Replacing other fluids other than engine oil

[health84]

I've never owned a car longer than 2 years, so bear with me...

Other than regular engine oil changes, what are the recommended change intervals for other fluids?

The only things I can think of are :

-Engine oil
-Transmission oil
-Brake fluid ?
-Power steering ?
-Antifreeze ?

Please post any other oil/fluids that I have missed and what their intervals are.

[Bill]

What year and model do you have?

[RTexasF]

Agreed, you car is what? Automatic or stick shift? Did you buy it new? Gotta have some info for folks to help!
Are you saying you are planning on keeping this one for more than two years?

I do complete hydraulic system flush every three years, same with power steering fluid. I'll do cooling system at four years first time and every 2-3 years thereafter.

[health84]

Car is a 2008 Accord Coupe EX-L (4cylinder, 5AT), just bought it. Environment for driving is mostly stop-and-go (Queens,NY) and usually just for pleasure so about 400~500 miles a month I'm guessing.

The basics seem to be an oil change at 3~5k, or more if it is synthetic.

Transmission from what I gather seems to be around 15~30k.

Don't know squat about the other fluids. Any input would be appreciated.

[honda again]

Your owner's manual will tell you all you need to know. Read it.

[The Critic]

Oil Change should be done when the oil life system tells you it's due, which can be between 3-10k. Synthetic does not always increase the interval, contrary to popular belief, as the oil still becomes contaminated.

Transmission fluid is done when subcode 3 appears. Usually this happens every ten services or so, usually between 40-100k. The color will turn dark and that is normal. Even though Honda only requires one drain and refill when it comes time to service, I'd recommend draining and refilling three times (or drain once then remove the lines and do a flush).

Coolant can go 100k between changes. I'd do it somewhere around the five year mark even if you do not reach the mileage.

Brake fluid needs to be flushed and bled every three years. At least do it at every brake job at the bare minimum.

I'd flush and fill the power steering system with Honda PSF only every 60-100k. There's no required service interval for it, but I'd still do it.

[cajun]

According to my owner's manual the OEM coolant is good for 10 years (I can't remember the miles). You guys changing it much sooner don't buy into that for some reason? I plan on changing out my OEM coolant when I do the full timing belt service at the seven year mark.

[lpaudio2]

I do not trust coolant past 3-4 years no matter what anyone says. GM used to say 100k for dex cool, it never seemed to last that long without issues. Many GM motors have issues anyway, but the whole 100k "idea" def does not help.

Also brake fluid I would say is good for 2-3 years as its hydroscopic and picks up water.

auto trans... I cant help you, never owned an automatic.

PS steering... Id watch the color, maybe change at 100k?

Just keep a eye on the fluid color and levels every month or so, and you'll be 10 steps ahead of everyone else. Being proactive will set you up for the engine and trans to last as long as possible.

[mdnky]

The recommendations for coolant are possible lengths of time that it can last, not definite. If in doubt, have it tested. Most shops have little strips they can use to test the coolant (look like litmus strips from HS chem.)

Changing the coolant depends on a lot of factors. Mine will be changed every 2-3 years, regardless of tests (showing its good.) But down here its needed big time due to the temperatures. Those living in areas where freezing is a problem should also change more regularly.

[07 2.4 SE]

Or what the manual says. Any sooner you are wasting your cash.
Remember its a Honda.

Good luck!

[Sarge2155]

Wife just picked up an 08 Accord EX-L V-6 w/NAV and reading through the owners manual I noticed that most of the fluids are Honda this or Honda that (this is my first Honda). Are they telling me that I have to go to the dealer to get a quart of tranny or power steering fluid? Are there equivalent type fluids other than Honda type that can be used and if so does anyone know what type of tranny fluid and power steering fluid is equivalent to Honda type, i.e., Dexron, Mercon?

Not that I am needing to add to any fluid, I just like to have some on hand in my garage just in case. Am I doomed to go to the dealer and purchase a quart of tranny fluid and pint of power steering fluid? We all know what that would cost.

Not real sure if I like it (the car or not) as the the wife will be driving it the most and as I have said earlier it is the first foreign car for me (although it was assembled in Ohio, figure that).

I also noticed on the sticker the dealer installed on the winsheild reference next free oil change, it listed Mobil One. Does anyone know by chance what the factory fill of motr oil was i.e., syn or blend, and I of course assume it was Honda type. What does everyone else use.

Not sure if I wanna use two different types of motor oils since I use syn blend motorcraft in my other vehicles, but I assume that is a bad word here. I do realize that most oils quality oils are similiar.

Any tidbits would be great

[James.uk]

I change my coolant every year because it gets very acidic and eats away at the tiny ally heater elements on my ZX. But I only change the Honda's every two years.. :)

I dont bother to change the power steering fluid at all.. Brake fluid is changed every two years, as is engine oil, and all filters. Gear box is drained of any that comes out freely, then topped up. :)
.

[cajun]

Sarge,

Welcome to the world of Honda, and yeah, they're telling you to drive to your dealer to buy their stuff. I and I think most others on this board will tell you better safe than sorry. You just kicked out >$20K on your new ride, so why sweat paying crazy money for a quart of Honda ATF? :D

At my local dealer a qt of ATF and 12oz of PS fluid cost ~$3/ea. IIRC a gallon of pre-mixed coolant is ~$15. I don't know what oil Honda puts in a new 08, but no, Motorcraft synth blend is not a bad word here. I actually started using it in my 02 after reading rave reviews about it at this site.

[The Critic]

Wife just picked up an 08 Accord EX-L V-6 w/NAV and reading through the owners manual I noticed that most of the fluids are Honda this or Honda that (this is my first Honda). Are they telling me that I have to go to the dealer to get a quart of tranny or power steering fluid? Are there equivalent type fluids other than Honda type that can be used and if so does anyone know what type of tranny fluid and power steering fluid is equivalent to Honda type, i.e., Dexron, Mercon?

Not that I am needing to add to any fluid, I just like to have some on hand in my garage just in case. Am I doomed to go to the dealer and purchase a quart of tranny fluid and pint of power steering fluid? We all know what that would cost.

Not real sure if I like it (the car or not) as the the wife will be driving it the most and as I have said earlier it is the first foreign car for me (although it was assembled in Ohio, figure that).

I also noticed on the sticker the dealer installed on the winsheild reference next free oil change, it listed Mobil One. Does anyone know by chance what the factory fill of motr oil was i.e., syn or blend, and I of course assume it was Honda type. What does everyone else use.

Not sure if I wanna use two different types of motor oils since I use syn blend motorcraft in my other vehicles, but I assume that is a bad word here. I do realize that most oils quality oils are similiar.

Any tidbits would be great
Honda does not have a licensing program like Ford, Chrysler and GM do when it comes to drivetrain fluids. They do not release the details of their formulation to the aftermarket, so the only approved service fill that you can purchase is the one from the dealership. While there are aftermarket alternatives and they are advertised to be equivalent to the service fill, no one knows if they truly are as Honda does not release the details of the specifications. I would stick with the dealership product for transmission and power steering fluids. Coolant doesn’t seem to be as critical, but given the long intervals (about every 110k with the timing belt job), I would just use the approved fluid.

Also, Honda’s transmission fluid is no different than some of the newest transmission fluids on the market—it will turn brown very quickly. This is very different than the Ford fluids, and the fluid discoloration does not mean that the fluid must be replaced.

The engine oil is 5w-20 conventional, and the factory fill has a higher dose of anti-wear additives as the assembly lube used during engine assembly is mixed in with the factory oil fill. You can use any brand of 5w-20 that you wish.

[Sarge2155]

Thanks guys for the information. I guess I will not sweat the mad money at the dealership for the ATF and PS fluid after all. Maybe I'll concern myself with how hard it is going to be to change the oil once I start to do it myself. I have read here in the DIY it was pretty rough.