[kings322]

Hello All,

I apologize for all of the recent questions, but I am now playing catchup with the maintenance of my 2012 honda accord. So now my question. My car currently has 195k miles and I have never changed the transmission fluid. I checked the fluid and the color is a light brown. Is it safe to drain and replace or should I just keep adding until transmission goes bad?


Thanks in advance

.

 

[KW2004Accord]

Light brown is not good, it means the fluid has oxidized, but it is better than if the fluid was black. The clutch packs in the trans. are pretty worn, but not changing the fluid the trans. will go out sooner than later. I would do 1 d/f, then drive 3K miles before doing the second one, you want to go slow on the changes so you don't introduce to much detergents that will then clean out to much gunk that will clog the trans. valve body. Go slow on the changes & you may be OK. Why are you adding, have a leak ?

 

[slimm1469]

^^ This. I'm surprised the transmission still works. The 3x drain & fill at this point is your only option. Use Honda DW1 fluid.

 

[DerekWildstar]

KW's advice is spot-on. When that transmission finally dies, it should be donated to science. It's kind of an automotive miracle, at this point.

 

[pindiwalAccord]

I agree with KW, start doing drain and fill at 3000 miles or every engine oil change and hope the transmission stays with you.

 

[porschehuncho]

Not a big deal and it’s being way over hyped in this thread. Just drain and fill. never pressure flush!!, that’s all. Drive easy for the first 1000 miles if you can help it and monitor your cars feel. You’ll be fine.

Note you’ll still have to drive and do a second drain fill to get most of the fluid out anyway. More importantly is make sure your levels are good and the drains are plugged properly. It’s a car not heart surgery.

 

[internalaudit]

What's the easiest way to access the drain plug? Do we really have to remove the plastic shield below the engine bay?

 

[scar_cle]

What's the easiest way to access the drain plug? Do we really have to remove the plastic shield below the engine bay?

Yes, you have to remove the shield to access the drain bolt. Lots of utube vids on it.

 

[pindiwalAccord]

What's the easiest way to access the drain plug? Do we really have to remove the plastic shield below the engine bay?

Yes, you have to remove the shield to access the drain bolt. Lots of utube vids on it.

Cute a small area with box cutter to permanently access the drain plug. That's what I did.

 

[kings322]

Light brown is not good, it means the fluid has oxidized, but it is better than if the fluid was black. The clutch packs in the trans. are pretty worn, but not changing the fluid the trans. will go out sooner than later. I would do 1 d/f, then drive 3K miles before doing the second one, you want to go slow on the changes so you don't introduce to much detergents that will then clean out to much gunk that will clog the trans. valve body. Go slow on the changes & you may be OK. Why are you adding, have a leak ?

i am about to change the transmission fluid but car manual doesnt say how much to repace with. i found a couple of videos that say 3.5 quarts. is that correct?

 

[KW2004Accord]

i am about to change the transmission fluid but car manual doesnt say how much to repace with. i found a couple of videos that say 3.5 quarts. is that correct?

2.6qts. for the 2012 4 cylinder on a drain/fill.

 

[hallstevenson]

i am about to change the transmission fluid but car manual doesnt say how much to repace with. i found a couple of videos that say 3.5 quarts. is that correct?

Sounds about right for a V6. Is that what you have ? Otherwise, measure what drains out and replace with a little less of the same amount (it's easier to add than remove fluid). Drive around for ~15 minutes, park it, and check the level via the dipstick. If it's low, add 12-16 ounces at a time to get it to the right level.

 

[kings322]

I have the 4 cylinder Accord. I drained the fluid into a pan but could not measure. when I poured in the new fluid 2.5 quarts was not enough. I got to the xxx on the dipstick at 3.5quarts. Does that sound about right?

 

[DARKART]

If your transmission is up to operating temperature and you are in the crosshatch on the dipstick, you're perfect.

 

[kings322]

The fluid was installed when the engine was cold. Should I have run it to temperature before installing the fluid? I was in the cross hatch while the car was cold

 

[DARKART]

The fluid was installed when the engine was cold. Should I have run it to temperature before installing the fluid? I was in the cross hatch while the car was cold

No, you have to add fluid before starting the car. You did that part right. You need to get the transmission up to operating temperature and check it when the fluid is warm. This is how you get the most accurate reading. ATF expands as it warms so the level will rise with temperature. You may have overfilled it if it is showing full when cold. Does your dipstick have a full cold line and a full hot line?

 

[kings322]

Yes my dipstick has a cold and hot line. When I installed the fluid I was on the cross hatch. I think that I screwed up.

 

[DARKART]

When cold you want the fluid in the crosshatch on the cold side and when up to temp, you want it in the crosshatch for hot. If it's overfilled, don't drive it. Drain some of the fluid back out until you get it into that cold range.

 

[kings322]

I just drained 1qt of transmission fluid and ran the car until it got to temperature. I checked the fluid and I had to add about 1/4 of a qt. So total installed is about 2 3/4 qt which put me at the middle of the cross hatch with the car at temp. sound correct?

 

[DARKART]

I presume you have the L4, in which case the specs show 2.6 qt for a change of transmission fluid, so I'd say you are where you should be. You used Honda DW-1? Drive for 500-1K miles and change again, then a third time after another 500-1K miles.