ATF (vehicles with shift lever): Honda Automatic Transmission ATF DW-1; capacity is 3.3 quarts (3.1 liters)
ATF (vehicles with electronic gear selector): Honda Automatic Transmission Fluid ATF-Type 3.1 or higher; capacity is 3.5



If its the 3.1 fluid the best price i think for 4 quarts shipped is $162.35 from bernardiparts.com. Add washers for a few bucks more. That fluid lists for about $50 a quart. Heres video for an acura 9 speed zf. Should be the same.

and read this https://www.piloteers.org/forums/11...-third-generation-pilot/142545-9-speed-transmission-fluid-change-procedure.html
how to enter maintenance mode

 

Raises a good question.
How many miles are 9speed owners covering before their a Maintenance minder says it's time to change the ATF?

 

I went 28k in my 2016 Touring Pilot without having to change fluid before trading it in on a 2017 Elite. If memory serves, I'm thinking 30-26k for change. $50/qt is steep. Cheapest I've found is $34/qt which is still robbery. Actually, I'm going in this week for my 7500mi differential fluid change and I'll ask about the transmission change. I'm thinking $100 for 3 drain plugs that probably do NOT need to be replaced is suspect. I'll report back with what I find.

 

Holy crap. I thought it was a typo or serious dealer markup for the quoted price above. I can’t believe Honda ATF could list for $50 a quart. I will stop complaining for having to shell out $10 at my local dealer for a quart of DW-1.

And got to love the dipstickless transmissions. The procedure for checking the new Pilot tranny fluid level is just as convoluted as on my Tacoma. There is a way to put the Tacoma into tranny temperature check mode through jumpering the OBD2 port and shifting the gearshift a very specific sequence. Then you get to go under the rig while it’s idling to remove and eventually reinstall the fluid level check plug. Not a fun process but doable without getting burned if you’re careful. Hopefully Honda offers a similar DIY method for their new transmissions. That would be really messed up if the only way to read the tranny fluid temperature is with their HDS tool.

 

Arent they just 20mm crush washers p/n 94109-20000 at about $1 each?

 

Actually p/n 94109-20000 is for transfer case. It shows 3 plugs w/o separate washers p/n <small>06237-5J4-000 for about $19 each.
</small>

 

WTH!?

My '16 Touring is at about 26k miles now; so, based on your post, this is right around the corner. I am curious which way you go with this service (dealer perform, small shop perform, DIY, skip it, etc) and what your net cost ends up being with your choice. Thank you for sharing your experience here.

 

Ok, I just confirmed with my service writer, the plugs do NOT need to be changed and wondered himself about $100 for 3 plugs. That said, they charge $400 for transmission service, but it only needs to be done every 60k miles, not 30k like the 6-speed. Even if you are towing, 60k is the service interval.

 

I was just at the dealer for an oil change at 44k miles on my 2016 Pilot and he wanted to do a flush for $95, so I said, sure! went back and saw it was a touring with the ZF9 tranny on it and said, oh, that's due at 60k miles and is $350... so it sounds about right what you were quoted.

 

Yeah unfortunately the new 9 speed transmission is NOT built by Honda but by ZF Friedrichshafen a transmission company that supplies transmission to several makes including Jeep/Chrysler, Honda , Land Rover, Ford etc. but the electronic are made by the specific manufacturers.

So the method of checking the trans. fluid level is IMO super overly complicated.

The way Honda says to check the fluid is that you have to drain the fluid, then remove the check plug that is nest to the driver axle , while leaving it loose get the fluid up to the certain operating temp.....


OK there is too much info to type so i will just copy and paste from Honda ...



1.
Turn the vehicle to the ON mode.

2.
Enter the VSA maintenance mode.

3.
Start the engine.

4.
Shift the transmission to S position/mode.

5.
Run the vehicle in 1st gear, 2nd gear, 3rd gear, and 4th gear, at sequential shift mode, and wait for at least 10 seconds to each gear. Slow down, and stop the wheels.

NOTE: Do not run transmission on the lift past 4th gear, or transmission damage will occur.

6.
Shift the transmission to P position/mode, then raise the engine speed at 2,000 rpm to ensure that the torque converter is full of ATF.

7.
Run the engine at idle speed until ATF Temperature reaches 104 °F (40 °C ) (allowed adjusting range: 99－113 °F (37－ 45 °C)) with the HDS.

8.
Remove the level plug (A), and make sure the ATF level is at the proper level (B) while the engine is still running.

Proper ATF level:
The ATF is dropping from the level plug hole with the transmission warmed up at 104 °F (40 °C).

NOTE: If the ATF level is below the proper level, check for fluid leaks at the transmission and the ATF lines. If a problem is found, fix it before filling the transmission with ATF.

9.
If necessary, add the transmission with the recommended fluid through the level plug hole (C) until the ATF overflows, then wait until the ATF dropped. Always use Honda ATF TYPE 3.

NOTE: Using the wrong type ATF can affect shift quality.

10.
Install a new level plug.

11.
Turn the engine off.





IMO Honda has just complicated the way they recommend a trans. fluid check and that is probably why dealers are charging so much , the technician has to hook up the HDS ( Honda Diagnostic System ) to check the fluid temperature while putting the trans into fluid check mode.

The time spent just checking the fluid is most likely the bulk of the price tag

 

so....Did you end up DIYing it or dealership

 

Our 2016 Pilot with 9 speed tranny has about 35K miles on it. No issues.

Dealer has recommended we do a drain/refill on the transmission fluid. This is a simple drain/refill, not some flush or other nonsense.

Trusted mechanic friend says periodic drain/refill is the way to maintain your automatic transmission.

Dealer is quoting $500 to perform this service. I would expect something like this to cost about $50.

Wife and I both looked in provided documentation and on line and could find no factory recommended service interval. Very strange.

Dealer said the factory recommended interval is 90K miles, but the 90K mile service is a more involved procedure to extract most of the oil from the transmission/torque converter. Dealer says instead of the more involved 90K service, do a drain/refill every 30K miles.

Dealer provided detailed invoice for $500 transmission oil drain/refill.
-Three drain plugs $103.68
-4 qts ATF $219.32
-2 hours labor $128.80
-Shop supplies $25.76
-Tax $24.58
======
$502.14

I've worked on a few cars in the past and have never replaced an oil drain plug. Sometimes there is a nylon washer that might need replacing, but never the entire plug. Why are they replacing the drain plugs?

If I Google the part numbers for the fluid and plugs I can find what appear to be Honda factory components for about 1/2 price.

2 hours labor seems a bit much. I did look under the Pilot and noticed various cover that might have to be removed for access. 2 hours still seems high.

$25.76 for "shop supplies". Ya right. it should read "$25.76 extra dealer profit".

This is not the first instance of rather expensive preventative maintenance from this dealer. Of course if you service the car exclusively at the dealer they "give" you an extra year of warranty. And "free" car washes.

Due to the advice from trusted mechanic friend, I am inclined to do a drain an refill on the transmission. Any advice on how to get it done for a reasonable price?

Big

Hi Big, I live in Los Angeles and just had my '16 Touring's trans fluid changed at the 30k interval. It was at a Honda dealership in Santa Monica. When I got the quote it was $120. Then when I went to pick it up he said, "we made a mistake and its going to be $300" (or a little more) -I can't quite remember. I basically told them where they could go and they brought it down to what I was quoted at another dealership in Culver City -$179. He said that the fluid itself is $200. I wanted my regular mechanic (whom I trust a lot) to do it and he wouldn't touch it saying that it was too complicated as there were a lot of steps involved and not just draining and replacing the fluid and that the ATF was $40/quart. $500 is insane though! Good Luck.
Grant

 

Just came from dealer where I spent $500 for my 9 speed 2017 Pilot transmission service. NUTS!

Thankfully I had a credit from Honda due to another situation.

 

I just did mine on the 16 elite. Pretty simple if your a DIY. I. bought 4 quarts at $33 each. I replaced the 3 bolt for drain, fill and over flow since I live in the NorthEAst. I learn that it become rusted and may strip when time to remove if not properly taking care of from my last vehicle. Another note on the VSA mode i could not get the gear to go past 3rd and it shifted back to 2nd. There no washer on these either. Once temp was reached I opened the over flow with a little amount that came out I closed it back up. Total cost I would say just under $200 for DIY.

 

Did you replace a filter? Looking for parts and part numbers for it and bolts to do our 2016 touring.

 

Pentosin makes fluid for the 9speed. Think I paid 60bucks for 4 guards. No problems so far. Mechanic used it when doing the trans cooler

 

Which one is for the Honda ZF 9 transmission? I'm not seeing it.

Pentosin - Transmission Fluid

The only cross referenced Honda Transmission Fluid number I find is 08200-9006 and that is for CVT.

 

2017 HONDA PILOT 3.5L V6 Transmission Fluid | Shop Now at RockAuto

Transmission-Automatic Parts and More for Your 2017 HONDA PILOT at Reliably Low Prices. Fast Online Catalog. DIY-Easy. Your Choice of Quality. Full Manufacturer Warranty.

www.rockauto.com

For some reason their website shows a 2016/17 catalog. Must be down

 

Thanks. if you check the Pentosin link/site they do not show that fluid.

 

The cooler was installed and fluid added in April. Since then I've towed a camper in Georgia and been across Florida several times with no problems.

The site did have a vehicle search option before. Maybe they're redoing it

 

FYI this is the Pentosin oil http://www.pentosin.net/specsheets/Transmission Fluid_ATF 9_2019_COLOR.pdf which btw won an award CRP Automotive Wins 2019 Best Functional Fluid Award For Pentosin ATF 9 Automatic Transmission Fluid

 

FYI this is the Pentosin oil http://www.pentosin.net/specsheets/Transmission Fluid_ATF 9_2019_COLOR.pdf which btw won an award CRP Automotive Wins 2019 Best Functional Fluid Award For Pentosin ATF 9 Automatic Transmission Fluid

If you use Pentosin in your 9-speed, please come back and tell us your experience.

 

Im not because my local honda dealer refuses to work with my own oil(he sells a qt of OEM Type 3.1 ATF for $72) and im still not comfortable enough to replace it on my own.

 

That price is robbery.
Here's a video and instructions.

 

I've had it in since April. Several multiple hour trips in FL. Part of Georgia pulling a trailer. No problems. Got it from rock auto.

 

That's good to know. There are many Pentosin users in BMW forums with ZF transmissions.

 

Raises a good question. How many miles are 9speed owners covering before their a Maintenance minder says it's time to change the ATF?

I am in canada with a 2019 passport . Was 80km so 50k miles.