Easy DIY ATF Fluid Change PICs - Honda Pilot

Armystrong · 01-05-2008, 06:38 PM

These are the tools and Equipment I used for the ATF fluid drain.

1. I had to use 1/4" flexible tube that normally is used with my Fluid Pump kit. I heated up the ends with a blow dryer and stuck the funnel in one end and then the other making it wide enough for the transmission dipstick tube.
2. 3/8" Rachet the extension was too long.
3. Fluid catch can (1 gallon plastic jug)

Armystrong · 01-05-2008, 06:39 PM

Here are the instructions from the Honda Service Manual for my 2005 Honda Pilot EX. My Pilot has 25,000 miles on it.

Armystrong · 01-05-2008, 06:41 PM

Locate the Transmission Dip Stick. It is on the right side of the engine with a yellow round handle.

Armystrong · 01-05-2008, 06:42 PM

Here is the Transmission Dip Stick.

Armystrong · 01-05-2008, 06:43 PM

Remove the Dipstick and install the funnel.

Armystrong · 01-05-2008, 06:44 PM

This funnel did not leak one drop.

Armystrong · 01-05-2008, 06:46 PM

Looking underneath the front of the Pilot on the right side, you will see the Transmission and the following bolts. The first BIG BOLT with the light blue line is the Drain Bolt.

Armystrong · 01-05-2008, 06:48 PM

Put the end of the Rachet in the Transmission Drain Bolt and remove it. Make sure you have your Jug or fluid container ready. My fluid was not clear red but it also wasn't to dark either.

Armystrong · 01-05-2008, 06:52 PM

Drain the ATF into another container. I will take this container to Schucks to properly dispose of the fluid. The total Fluid that came out of the Transmission was right at 4 QUARTS. Given I spilled alittle,

.

Armystrong · 01-05-2008, 06:53 PM

This is what the Drain Bolt looked like. It had some very fine particles on it but that seems to be the norm after looking at others photos on the forum.

Armystrong · 01-05-2008, 06:55 PM

This Magnetic Drain bolt is WEAK compared to the Engine Oil Drain bolt I installed. It would barely hold up the spoon where as the other engine oil drain bolt held up very heave gears, hammers, and wrenches.

Armystrong · 01-05-2008, 06:56 PM

Clean the Magnetic Transmission Drain Bolt before reinstalling it.

Armystrong · 01-05-2008, 06:57 PM

This is the HONDA ATF-Z1 fluid. I bought 4 of them and each quart COST $6.07.

Armystrong · 01-05-2008, 07:02 PM

Prior to poring the fluid in, ENSURE YOUR DRAIN BOLT IS INSTALLED. Fill the transmission with the same amount of fluid that came out. Fill it slowly into the funnel or it will overflow. Once you have filled the Transmission with the 4 quarts or so, reinsert the Transmission Dip Stick. Clean the area of any transmission fluid. CONGRATULATIONS!!! I will be this every time I change my oil. (Not the drain and fill 3 time procedure, that is a flush and is not recommended by Honda unless you used an emergency fluid other than Honda ATF-Z1.)

ncelk · 01-05-2008, 09:14 PM

Very nice write up and great photos. I did mine last week on the MDX, except I used the transmission fill hole, which worked out quite well. I topped it off later using the dipstick hole. I got 3.5 qts out of mine when I drained it.

01-05-2008, 06:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
Armystrong LOVE MY HONDAs Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fort Rucker, Alabama Posts: 117 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Easy DIY ATF Fluid Change PICs These are the tools and Equipment I used for the ATF fluid drain. 1. I had to use 1/4" flexible tube that normally is used with my Fluid Pump kit. I heated up the ends with a blow dryer and stuck the funnel in one end and then the other making it wide enough for the transmission dipstick tube. 2. 3/8" Rachet the extension was too long. 3. Fluid catch can (1 gallon plastic jug) __________________ 2005 Honda Pilot EX, 2005 Honda Accord EX-L "DON'T EVER GIVE UP!" ---JB(me) "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.' ----Leonardo da Vinci

01-05-2008, 06:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
Armystrong LOVE MY HONDAs Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fort Rucker, Alabama Posts: 117 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Here are the instructions from the Honda Service Manual for my 2005 Honda Pilot EX. My Pilot has 25,000 miles on it. __________________ 2005 Honda Pilot EX, 2005 Honda Accord EX-L "DON'T EVER GIVE UP!" ---JB(me) "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.' ----Leonardo da Vinci

01-05-2008, 06:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
Armystrong LOVE MY HONDAs Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fort Rucker, Alabama Posts: 117 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Locate the Transmission Dip Stick. It is on the right side of the engine with a yellow round handle. __________________ 2005 Honda Pilot EX, 2005 Honda Accord EX-L "DON'T EVER GIVE UP!" ---JB(me) "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.' ----Leonardo da Vinci

01-05-2008, 06:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
Armystrong LOVE MY HONDAs Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fort Rucker, Alabama Posts: 117 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Here is the Transmission Dip Stick. __________________ 2005 Honda Pilot EX, 2005 Honda Accord EX-L "DON'T EVER GIVE UP!" ---JB(me) "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.' ----Leonardo da Vinci

01-05-2008, 06:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
Armystrong LOVE MY HONDAs Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fort Rucker, Alabama Posts: 117 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Remove the Dipstick and install the funnel. __________________ 2005 Honda Pilot EX, 2005 Honda Accord EX-L "DON'T EVER GIVE UP!" ---JB(me) "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.' ----Leonardo da Vinci

01-05-2008, 06:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
Armystrong LOVE MY HONDAs Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fort Rucker, Alabama Posts: 117 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	This funnel did not leak one drop. __________________ 2005 Honda Pilot EX, 2005 Honda Accord EX-L "DON'T EVER GIVE UP!" ---JB(me) "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.' ----Leonardo da Vinci

01-05-2008, 06:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
Armystrong LOVE MY HONDAs Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fort Rucker, Alabama Posts: 117 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Looking underneath the front of the Pilot on the right side, you will see the Transmission and the following bolts. The first BIG BOLT with the light blue line is the Drain Bolt. __________________ 2005 Honda Pilot EX, 2005 Honda Accord EX-L "DON'T EVER GIVE UP!" ---JB(me) "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.' ----Leonardo da Vinci

01-05-2008, 06:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
Armystrong LOVE MY HONDAs Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fort Rucker, Alabama Posts: 117 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Put the end of the Rachet in the Transmission Drain Bolt and remove it. Make sure you have your Jug or fluid container ready. My fluid was not clear red but it also wasn't to dark either. __________________ 2005 Honda Pilot EX, 2005 Honda Accord EX-L "DON'T EVER GIVE UP!" ---JB(me) "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.' ----Leonardo da Vinci

01-05-2008, 06:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
Armystrong LOVE MY HONDAs Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fort Rucker, Alabama Posts: 117 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Drain the ATF into another container. I will take this container to Schucks to properly dispose of the fluid. The total Fluid that came out of the Transmission was right at 4 QUARTS. Given I spilled alittle, . __________________ 2005 Honda Pilot EX, 2005 Honda Accord EX-L "DON'T EVER GIVE UP!" ---JB(me) "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.' ----Leonardo da Vinci

01-05-2008, 06:53 PM	#10 (permalink)
Armystrong LOVE MY HONDAs Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fort Rucker, Alabama Posts: 117 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	This is what the Drain Bolt looked like. It had some very fine particles on it but that seems to be the norm after looking at others photos on the forum. __________________ 2005 Honda Pilot EX, 2005 Honda Accord EX-L "DON'T EVER GIVE UP!" ---JB(me) "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.' ----Leonardo da Vinci

01-05-2008, 06:55 PM	#11 (permalink)
Armystrong LOVE MY HONDAs Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fort Rucker, Alabama Posts: 117 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	This Magnetic Drain bolt is WEAK compared to the Engine Oil Drain bolt I installed. It would barely hold up the spoon where as the other engine oil drain bolt held up very heave gears, hammers, and wrenches. __________________ 2005 Honda Pilot EX, 2005 Honda Accord EX-L "DON'T EVER GIVE UP!" ---JB(me) "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.' ----Leonardo da Vinci

01-05-2008, 06:56 PM	#12 (permalink)
Armystrong LOVE MY HONDAs Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fort Rucker, Alabama Posts: 117 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Clean the Magnetic Transmission Drain Bolt before reinstalling it. __________________ 2005 Honda Pilot EX, 2005 Honda Accord EX-L "DON'T EVER GIVE UP!" ---JB(me) "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.' ----Leonardo da Vinci

01-05-2008, 06:57 PM	#13 (permalink)
Armystrong LOVE MY HONDAs Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fort Rucker, Alabama Posts: 117 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	This is the HONDA ATF-Z1 fluid. I bought 4 of them and each quart COST $6.07. __________________ 2005 Honda Pilot EX, 2005 Honda Accord EX-L "DON'T EVER GIVE UP!" ---JB(me) "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.' ----Leonardo da Vinci

01-05-2008, 07:02 PM	#14 (permalink)
Armystrong LOVE MY HONDAs Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fort Rucker, Alabama Posts: 117 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Prior to poring the fluid in, ENSURE YOUR DRAIN BOLT IS INSTALLED. Fill the transmission with the same amount of fluid that came out. Fill it slowly into the funnel or it will overflow. Once you have filled the Transmission with the 4 quarts or so, reinsert the Transmission Dip Stick. Clean the area of any transmission fluid. CONGRATULATIONS!!! I will be this every time I change my oil. (Not the drain and fill 3 time procedure, that is a flush and is not recommended by Honda unless you used an emergency fluid other than Honda ATF-Z1.) __________________ 2005 Honda Pilot EX, 2005 Honda Accord EX-L "DON'T EVER GIVE UP!" ---JB(me) "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.' ----Leonardo da Vinci

01-05-2008, 09:14 PM	#15 (permalink)
ncelk Super Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: High Point, NC Posts: 570 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Very nice write up and great photos. I did mine last week on the MDX, except I used the transmission fill hole, which worked out quite well. I topped it off later using the dipstick hole. I got 3.5 qts out of mine when I drained it. __________________ ncelk ------- 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid 2002 Mazda Miata SE 2006 Acura MDX Touring

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