Replacing Transmission Fluid; Do ? (2005 Civic)
 

Hello,

A family member has a 2005 Civic with about 135,000 miles on it. Wow !
Live in New England.

The transmission fluid has never been flushed, or replaced.

Before I suggest that this would be a good idea to have done, thought I'd
ask here first.

I seem to remember Posts for different brand autos where it was said,
strongly, in effect, "if it ain't broken dont fix it", and that not to
replace the transmission fluid - just leave it alone as replacing it
would/might cause more problems than having "dirty" trans. fluid.

As to be expected, there were many Posts that said it should "most
definitely" be replaced every XXX miles.

What do you think ? Replace or leave alone ?
If replaced, how often ?

At this mileage, any other fluids or maint. that should be done that we are
not
aware of; the manual is misplaced ?

Thanks,
Bob

Re: Replacing Transmission Fluid; Do ? (2005 Civic)
 

In article <h5pcaq$b5t$1@news.eternal-september.org>,
"Robert11" <rgsros@xnotme.invalid> wrote:

> The transmission fluid has never been flushed, or replaced.
>
> Before I suggest that this would be a good idea to have done, thought I'd
> ask here first.

Before you ask here first, what does the owner's manual say about
recommended maintenance?

Anyway, don't "flush" it like you're thinking. Honda recommends a
repeated drain/fill routine to get rid of as much of the old stuff as
you can, but Honda doesn't recommend an active flush.

But overall, the owner's manual does have a recommendation for single
drain/fill intervals.

Whatever you do, use the Honda-brand fluid for your car, from the dealer.

Re: Replacing Transmission Fluid; Do ? (2005 Civic)
 

"Robert11" <rgsros@xnotme.invalid> wrote in
news:h5pcaq$b5t$1@news.eternal-september.org:

> Hello,
>
> A family member has a 2005 Civic with about 135,000 miles on it. Wow
> ! Live in New England.
>
> The transmission fluid has never been flushed, or replaced.
>
> Before I suggest that this would be a good idea to have done, thought
> I'd ask here first.
>
> I seem to remember Posts for different brand autos where it was said,
> strongly, in effect, "if it ain't broken dont fix it", and that not to
> replace the transmission fluid - just leave it alone as replacing it
> would/might cause more problems than having "dirty" trans. fluid.
>
> As to be expected, there were many Posts that said it should "most
> definitely" be replaced every XXX miles.
>
> What do you think ? Replace or leave alone ?
> If replaced, how often ?
>
> At this mileage, any other fluids or maint. that should be done that
> we are not aware of; the manual is misplaced ?
>



Your Owner's Manual can be found online from American Honda, here:
<https://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/RJAAI001_OMANUAL.asp>

You're not far off the officially specified 120K interval for the first
fluid change, so no damage will have occurred. However, you do need to
change the fluid properly and change it now. Then you need to change it
every 60K from here on out for maximum transmission life.

Use ONLY genuine Honda ATF-Z1, available only from a Honda or Acura dealer.
Do not use "Honda-compatible" aftermarket fluids.

The correct fluid-change procedure according to your Owner's Manual:
"To thoroughly flush the transmission,
the technician should drain and refill
it with Honda ATF-Z1, then drive the
vehicle for a short distance. Do this
three times. Then drain and refill the
transmission a final time."

NOTE: Do NOT allow anyone (including the dealer!) to sell you a "flush"
that consists of circulating through the transmission a fluid of /any/ kind
that is not ATF-Z1. Chemical "flushes" are officially prohibited by Honda.

The online Owner's Manual has a Maintenance Schedule that calls out change
intervals for the car's other life-limited fluids.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Re: Replacing Transmission Fluid; Do ? (2005 Civic)
 

In article <Xns9C63B203E9677tegger@208.90.168.18>,
Tegger <invalid@invalid.inv> wrote:

> The correct fluid-change procedure according to your Owner's Manual:
> "To thoroughly flush the transmission,
> the technician should drain and refill
> it with Honda ATF-Z1, then drive the
> vehicle for a short distance. Do this
> three times. Then drain and refill the
> transmission a final time."

Technically speaking, that is not the correct fluid change procedure.

The fluid change procedure is a single drain and fill.

What you quoted above is the Honda-specified FLUSH procedure, which is
different.

Re: Replacing Transmission Fluid; Do ? (2005 Civic)
 

"Elmo P. Shagnasty" <elmop@nastydesigns.com> wrote in news:elmop-
B5C8DC.18265210082009@news.eternal-september.org:

> In article <Xns9C63B203E9677tegger@208.90.168.18>,
> Tegger <invalid@invalid.inv> wrote:
>
>> The correct fluid-change procedure according to your Owner's Manual:
>> "To thoroughly flush the transmission,
>> the technician should drain and refill
>> it with Honda ATF-Z1, then drive the
>> vehicle for a short distance. Do this
>> three times. Then drain and refill the
>> transmission a final time."
>
> Technically speaking, that is not the correct fluid change procedure.
>
> The fluid change procedure is a single drain and fill.
>
> What you quoted above is the Honda-specified FLUSH procedure, which is
> different.
>



OK, "flush" then, not "fluid change".

I try to avoid the use of the word "flush" because people tend to conflate
that with the chemical "flush" procedures sold by the aftermarket.

To clarify: the OP needs to do a "flush" _as specified_ in his manual.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/