Oil analysis result on Transmission fluid

[ctobio]

So I sent a sample of my transmission fluid to Blackstone labs after 39,000 miles. I haven't done a change yet, as I've not gotten the 13 code on the MM. This is the summary:

On the whole wear looks good in this sample. While wear is above average, everything read in the proper balance and the high wear is likely due to new parts breaking-in as well as the long oil run. You could wait until 45,000 miles to change this fill, or you might want to do it now since iron is making the oil fairly abrasive. No moisture or insolubles were found and the viscosity of the oil read normally for an ATF.

So... I'm expecting the next oil change to light up the 3 code, and I'll do the fluid then. I've already got the ATF-Z1 ready to go in when the time comes.

[dustino8]

Thanks for the info. Good to know the oil is within acceptable limits after that many miles. I've been going WAY overkill with my tranny changes, once a year which is about 20,000 km for me. However, I tow during the summer, drive in exteme cold in the winter, and $35 once a year is not a big dent in the pocketbook for a little extra piece of mind.

[ctobio]

I don't tow with mine, and generally average 6700 miles per oil change cycle, to give you an idea of the usage the powertrain gets.

So... if you're basically an average driver who doesn't tow, then the MM interval (which is loosely mileage based and nothing more) is acceptable as far as I'm concerned.

Note that this fill is the factory fill, and I certainly expect a high amount of iron in it from initial break-in wear.

Interestingly enough, the iron content was not massively lower than for the manual gearbox in my VW (131 vs 166), which ran 99,000 miles on the gear oil it had. I think the bulk of that number is built up on initial wear.

My insolubles number was 0, so there wasn't any chunks of anything in my trans fluid sample.

[dustino8]

Originally posted by ctobio
So... if you're basically an average driver who doesn't tow, then the MM interval (which is loosely mileage based and nothing more) is acceptable as far as I'm concerned.

I agree with you on this.

I also agree with you on the initial break-in wear. I just recently did my first tranny drain and fill on my '05 civic I only have 30,000 km on it but its recommended to change it after 3 years. I didn't have an oil analysis done, but the drain plug with magnet was covered with wear particles about 1/8" all the way around. Before I started towing with my Pilot, I changed it at the 48,000 km interval, and the plug would come out with just a thin layer on it. I expect the same for my civic the next time around.

[Sunday Rider]

Ctobio,
Why not change the tranny fluid now? You have the iron from the initial break in still grinding things down. You have the fluid, so you are good to go.

[panamamike]

This is good to know. I went ahead and did the change at 34k since the consensus has been to do it at 30k.

Being new to the Pilot, I found the car drives about the same as it did before the change. I had a Honda dealer do the work.

Mike

[ctobio]

Originally posted by Sunday Rider

Why not change the tranny fluid now? You have the iron from the initial break in still grinding things down. You have the fluid, so you are good to go.

I'd like to stick with the MM, but I could be convinced (easily) to just do it on the 40's.

[Sunday Rider]

Originally posted by ctobio


I'd like to stick with the MM, but I could be convinced (easily) to just do it on the 40's.

Call me paranoid, but since the tranny recall on the 03 and some 04 Pilots, I have been changing the tranny fluid more often. I don't tow that much either. I change it every other oil change, so around 10,000 miles (16,000 km). I know sounds crazy. The tranny fluid comes out of the bottle nice and bright, more towards red than burgandy in colour. When I change it, the colour is almost brown and burgandy.

I know yours is newer and may not have that "weakness" in design the earlier ones had.

Just my thougts.

I have around 131,000 miles (211,000 km) and the tranny shifts very smooth.

On the other hand the VTM4 fluid changes, the old stuff still smells like new and has the same bright colour as the new stuff going in.

With all the moving parts inside the tranny I figure new fluid doesn't hurt. I also go see Tim, our site sponsor and get it by the case. Up here, the stuff costs 2x as much.

[ctobio]

Originally posted by Sunday Rider

Call me paranoid, but since the tranny recall on the 03 and some 04 Pilots, I have been changing the tranny fluid more often.

Yeah, but that's a lubrication starvation issue and not a fluid age or contamination issue. The underlying cause

I would bet anything that on an affected transmission with imminent failure, you would find a high amount of wear iron.