First transmission fluid change after 92k miles

[sblvro]

Originally Posted by carguy07

So if I take in a "running" tranny with 100k miles and have the dealer service it, this will get me a complimentary extended warranty? If it's that easy I will just get it serviced as soon as it starts slipping.

when I said running, it meant running well. and it is not an extended warranty but a warranty enough for you to say that they did not botch the job. if it is slipping, then there you go, you are just waiting for an excuse to fix your troubles.

I know someone that had an oil change and those drain and flush of tranny fluid and guess what after a few miles, engine died, tranny wasted. did they fix and pay for the damages, yessss!

I have 194k miles and not a slip and the engine purrs nicely with hardly a drop of oil in between 15k mile oil change interval. blackstone lab proof positive.

[carguy07]

That changes everything, thanks!

[pntballgunz]

I always replaced tranny fluid by pulling off the tranny return line from the radiator. Put a clear hose to extend line return into a jug and turn on engine to let the tranny pump out old fluid into the jug. Then fill with new fluid and cycle again. Do this until you see fresh fluid dumping into the jug by watching the clear tube. Reattach return line to raditor and top off. This method replaces practically all the old fluid and does not waste new fluid by replacing 3x. Replacing the fluid 3x is the foolproof way, but the above method is safe and not harmful like a power flush.

[94eg!]

Originally Posted by pntballgunz

I always replaced tranny fluid by pulling off the tranny return line from the radiator. Put a clear hose to extend line return into a jug and turn on engine to let the tranny pump out old fluid into the jug. Then fill with new fluid and cycle again. Do this until you see fresh fluid dumping into the jug by watching the clear tube. Reattach return line to raditor and top off. This method replaces practically all the old fluid and does not waste new fluid by replacing 3x. Replacing the fluid 3x is the foolproof way, but the above method is safe and not harmful like a power flush.

Honda says specifically not to do this because you can damage the hydraulics by running them dry. They only recommend a drain & fil the proper way (through the drain & fill plugs).

[pntballgunz]

I agree that you can easily run it dry. Trick is to stop before running dry by watching the sputterng of the fluid. I wouldn't recoomend this method for the beginner. Safest to do the 3X method for most.

[N_Jay]

Pulling air into the transmission is a bad idea. Trapped air may allow cavitation and portions of the transmission may run dry longer then anticipated.

[whizmo]

Originally Posted by sblvro

I know someone that had an oil change and those drain and flush of tranny fluid and guess what after a few miles, engine died, tranny wasted. did they fix and pay for the damages, yessss!

It would be good to get the details here. It would be a rare thing for a dealer or mfg to "eat" thousands in repairs after making a simple fluid change without some good proof the that fluid changes were botched in some way. I'm not saying it has never happened, but to rely on this would be foolish.

The idea that having any system of your car worked on by the dealer gives you an immediate extended warranty for related systems, especially with things like simple fluid changes and expensive hard parts like engines and transmissions, doesn't stand the reasonableness test.

- Mark

[whizmo]

Originally Posted by pntballgunz

Safest to do the 3X method for most.

Or do what Honda recommends - a 1x change.

- Mark

[N_Jay]

Honda recommends the 3x change for a number of conditions, including "burnt" fluid, contaminated fluid (even with other Dexron compatible fluids) and for some shifting issues.

[robs]

Pilot 2007 with 92,000 miles, transmission fluid never changed! Is it save to do it now???

Well, the fluid is not getting any younger! If you do it, your tranny *WILL* eventually fail. If you don't do it your tranny *WILL* eventually fail just a whole lot sooner . If your tranny is on the verge of failing then a fluid change will buy you some time but will not magically put back any of the filings onto the clutch packs due to 90k of driving. You can't stop the inevitable but you can prolong it.

Do it and doit now. Don't do a 3x just yet. Get some new fluid in there and let it clean out the varnish slowly. Do a 2x (drain/refill) with a short drive in between. You'll be surprised just how dark the old fluid is. Wait 1k miles or so and do another 1x. Then keep to a schedule.