7500 mi service

[punsad]

I'm up for my 7500 mi inspection...

After getting a quote from the dealership, I smell a rat. They are saying that honda reccomends a rear differential fluid change at 7500 mi which they will charge to the tune of $70. I don't dispute the cost (though it is a bit high, I think. My only point of reference is I recall calling around town for a transmission fluid change for my old Legend and it cost ~$70. I dunno if it's similar.. but I digress)

What I wonder is about is it really at all significantly beneficial to change it so early? Is there something about the Pilot (I've got an '04, by the way) that requires a fairly early differential fluid change at 7500 mi. The dealership states that honda reccomends it at 7500 mi. Is this a bunch of hooey?

[punsad]

Okay... just to add some more "research" information....

Thanks to the kind souls who posted the manual for the 2004, I can easily reference the maintenance schedule on pg 164 for normal driving conditions, which I believe I fit into.

http://hondapilot.org/forums/showthr...&pagenumber=12

On page 164, you can see that they don't reccommend the VTM fluid changed until 15k.. I noticed that this was clarified in an earlier post. However, I am bringing this issue up again, because as you can see here:

http://davesbackpages.com/~dapu/pilot_maintenance.pdf

The dealer has supplied their own maintenance reccomendations (which they say is actually from Honda) which, if you'll note at the bottom of the page, they have an "additional reccomendation" that the differential fluid (VTM fluid, as I have seen it referred to elsewhere) is to be replaced at 7.5k mi, with no mention of whether or not this applies to normal or severe driving conditions.

Personally, I think this is just another way that the dealer is trying to squeeze more $$ from the customers. Any comments?

[h3xme]

Hooey; maybe in the sense that your dealership might want you to follow the 'severe service' maintenance schedule and have you bring your Pilot in for service more often. More $$ for them.

Check pages 164 and 165 in your '04 owner's manual. "Normal Conditions" service calls for the fluid to be changed at 15K miles whereas "Severe Conditions" calls for it being changed at 7.5K miles.

I bought a gallon of "VTM-4 Differential Fluid" (p/n 08200-9003) from my dealership and will be changing it when I hit 7500 miles. I figure the most substantial wear on parts will occur in the first part of the life of any vehicle when parts settle in, resulting in 'extra' particles floating around. Though the manual calls for fluid replacement at 15K miles (normal), I think it wise to do it earlier on the initial fluid change.

[punsad]

Thanks for your reply.

Originally posted by h3xme
I bought a gallon of "VTM-4 Differential Fluid" (p/n 08200-9003) from my dealership and will be changing it when I hit 7500 miles. I figure the most substantial wear on parts will occur in the first part of the life of any vehicle when parts settle in, resulting in 'extra' particles floating around. Though the manual calls for fluid replacement at 15K miles (normal), I think it wise to do it earlier on the initial fluid change.

I've read a bit about changing the VTM-4 differential fluid on the pilot on this website and it certainly seems like an easy enough job to do.

My previous truck was a Ford Ranger which was really easy to do self maintenance on. I changed the oil, flushed the cooling system, changed the fuel filter and a handful of other things.... Ofcourse, that was the truck I had in college which cost me $16k, a good chunk of change, but not much in comparison to the $36k I shelled out for the Pilot. After opening the hood, I was a bit intimidated with everything being so tucked away. I told myself that I would just have someone else do the work in fear that the Pilot is beyond my capabilities....

But now, after getting the quote from the dealership ($129 for 7.5k+$70 for VTM4 fluid change) and not trusting anyone else with maintenance, I'm re-considering my approach to maintenance and am considering doing the "easy stuff" myself. I'll make some use of my auto-shop grade jack and jackstands, yet.

Anyway... so here are my questions:
1. Will changing the VTM4 differential fluid require lifting the truck?
2. Does changing the fluid require some *pumping* out the old fluid, or does it all pour out some drain plug?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

I'll probably think of more later.

-punsad

[jay]

Here's the page from the Service Manual (thanks to kemosabe for scanning and posting it) on changing the fluid.

[john802]

punsad - You need this parts to change the VTM-4 fluid:
1. 1 gallon of VTM-4 fluid (you need 2.79 US quart).
2. Crush washer (20mm and 18mm).
3. Fluid pump ( autozone sell this for ~$4.00)
4. 3/8" ratchet wrench w/ 4" extension.

It takes longer to drain the VTM-4 fluid than regular engine oil. Some piloteers lift the front portion of the Pilot to help drain faster the fluid. Make sure to clean the drain and the filler bolt. Make sure to replace the crush washers for the filler and the drain bolt. Some piloteers remove the spare tire to have more room to work with but you really don't need to do that.

I hope this help...
-john

[jay]

Originally posted by jay
Here's the page from the Service Manual (thanks to kemosabe for scanning and posting it) on changing the fluid.

smurray posted this picture that highlights the fill and drain plugs.

[Pairallel]

So what is the fluid pump for?

[punsad]

Originally posted by punsad


2. Does changing the fluid require some *pumping* out the old fluid, or does it all pour out some drain plug?


-punsad

Looks like the listing of "fluid pump" in required tools answers my second question. However, based on the location of the drain plug, it looks like the fluid may sufficiently be removed simply by draining. I suppose the pump is for "good measure" and I would guess that it be connected to the drain plug.

It just warms my heart to see quality of posts on this website. Thanks, all.

[jay]

Originally posted by Pairallel
So what is the fluid pump for?

The pump is used to put the new fluid in the fill hole.

[hondaman2]

some shops say they use a pump/ suction machine to get all the fluid out(same goes for trans- suck all oil out of torque converter) and they charge like 80 bucks just to suck out the oil.

but you can get all the oil out by moving the car forward and backward or turning it on and spinning the drive shaft for a few seconds.

But the amount of fluid that comes out is so close to the capacity that you really dont need to do this.

I use a generic hose 3 feet long and the thickness of the fill plug( get at any auto parts store) and stick a funnel in it. i route the hose above the rear tire and just fill the capacity till it over flows out the fill hole or till im out of fluid after i measure how much came out. Make sure the fluid in the hose is close to empty cause it will come out when you go to put the fill plug in.

the pump they talk about is like a turkey baster only a lot bigger and the process to do this is a lot longer and messier. The passport trans fluid change is the worse. I hate working on those.

hope this helps

[john802]

hondaman2 - Is it true that you can reuse the old crush Aluminum washer for the drain/refill plug by reversing it?

Thanks,
-john

[hondaman2]

actually you can re-use a crush washer everytime if you dont over tighten the plug. But if it is slightly crushed you can flip it. To be sure it okay try to remove it off the plug. If it comes off its ok, if you have to thread it off it might still be ok if it didnt fight you. If you have to pry it off forget it.

[DanL]

I'm changing the fluid in our pilot today (just hit 7500 miles) and the supplies only cost $20 (I already have one of those $6 fluid pumps):

A gallon of Honda VTM-4 - $17.19
18mm crush washer - $2.55
20mm crush washer - $.52

Not sure why the 18mm cost so much more than the 20mm though.

In any case, charging $70 to drain and fill when even the retail cost of supplies $20 seems excessive considering how easy it is.

[DanL]

Originally posted by punsad
I'm up for my 7500 mi inspection...

After getting a quote from the dealership, I smell a rat. They are saying that honda reccomends a rear differential fluid change at 7500 mi which they will charge to the tune of $70. I don't dispute the cost (though it is a bit high, I think. My only point of reference is I recall calling around town for a transmission fluid change for my old Legend and it cost ~$70. I dunno if it's similar.. but I digress)

A friend at work just brought his Pilot in for the 7500 mile service. They filled it with Mobil 1, rotated the tires, and did the VTM fluid change for $79.