Question about auto tranny

[GrilledCheese9]

Hello. Recently I was at Jiffy Lube for a routine oil change and I asked the employee if he thought it was a good idea to change my transmission oil. He said it wouldnt be a good idea if the tranny wasn't having any problems already. Is this guy just misinformed or do you think hes correct? I just thought this sounded odd because Honda's routine maintenance schedule says to be changing it occasionally. My honda is a 1990 and has 149,000 miles and to my knowledge has never had any tranny oil change, although I have only owned it for less than a year. The only reason im asking this is because it does seem to shift a little harder than any other automatic car I have driven. Also, would a tranny oil change solve something like this? Any input would be appreciated!

[Losiracer2]

if you do change the tranny fluid, DO NOT buy a transmission flush. Just drain and fill w/ new fluid. Something with flushing honda's screws up the transmission thats what i was told.

[ExplodingCake]

hahahaha the mechanic was absolutely correct WRONG!

He told you that so you can fuck your tranny eventually and quote you with high priced shit to pay for. I recommend doing AT fluid change every 15,000 to 30,000 miles. I do it every 15,000 since it's a tired AT.

I would HIGHLY suggest you get a fluid change using Honda ATF if you have not done yet.


I do my own shit , real damn easy and fun.

[aRaKNiD]

Yup, change that fluid. Also, if you're shifting hard, you might want to try filling the tranny with Lucas Oil Transmission Treatment then top off with ATF. I swear by the stuff...my jerky shifting is no more thanks to it.

[deevergote]

Honda transmissions are supposed to shift fairly harshly. If it shifts too smoothly, it's probably going to wear out... like riding a clutch (if you've ever driven a manual car)

Frequent fluid changes are good. Many people experience automatic transmission failure in these cars, and the fact that the fluid is rarely changed is likely to be the cause. owequitit put I think 200,000 miles on his autobox before he swapped to manual, and because he changed the fluid on a regular basis, it was good to him for the entire time.


I haven't heard anything about a flush being bad, but I don't know enough about autos to really say for certain one way or the other.



Every 15,000 miles sounds like a good plan. And Honda ATF is the stuff to use.

[quickangel93]

change you tranny fluid every 5 oil changes.

[3tcRob]

He is wrong I work in a shop and do about 2-3 Honda flushes a day no-problem You can take it to Honda and have a Flush, Really it is not a flush it is a fluid exchange it is all done by the trans pump you take one line off hook it into the machine and hook the machine into the other side and start the car make sure the flow is the right way and start the service there is no forceing of the fluids or anything, I dont know of any shop that will do a flush with warrenty if you tell them you are havening problems, Sometimes it will help it most of the time it will hurt it, Honda doesnt say anything about flushes except not to use additives such as friction modifyers to turn atf 3 in to Honda fluid,Any way on these older Hondas you are paying for regular atf 3 in a Honda bottle

[3tcRob]

Also I have 304xxx on my Auto trans right now every third oil change drain and fill 4 qts

[aRaKNiD]

Honda doesnt say anything about flushes except not to use additives such as friction modifyers to turn atf 3 in to Honda fluid

Well, experience tells me that companies, no matter what business they are in will tell you just about anything to get you to use their product and only theirs. Like I mentioned above...the Lucas Transmission Fix works fine. I put it in mine within 3 days of buying the car. Had about 145xxx on it...now sitting at 153xxx (bought Feb this year) and she's still shiftin fine. I always go by the bottle...if it says it will work on any application then you should be alright.

[3tcRob]

It is pretty much hit and miss with modifiyers I love Lucas I had a slight rack leak in my Accord and put Lucas in it and no leak but my buddy bought a 02 auto Civic and someone put stop slip in it and it burned all the clutchs out of it

[AccordXRacer]

Ive always heard just to drain and fill and that was before i ever know about this site, but to each his own.

[kit-to-lip]

i would have to say the guy was right i was always told that if you never changed the tranny fluid before 70,000 miles then u shouldnt change it after both my father and uncle are mechanics as for the shifting honda autos r known for their hard shifting trannys

[damonrocks]

I am changing my fluid myself ... bought the dealer atf fluid, got my 3/8 drive ratchet, extension, got under there and ... the socket screw was too tight!!? I actually BENT/stretched my extension ... never saw that before. Is this a regular thread or a right-handed thread? Is it normal to have them impact it on there like that?

Thanks for any answers...

[popeyeamac]

i havnt flushed my auto tranny lol ive changed the fluid but never flushed it lol maybe thats why im on my second transmission after only 165--- miles on it