[ajm8127]

I want to put Amsoil or Redline in my girlfriends car. it has about 60k on it.

It seems the generally accepted way to change the fluid is the 3x drain/fill cycle.

The "Remaining ATF" column is the volume of oil left in the system after the drain.
The "Z1" column is the number of quarts of stock fluid left after the drain/fill cycle.
The "Amsoil" column is the number of quarts of the Amsoil (or other) ATF after the drain/fill cycle.

I made the assumption that the oils have completely mixed.

*My question is whether or not it is safe to mix synthetic and conventional ATF in this way.*

I ask this because after a drain/fill three times replacing with three quarts Amsoil each time, you are left with 1.31 quarts Z1 in your transmission. I have always heard it is a no-no to mix synthetic and conventional oils.

Please share your insight or experiences.

 

[StanB]

You can mix both.

 

[ajm8127]

You can mix both.

I figured as much because if there was a problem such as foaming or other incompatibility of the oil, people would be blowing up transmissions. The only way to get all of the old oil out would be to remove the transmission and torque converter as far as I can tell.

 

[Artema]

When you say Redline, you aren't talking about their racing formula are you?

 

[ajm8127]

When you say Redline, you aren't talking about their racing formula are you?

I am talking about the D4. I will probably use Amsoil, however. Unless there is a reason I shouldn't.

 

[Artema]

I am talking about the D4. I will probably use Amsoil, however. Unless there is a reason I shouldn't.

No input on the D4, I just heard of people ruining their transmissions with the racing stuff, wanted to be sure! I'm running the Amsoil, but only 1 drain and fill so far, will do the 2nd coming up soon (been less than 1k miles).

 

[ajm8127]

No input on the D4, I just heard of people ruining their transmissions with the racing stuff, wanted to be sure! I'm running the Amsoil, but only 1 drain and fill so far, will do the 2nd coming up soon (been less than 1k miles).

Wow that ****s. (edit - you can't type s-u-c-k-s, ridiculous) One thing I have learned is that what is best on the track is not necessarily best in your daily driver.

Which Redline racing ATF is ruining transmissions? Is it the low or high viscosity stuff? They have two different ones marketed to drag and road racers respectively, I assume.

 

[Artema]

Wow that ****s. (edit - you can't type s-u-c-k-s, ridiculous) One thing I have learned is that what is best on the track is not necessarily best in your daily driver.

Which Redline racing ATF is ruining transmissions? Is it the low or high viscosity stuff? They have two different ones marketed to drag and road racers respectively, I assume.

No idea, but as long as you stick with the replacement you're likely alright, such as D4.

 

[finishstrong09]

Not trying to beat this whole drain/fill subject for ATF fluid changes to death...but I didn't want to start a new thread on the subject either...

I have an 2011 i4 as my sig suggests.
I have almost 22,000 miles on it thus far.
I ordered a case of Acura ATF DW-1
http://www.ebay.com/itm/170519398387?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
$82.04 for 12 quarts or $6.84 a quart.

With this 3x drain fill idea every 20,000 or 30,000 miles or some I have seen mention every 10,000 or 15,000 miles. Doesn't it take 3 quarts for each drain and fill?

And if you are doing this 3 times with about 100-200 miles in between each time...thats 9 quarts just to do 1 drain/fill service interval.

Some of you are doing this 3x drain/fill every 10k, 15k, 20k, or 30k. So for me that's $61.53 a pop. So is this something you guys calculate by just doing a 3x drain/fill every year? Isn't that kind of excessive?

I mean I've owned a 1995 Accord and a 2003 Accord and just changed the ATF as Honda suggests and never had a AT go bad..although I've only put 165k and 130k on each car respectively. Are you guys changing the ATF more frequently than Honda suggests because you want that tranny to last 500k miles? Or have you had bad experiences or have known someone with a bad experience of following honda's ATF service interval to cause you to change it more frequently?

I guess I am looking for some justification to spending quite a bit more money on just ATF service maintenance than Honda suggests. If it means 100% prevention of ever having a tranny go bad on our car than I'm all for it. But having been a prior owner of two honda's I just haven't experienced. And I am quite sure I don't want to...but anyway. I digress.

 

[Artema]

Your math was a bit unclear. 9 quarts gives you 3x drain/fill, not 1 drain/fill. I plan on doing a 1x every oil change to keep it simple.

 

[finishstrong09]

Your math was a bit unclear. 9 quarts gives you 3x drain/fill, not 1 drain/fill. I plan on doing a 1x every oil change to keep it simple.

I meant $60 for 1 3x drain/fill session. Sorry bad choice of wording. I should have said $60 for a 3x drain/fill service. $60 is the cost of 9 quarts of ATF DW-1 roughly.

 

[txn]

I meant $60 for 1 3x drain/fill session. Sorry bad choice of wording. I should have said $60 for a 3x drain/fill service. $60 is the cost of 9 quarts of ATF DW-1 roughly.

The 3X drain/fill is needed if the old ATF was in use for 30K miles.

After you did the 3X ATF drain/fill one time, you can do a 1X drain/fill every 15K miles and maintain high level of fresh ATF.
That comes to $40 over 30K miles.

 

[finishstrong09]

The 3X drain/fill is needed if the old ATF was in use for 30K miles.

After you did the 3X ATF drain/fill one time, you can do a 1X drain/fill every 15K miles and maintain high level of fresh ATF.
That comes to $40 over 30K miles.

That makes more sense to me. Thanks.

 

[Metal Metalic]

Synthetic Fluids

Just some quick input...

I have been using Valvoline full synthetic fluid (Listed in my sig) for a year now. No issues what so ever.

Though I did a full flush, uses less fluid but you must have help.

 

[npolite]

All...you don't need to do three drain and fills that aggressively. I have been doing one drain and fill every 30k miles in my Honda/Acuras for over 15 years and haven't had one transmission fail on me.

Also get Honda oil filters / fluid. They are usually about 50 cents cheaper over the Acura counterpart and are the same thing.

 

[dorkiedoode]

All...you don't need to do three drain and fills that aggressively. I have been doing one drain and fill every 30k miles in my Honda/Acuras for over 15 years and haven't had one transmission fail on me.

Also get Honda oil filters / fluid. They are usually about 50 cents cheaper over the Acura counterpart and are the same thing.

I'm on the same boat. I d/f every 20-30k on my 99 and have yet to experience any problems (205k). I know someone who d/f religiously at every oil change and his tranny still went south. That sure changed his view on things.

 

[ajm8127]

I did the switch over to Amsoil yesterday. The stock fluid was brown after 60k of my girlfriend not driving her car hard at all at ambient temperatures not above 90F. It was already in there for way too long. I did 3 drain/refills, but it was easier and cheaper than dropping the trans to get all of the old Z1 out.

I drove the vehicle after each drain/refill, being sure to cycle through all of the gears, including reverse. This means that each gear was actually engaged, I know because I counted and looked at the tach as I drove. I waited until coming to a compete stop before engaging reverse.

In my opinion it was worth it to get over 80% of the old fluid out.

Knowing what I know now, I would have done one drain/refill at every 30k with Amsoil, but because the car is now at 60k and the fluid was brown, I felt it necessary to do the cycle 3 times. I'll recheck the ATF at 120k, but I doubt the Amsoil will show the degradation the Z1 showed.

1. Stock Fluid after 60K
2. 1x drain/refill w/ 3 quarts Amsoil ATF
3. 2x drain/refill w/ 3 quarts Amsoil ATF
4. 3x drain/refill w/ 3 quarts Amsoil ATF
5. Virgin Amsoil ATF

BTW, I didn't break a single clip for the engine try using nothing other than a small screwdriver and slip joint pliers.

 

[Metal Metalic]

I'm on the same boat. I d/f every 20-30k on my 99 and have yet to experience any problems (205k). I know someone who d/f religiously at every oil change and his tranny still went south. That sure changed his view on things.

I think the issue with trannys going south is that Honda does not have a service replaceable filter on the V6 autos.

That is why I use a Magnifine filter inline. The NAPA part number is in my sig.

As for cheaper stated by the thread starter... The Ausie transflush method is fast n cheap. I did it myself with some help and only had to use 1 quart extra to make sure what pumped out was clean.

The trick is to un cork the tranny drain plug with the car raise on ramps or jacked. Let the fluid drain out completely and plug.

Remove the ramps or jack.

Undo the line from the drivers side of the radiator and connect a hose to a large bucket.

Fill the tranny one quart higher than the mark on the dipstick and have someone start the car.

Once you see the fluid come out clean have them stop the engine. Fill the tranny with the remaining fluid and check the level.

If it is a wee bit too high, start and shut off the engine once or twice to proper level. Replace the line or install a Magnifine filter inline.

Bam yur done!

 

[poorboyaccord]

amsoil all the way.

 

[bigbird_57]

The 3X drain/fill is needed if the old ATF was in use for 30K miles.

After you did the 3X ATF drain/fill one time, you can do a 1X drain/fill every 15K miles and maintain high level of fresh ATF.
That comes to $40 over 30K miles.

+1 I have a new to me 2008 Accord LX-P. I have completed my 1st drain today with the DW-1 fluid. I will do two more in the coming weeks,then change the in-line ATF filter with a 3/8" Magnefine filter.
I have already upgraded the sway-bar.
This is an excellent forum.