 3.6 quarts of fluid.

[mmm666]

anyone have a picture of 2010 pilot atf drain bolt? thanks

[Maknessa]

Thank you. Very helpful. Still, I would like to know where to find the fill plug. It is not immediately obvious to me from the picture of the service manual page.

[samc]

Originally Posted by Maknessa

Thank you. Very helpful. Still, I would like to know where to find the fill plug. It is not immediately obvious to me from the picture of the service manual page.

Standing in front of your pilot, look at the area passed your battery, passed air box and look down. It would say ATF on the bolt.

[Im2c0oL]

I'm wondering if the Acura dealer would carry the same ATF-DW1 for our Pilot since they share the same transmission? Honda Dealer just 2.5x farther

[carguy07]

Originally Posted by gratefuls1n

I'm wondering if the Acura dealer would carry the same ATF-DW1 for our Pilot since they share the same transmission? Honda Dealer just 2.5x farther

Yep, Acura and Honda dealers will have the same fluids on the shelf.

[Im2c0oL]

Originally Posted by carguy07

Yep, Acura and Honda dealers will have the same fluids on the shelf.

I just got rip off by Honda dealer 4qts $38, $8.85/qt!!!

[Im2c0oL]

So I just bought my car recently, and decide to replace the transmission oil anyway to be safe in case the dealer didn't do it. My Pilot is at 80700, pick up 4qt of ATF DW-1 last week, and after a short trip to the grocery today, I let the car cool for about 30minutes. I try to apply the steps used on the 2005 Pilot on my 08 and it's different, the location of the dipstick is further down to the left, kind hard to get to. So I was able to located the fill bolt 17mm labeled ATF with blue paint on it just right in the back of the intake pipe look down.

17mm 1/2" deep socket + 15"+ pipe to help with more torque. The bolt was really tight even though I had a pipe, it still gave me a big bruise on my hand and a 1/2" cut! so be careful!!!

Located my drain bolt it has a blue paint mark on it, and usually it use a 3/8" ratchet to remove.

Again, it's helpful to have a 15" pipe to help

Drained into two 1gal jug, I did spilled a lot, but I use it all to refill back to the ATF DW-1 bottles end up more than 4qt minus the amount I spilled.

Looking at the drain bolt this tells me the dealer didn't change the ATF fluid when selling it. So don't expect if you purchase it of the dealer means they changed it. So I'm glad I made the change, the old fluid looks blue to the reflection of the light, but looking through the fluid drop it seems kind of red, but it's really dark red/brown color.

Cleaned, and bolt it back to spec

Now loosen up the fill bolt and put your $1.50 funnel in

I end up refill it with all 4qt since the drained came out more than 4qt.


GL hope this helps those of you with 06-08 Pilot!!!

[robs]

So I'm doing the change this weekend. Already located and broke loose the fill plug. Everything is in order except the fluid. I'm not going syn DW1 I'm going to use the Castrol import MV. I fully expect the tranny to explode immediately after the change due to using non Z1 fluid.

[carguy07]

Originally Posted by robs

So I'm doing the change this weekend. Already located and broke loose the fill plug. Everything is in order except the fluid. I'm not going syn DW1 I'm going to use the Castrol import MV. I fully expect the tranny to explode immediately after the change due to using non Z1 fluid.

Ha! and I'm afraid that mine will explode when I switch over to DW1.

[robs]

so it's official the tranny oil is easier to change than the motor oil.

Using the fill hole was so much faster than the dipstick. This was a piece of cake and thanks to everyone who posted picks. I was at the full level on dipstick and I got *EXACTLY* 4qts out.

FYI, I drove around all day beforehand. Idled it in the garage for about 5 minutes to cool the oil, while i got everything in order and the tranny oil was still touchable without gloves. The oil was expanded and did shoot out of the drain plug so some protective glasses should be worn.

[dabreeze21]

Has anyone drained the transmission with the car up on either front or rear jack stands? Does that help get all the old fluid out? I read a post online where it said to put up on front jack stands. I saw a video on youtube where a guy did it on flat ground then jacked up the back and got more fluid out. What do you all think?

Thanks.

[Im2c0oL]

Originally Posted by dabreeze21

Has anyone drained the transmission with the car up on either front or rear jack stands? Does that help get all the old fluid out? I read a post online where it said to put up on front jack stands. I saw a video on youtube where a guy did it on flat ground then jacked up the back and got more fluid out. What do you all think?

Thanks.

I did my ATF with the car on the level ground it still came out a bit more than 4qts, and if I did jack it up I I will need to buy 5qts of ATF when the Manual say 3.8qts at refill so that probably explains it...

Also making a switch to ATF-DW1 3weeks later my Torque Converter seal leaks real bad coming down through the flywheel peak plate just with short trips down to almost a qt ATF now going to cost me $700 to fix this thing...