According to this site/dealer, use of the accessory ATF cooler kit still applies to the 2017 LX, EX and EX-L models.
2016-2017 Honda Pilot ATF Cooler Kit (6-Speed) - 06255-RLX-306
http://www.collegehillshonda.com/instructions/pilot/2017/rlxcooler.pdf

 

Just purchased a 2107 EX-L with nav and towing. For the 3500 lb. tow package the AT cooler is not necessary. If you choose to go with the 5000 lb. tow package you will need the transmission cooler.

 

I have a 2017 EX-L on order and my dealer said that an ATF cooler would need to be added if I wanted to tow in the 3500-5000lbs range.

 

Page 458 of 2017 Pilot Owner's Manual: ( No change relative to 2016 )

 

Page 458 of 2017 Pilot Owner's Manual: ( No change relative to 2016 )

View attachment 100570

So FWD's maximum tow is 3500lbs with or wo ATF.

Only AWD + ATF can go 5000.

 

Hi -- first post here. I put this post here instead of towing because it's specific to the 2017 Pilot. Hope that's OK.



I'm looking at picking up a Pilot EX-L and had a long discussion with the dealer yesterday about towing. He is under the impression that the 2017 no longer needs the ATF Cooler to tow 5,000 lbs. I noticed looking for one on hondapartworld that it's not available for the 2017.



Does anyone know if this is true? I need to tow about 3,500 lbs and want to get the full 5,000 lb capacity instead of pressing my luck with just 3,500.

I've noticed that quite a few parts shops don't have the entire 2017 accessory list on their sites. The lack of a part on a website isn't a solid statement that the ATF cooler has been eliminated.

The definitive answer is the owner's manual and Service Express for your model year.

 

Thanks for the info. I'm finding it very difficult dealing with all the misinformation I'm getting from dealers. This is one of the most difficult car buying experiences I've gone through. Good thing this forum exists!

 

The salesman are, in general, only there to take your money! They will tell you anything to make the sale.

Glad you are doing your homework. This site was priceless for making our purchase decision and I'm still reaping the benefits of having this community source!

Good luck and keep the questions coming!

 

I feel that ATF cooler is worth it - my dealership charged $400 total for ATF cooler and labor. They said that if we are going to tow anything more than 1500 pounds, its a great idea!
Well worth not worrying about transmission getting baked. when you tow your travel camper uphill and your transmission hunts a bit - that when ATF cooler is important. If you plan to tow in hills/mountains i would 100% get it. same goes for often towing in stop and go traffic. Remember, every time your tranny shifts, those clutch plates slide and generate a lot of heat!!!

Add on 100F average summertime air temperature (off blacktop at least) and you are looking at quite severe conditions even for flat terrain.

P.S. My trailer is 3000lbs empty, about 3500 loaded (i do not drive with full water tanks). Our 2017 EX-L 6-speed Pilot did great going up 6-10% mountain pass, albeit with speed dropping to about 45-50 mph during long climes, as I did not want to push RPM's much past 3500-4000 range.

 

Considering that the 2016 Pilot had some serious problems with the transmission overheating, I think a cooler is almost required for towing. Plus, if your transmission fails how will you prove you haven't been towing 5000lb trailers over the mountains every weekend?

2016 Honda Pilot Transmission Failure: 5 Complaints

 

I have a 2017 Honda Pilot EX-L that I bought new with a towing package (should be able to tow up to 5,000 lbs). This past weekend, I towed a newer boat/trailer that weighed in at exactly 5,000 lbs. About 1 1/2 hours into the trip, my transmission overheat warning came on. I would highly suggest getting an ATF Cooler for your Pilot to prevent any transmission damage from towing. It is probably ok to tow for short trips at lower speeds, but longer trips you would have to keep your speed at around 45 mph.

 

jfox- did you confirm that the cooler was installed? At least one other member had that problem. Look through lower grill and make sure the small extra radiator is there in the middle. Pics on some of the threads.

You could easily get a larger cooler and separate fan if it happens more. A friend did that as he was doing a lot of low speed stop and go. He got a Hayden cooler and fan on a switch.

 

We've actually had similar issues with our 2016 EX-L/Sensing (6 speed transmission). We had the dealer install the 5000 lb towing package, and (thanks, sequioasoon) I did verify that they actually installed the cooler, although I can't believe how small that thing is.

We have a 17' travel trailer - 3300 lbs dry, and I believe the gross weight is about 4000 lbs. On a trip down I-95/85 from Northern Virginia, running about 65 MPH, the warning came on about 90 minutes into the trip. I stopped for gas and let the car sit about 20 minutes extra before continuing at about 60.

On our next trip (down I-81 with more hill climbs), I decided to manage engine RPM to 3000 or less, figuring that was a good way to keep my foot light. The light came on during a long climb, where I had nowhere to stop, so I dropped it to 2000 RPM (I was slower than most of the semis), and about 5 minutes later, the warning cleared (while still climbing).

Since then, I've gotten my Bluetooth OBD reader working with a custom PID for Honda transmission temps (Monitor Honda Custom OBD2 PIDs...Transmission Temp, etc.) - I'm using an iPhone, but you can do it with an iPhone or Android with a ~$20 Bluetooth dongle, or there's a $150+ standalone display (» Transmission Temperature Honda-Acura).

Based on my observations of the numbers, my rule of thumb is to manage your RPM to generally stay at 2500 or less, by keeping your foot light on the gas. If you need to outrun that for merging, passing, or climbing a short hill, you'll be fine, but on a long mountain grade, you can always hang out with the semis.

For our camper, that means that flat speeds averaging 65 MPH are doable, moderate hills (like 95 in Virginia) might bring your average closer to 60 MPH, and in the mountains, you need to slow down on long hills.

On our last trip, I used D4 in hillier areas, but that meant that the engine was running at over 3k RPM at 60 MPH, and I'd still see the temp climbing on hills, even when the transmission didn't downshift (below 4th). From a temperature standpoint, it doesn't seem to help any.

If I did it again, I'd see if I could get the official Honda 5000 lb hitch sticker with a better aftermarket cooler. As it is, I'm debating trying to get a fan installed on this cooler, since it seems like a shame to replace the entire cooler.

Does anyone have recommendations for aftermarket fans for the OEM transmission cooler?

Rick

 

We've actually had similar issues with our 2016 EX-L/Sensing (6 speed transmission). We had the dealer install the 5000 lb towing package, and (thanks, sequioasoon) I did verify that they actually installed the cooler, although I can't believe how small that thing is.

We have a 17' travel trailer - 3300 lbs dry, and I believe the gross weight is about 4000 lbs. On a trip down I-95/85 from Northern Virginia, running about 65 MPH, the warning came on about 90 minutes into the trip. I stopped for gas and let the car sit about 20 minutes extra before continuing at about 60.

On our next trip (down I-81 with more hill climbs), I decided to manage engine RPM to 3000 or less, figuring that was a good way to keep my foot light. The light came on during a long climb, where I had nowhere to stop, so I dropped it to 2000 RPM (I was slower than most of the semis), and about 5 minutes later, the warning cleared (while still climbing).

Since then, I've gotten my Bluetooth OBD reader working with a custom PID for Honda transmission temps (Monitor Honda Custom OBD2 PIDs...Transmission Temp, etc.) - I'm using an iPhone, but you can do it with an iPhone or Android with a ~$20 Bluetooth dongle, or there's a $150+ standalone display (» Transmission Temperature Honda-Acura).

Based on my observations of the numbers, my rule of thumb is to manage your RPM to generally stay at 2500 or less, by keeping your foot light on the gas. If you need to outrun that for merging, passing, or climbing a short hill, you'll be fine, but on a long mountain grade, you can always hang out with the semis.

For our camper, that means that flat speeds averaging 65 MPH are doable, moderate hills (like 95 in Virginia) might bring your average closer to 60 MPH, and in the mountains, you need to slow down on long hills.

On our last trip, I used D4 in hillier areas, but that meant that the engine was running at over 3k RPM at 60 MPH, and I'd still see the temp climbing on hills, even when the transmission didn't downshift (below 4th). From a temperature standpoint, it doesn't seem to help any.

If I did it again, I'd see if I could get the official Honda 5000 lb hitch sticker with a better aftermarket cooler. As it is, I'm debating trying to get a fan installed on this cooler, since it seems like a shame to replace the entire cooler.

Does anyone have recommendations for aftermarket fans for the OEM transmission cooler?

Rick

If you already have the OEM cooler I'd consider placing a second one in series with it rather than replacing it... a bigger one with a temperature activated fan should do the trick.

Some of the serious towers will also look at putting in a thermostat and external filter. I remember one of the guys on the Traverse forum found a device that acts as both, so you can get up to temps quickly and he has a screw on filter he can replace.

 

I have this one installed and is much bigger and better than the stock little one. You'll have to make your own brackets using those aluminum bars with holes in it from Home Depot or Lowes, then you bolt it into the bumper support beam.

Amazon.com: B&M 70268 SuperCooler Automatic Transmission Cooler: Automotive

Buy B&M 70268 SuperCooler Automatic Transmission Cooler: Coolers - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

If I was seriously considering to tow with My 2017 EX-L, I'd pull out my OEM cooler, box it and resell it on eBay. I'd buy a larger aftermarket cooler. I like the aftermarket spin on remote filter idea too.

Derale Transmission cooler

Just installed a Derale 13502 trans cooler on my 16 EXL at 86000 kms. Changed the inline trans filter and did a 3x drain and fill with Valvoline Max Life ATF. Pics of the cut open filter and fluid samples attached. Lots of crud in the filter so I was glad I changed it. The Derale cooler fit...

www.piloteers.org

Flush that DW-1 stuff out of the transmission with MaxLife ATF.
Be sure to disable the VCM or you will eventually be buying a new transmission.