Changing the transmission fluid

[Plasdom]

How often does this need to be done. I recently had an oil change and it was recommended. Color is a light brown instead of the cherry red

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Kind of hard to understand what you're saying, is it cherry red right now?

 

[Heisenberg]

Every 30-40k miles AFAIK.

 

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: Plasdom
How often does this need to be done. I recently had an oil change and it was recommended. Color is not a light brown instead of the cherry red

Car make year and model please. Also your driving conditions, do you tow, do you always have a full car...details please.

 

[Plasdom]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
Kind of hard to understand what you're saying, is it cherry red right now?

sorry. did not re-read. Color is light brown

 

[ElFenix]

i think you should change it now, but then i'm just a forum eknowitall without any actual training or experience

 

[Plasdom]

Originally posted by: TechnoKid

Originally posted by: Plasdom
How often does this need to be done. I recently had an oil change and it was recommended. Color is not a light brown instead of the cherry red

Car make year and model please. Also your driving conditions, do you tow, do you always have a full car...details please.

Honda Civic coupe '96. Mostly in-town driving. About 30miles a week. Very little highway although I did a fair amount of highway driving in the past. Most of the time I am the only one in the car. Very rarely hae passengers. Car has 90K miles. Bought it used @60K I don't know if it ever has been changed.

 

[FoBoT]

no, don't bother. i have a 1990 mazda (auto) with 185,000 miles and i don't recall every changing it. runs great

 

[Analog]

I have a Pontiac Transport, 183K, never been changed....

 

[seanws]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
i think you should change it now, but then i'm just a forum eknowitall without any actual training or experience

did you stay at a holiday inn recently?

 

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: Plasdom

Originally posted by: TechnoKid

Originally posted by: Plasdom
How often does this need to be done. I recently had an oil change and it was recommended. Color is not a light brown instead of the cherry red

Car make year and model please. Also your driving conditions, do you tow, do you always have a full car...details please.

Honda Civic coupe. Mostly in-town driving. About 10miles a week. Very little highway although I did a fair amount of highway driving in the past. Most of the time I am the only one in the car. Very rarely hae passengers

In Hondas, I'd change it every 30k-60k, 60k being the most if you are using a good (and compatible) synthetic like Amsoil or Redline. Also, since you do a lot of city driving, you want to follow the severe service schedule, especially for changing of the oil. When you drive only in the city, you don't allow the oil to come up to operating temp for the period of time it takes to burn off deposits and excess fuel in the oil that results from short city driving; short city driving also can bring problmes of moisture accumulation in the oil. Idling the car for excessive times also increases the fuel dilution of oil. I suggest you do at least 15 minutes of sustained freeway driving once a week to bring the oil up to operating temp to allow the cleaning additives in oil to burn off excess fuel and deposits.

Oh, and is this an automatic or manual? Year?

 

[NutBucket]

Yes, change the fluid more often. Definitely follow the service intervals outlined in the manual. There's no user serviceable filter IIRC so definitely stay on top of it.

 

[Plasdom]

I change the oil right on schedule. It is overdue for a tune-up (feels sluggish - I think it is the spark plugs) and I cannot really afford all that maintanence so I was considering doing either a tune-up or transmission flush. Leaning more towards tune-up since the guy mentioned that the fuel pump needs to be changed.
It is an auto. 1996

 

[SuperSix]

And I believe (If it's an auto) that it needs Honda-specific transmission fluid.

 

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: SuperSix
And I believe (If it's an auto) that it needs Honda-specific transmission fluid.

Depends on the year. Honda didn't start to spec ATF Z1 untill 1996 (95 for some of the early CVT transmissions), if i recall. 1995 and below can use Dexron III. Original Honda ATF before Z1 I believe was just honda formulated Dexron IIe. You can use Dexron III in newer cars, however, you'd have to add a HFM (Highly friction modified) additive, because Z1 itself is a highly friction modified fluid, whereas dexron III is not. Lubeguard makes an HFM additive.

Some people have used the Z1 in 95 and older transmissions, with no ill effects, however, I have it to cause slipping in my brother's 94 civic auto, so i used Chevron Dexron III and all is well. I may switch to Mobil 1 synthetic atf or redline or amsoil.