[turner850]

Just trying to spread the word to anybody who has been putting off changing their CVT fluid...

I just changed my CVT fluid after 46000 miles and I immediately noticed a difference in the drive performance. This was my first car with a CVT and I really didn't think much about changing the fluid now I wish I did it at 30k...

Cost me $42 and 1 hour of my time. Car is a lot more responsive!!



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[262105]

We changed it at 20,000. Pretty amazing the difference in color from the factory fill with 20,000 mi and the fresh new fluid. My plan is to change every 20,000. $40, why not!

 

[rookie]

FYI, from shop manual / Honda Techinfo:

Continuously Variable Transmission Fluid
Capacity:
3.7 L (3.9 US qt) at change
5.8 L (6.1 US qt) at oil pan, lower valve body, and transmission fluid pump removal, installation, and replacement
7.6 L (8.0 US qt) at overhaul

In other words - what did you do? If you drained 4 quarts, that means about 50% of old fluid is still in there. I realize that is what Honda says to do. However, on older gen Accords, many people have taken to 2x3 or 3x3 fluid changes for transmission (meaning drain 3 quarts, refill, drive around, drain again, refill and then do it one more time if you really want 90% of your fluid to be new).

 

[262105]

All I did was drain and fill at 20,000 mi.. Drain 4 qt. and fill 4 qt. Ill do it again at 40,000 and 60,000 and...

Most trans fluid changes done at dealers, shops and the like, are drain and fill. Including your Honda dealer. Some drop the trans pan on standard auto transmissions (4-6 gears) and drain and fill, change filter. Some of those will use the machines to draw and exchange and leave the filter alone. On my auto trans(s) I always drain and fill and change filter at 50,000 mi, and never had a trans to a shop for any issue. Most of those cars driven to 200,000 mi.with no trans repairs. So I figure if I spend $40 every 20,000 mi. changing my CVT fluid earlier than recommended by the MM I should be in pretty good shape. Also that's changing the fluid almost three times more ofter than the MM says, if you figure the MM says to change about 55,000-60,000 mi. Basically I'm getting the wear and tear crud out of the CVT. Think of it this way, your draining the worst of the fluid at the bottom of the sump where the particles of worn trans tend to settle.

Others will speak up on how they do it, this works for me. Cleaner fluids will never hurt your car! We like the CVT.

 

[pparks1]

For those who change early and have noticed a significant change in driving, I'd love to know what is different. I am coming up on 20k miles and my CVT is the smoothest driving transmission I have ever owned. I'm doing 20k miles a year, so I plan to do mine closer to 40k. My mileage has steadily been going up all summer, so certainly not demonstrating any reason to believe trans is reducing vehicle performance.

I won't be doing a 3x change. I'll just drain and fill.

 

[dfwxjer]

You may notice that some members of this forum are a little... overly cautious... when it comes to basic maintenance.

If you're noticing issues with the way it drives at 20k miles then take it in for warranty service because something isn't right. Otherwise, follow the MM, and you'll be fine. Changing fluids that early isn't protecting your car any more than normal so much as wasting time, money, and natural resources.

 

[rookie]

You may notice that some members of this forum are a little... overly cautious... when it comes to basic maintenance.

If you're noticing issues with the way it drives at 20k miles then take it in for warranty service because something isn't right. Otherwise, follow the MM, and you'll be fine. Changing fluids that early isn't protecting your car any more than normal so much as wasting time, money, and natural resources.

So... yeah, I agree, to a degree...

But note that the Accord Manual also explicitly says that transmission fluid might need to be changed sooner than MM indicates, under what could be defined as "severe driving conditions" (towing, hills) which "...result in higher transmission temperatures".

Pages 507 and 511.

 

[BLCKFLSH]

The owner's manual for my 7th gen said to change the fluid at 120k miles. If you did wait that long, you were likely to have issues, especially with the V6 automatic. I did one drain and fill every 15k miles, doing it early so there would never be a need to do the 3x drain and fills. Keeping the fluid clean was very important for that transmission because of all the small passages and valves that had a bad habit of sticking and burning up the torque converter. I don't know if the CVT has the same small passages and valves but I'm probably not going to wait for the Maintenance Minder to tell me to change it. Clean fluid is always better when it comes to transmissions IMO, and Honda isn't known to have the most durable transmissions.

 

[dfwxjer]

So... yeah, I agree, to a degree...

But note that the Accord Manual also explicitly says that transmission fluid might need to be changed sooner than MM indicates, under what could be defined as "severe driving conditions" (towing, hills) which "...result in higher transmission temperatures".

Pages 507 and 511.

Yup, they recommend at 25k miles if you're towing or driving in mountainous regions.


Idk about you but I never considered towing anything with my former cvt Sport.

 

[pparks1]

Yeah, my Accord doesn't see anything resembling severe driving conditions.

 

[KW2004Accord]

Severe could also be 100% city type driving, as a poster (7th. gen) had said that he did 4 hrs. a day of bumper to bumper traffic on the LA freeway. His new trans. fluid was black by 8K. Dilution not volume when changing the fluid, how long & how much of worn dirty fluid do you want to leave in your cars transmission ? Some people it will not matter, they will be rid of the car in a few yrs.

 

[262105]

No severe driving conditions for our car. I will say though at 20,000 mi we got some pretty dark fluid out of there and some particulate stuff as well. The trans runs fine with no issues at all. So, in the end any junk I can get out of "the sump" at the bottom of the CVT can only help things. I've never owned a CVT to the 200,000 mi. mark, sure hope this one makes it there! That's a total of 10 quick easy fluid changes for a total of $400? over probably 12 years. I'll give it a try.

 

[Blackheart]

IF I didn't have a "lifetime warranty" on my drivetrain, I'd certainly be draining/filling every 20-30K miles.

 

[Dr.Empyrean]

What happens when you don't change this fluid. I just recently purchased a 2013 Accord sport but not 100% about the maintenance in the past. Is it very hard to manage doing this on my own?

 

[KW2004Accord]

What happens when you don't change this fluid. I just recently purchased a 2013 Accord sport but not 100% about the maintenance in the past. Is it very hard to manage doing this on my own?

Accelerated wear on the transmission & componets leading to transmission failure at some point. Look for a good (Honda) indie shop if you need someone to do the fluid change.

 

[Dr.Empyrean]

Accelerated wear on the transmission & componets leading to transmission failure at some point. Look for a good (Honda) indie shop if you need someone to do the fluid change.

Im planning on calling the dealer tomorrow to see what maintenance has been done. I have an indie shop I trust but Im not sure if they are really a Honda shop. Would they be fine to use? I recently realized I messed up the Maintenance minder since I have been getting oil changes at 5k miles not based on the percentage.

 

[KW2004Accord]

Any mechanic can do a trans. fluid change, it is just that you have to make sure the new fluid is genuine honda & not another brand or type. Ask if you can bring the fluid, get it @ the Honda dealer parts dept., even then make sure it is the correct fluid for your trans.

 

[greg1c]

The fluid change on the CVT is identical to a regular oil change, there is a filter on the CVT but so far I do not think anyone has replaced it. You remove the drain plug and let the old fluid drain out. Replace the drain plug and pour in the Honda HCF-2 fluid.

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[hero]

I don't have a CVT but I have always been worried about changing my transmission fluid. So many horror stories about how changing the fluid and then having leaks, etc.

 

[pparks1]

I don't have a CVT but I have always been worried about changing my transmission fluid. So many horror stories about how changing the fluid and then having leaks, etc.

General rule says if you do change your fluid, do it at regular intervals. If you drove for years and years and years, and never touched your trans, DON'T.