Honda Civic transmission fluid question - Maintenance/Repairs...2008 Honda CIVIC
I hope someone here can help me with this.A few weeks ago, my Honda's maintenance minder told me I needed to change transmission fluid.The manual said to use genuine Honda transmission fluid when I went to Pep Boys last week.They said they did.I looked at the receipt and it listed 12 quarts of Castrol.I call them back and ask about that.They said they had to do it three times.It will work with my Honda according to them.I wanted to doublecheck, so I made a few more calls to other mechanics and car garages.Someone said to get the fluid replaced with genuine Honda right now, another said it would be fine, but I can't get a unanimous answer.I told the Honda dealer the story and they said not to worry.They changed it using genuine Honda transmission fluid, but my receipt only had 3 quarts of it.Is there a reason they used 3 quarts and 12 quarts?Does this mean the Honda dealer did not flush everything out?The Honda guy said it was normal to not get all the old fluid out.I am worried that I have a mix of genuine Honda fluid with fakes.Is this something I should be worried about??
I told them the story and they said not to worry.They changed it using genuine Honda transmission fluid, but my receipt only had 3 quarts of it.Is there a reason they used 3 quarts and 12 quarts?Does this mean the Honda dealer did not flush everything out?The Honda guy said that they can't really get all the old fluid out.
Time out!You should not ask us that.We do not have your answers.Go to the dealer and have a discussion.Let us know what they have to say.You could get help with additional information.CSA.
They did a drain-and-fill, not a flush.Did the Honda service cost less than The Boys?A couple more drain-and-fills would clear it out.Unless you do it yourself, that could get expensive.It is easy since Hondas have drain plugs.I would look for an independent shop that will do a fluid exchange without telling you what they will put in.
I would like to thank you for your advice.I think I have wasted way more money in my life because of the expense.The Honda service costs $30 less.Is it a good idea to get the same 3 quarts of genuine Honda fluid, bring it to a shop and have them drain and fill every week until the Honda stuff is out, correct?Do you mean drain and fill, drive for a week, then repeat it a few times?Is it ok for you to say about 3 times?
They probably only did a drain and fill with 3 quarts and charged you 12.
The cars hold up to 12 quarts in the system.Will only 3 quarts be allowed to drain out at the plug?
7.4 quarts of the 10 at the pan will be drained from my GM transmissions and cooling system.
It's time to get offPep Boys.Can we move on if I promise never to use them again?What has been done is done.I am asking you what to do.The Honda guys did not re-flush it.They said they didn't need to flush out the whole thing again, even though I told them it has something in it.I showed him the receipt from the store.The Honda guys said that they couldn't get all of it out because the receipt had 3 quarts.It has been a week and a half and so far no problems have arisen.I don't know what to look for.I have no idea about cars.It seems like everyone has a different opinion on what to do when I have an issue.I thought most cars worked the same.If someone puts non-genuine fluid in a car and it gets messed up, it would happen to all the cars of that particular make and year!I guess not.I suppose you can learn something new every day.
The Honda dealer probably won't connect your transmission to their fluid exchange machine.Three to four drain and fills would be the same as a fluid exchange done right.They need to drain and fill before hooking up the fluid exchange machine.
A drain and fill shouldn't cost more than a normal oil change.If you have a newer transmission that fills through the drain, then you need an additional pump to get the ATF in.You should be able to get an independent mechanic to do this for you, you just buy the ATF at the Honda dealer and take it to the mechanic.
A good independent mechanic will do all your maintenance, including oil changes.It will be cheaper in the long run.
The Honda I used for a drain and fill was the 97 Accord.6 quarts was the total capacity.
Castrol recommends their TransMax import multi vehicle ATF for a 2008 Civic.
It was designed for use in older Ford and GM vehicles according to the Castrol site.
Castrol recommends this, but I don't know what they had out in 2008.
The fun part is that if you get off the import vehicle specific choice and look at the high mileage or synthetic option, they are a single option for what appears to be all cars and not just the imports.
They pulled the plug and drained the pan for three quarts.You now have 9 quarts of fluid in it.To get thePep Boys stuff out, you have to do a complete flush.Honda only uses their fluid and it is not more expensive than other fluids.Now what?I don't know.If you buy 12 quarts of Honda fluid for $100, you can have them flush it for free.Next time, go to Honda.
They used most of the 12 quarts to flush the lines and cooler, and then replaced the Honda atf with a generic one.
The most disappointing thing is that OP specifically asked for genuine Honda atf to be used, and thatPep Boys did not do what he asked them to do.
They should have said, "We don't have genuine Honda atf in stock."We are going to use brand x dex/merc instead.Is that okay?
At that point, OP would have said no.You are not set up to service my transmission.I will take my business somewhere else.
I don't think there is a problem with using the Castrol.The Honda dealer felt the same if they only replaced 1/3 to a quarter of the fluid with the magic Honda fluid.
The customer specified to use the Honda brand fluid, so I thinkPep Boys should have sent someone to the dealer for the correct fluid.
I don't think doing an exchange would affect their exchange machine.It's not like they are selling your old fluid to someone else.Maybe they do.!
People with Honda auto trans experience seem to think it is best to use the Honda transmission fluid, even though I have no experience with it.I think what you should do in your situation is the same as the advice above, slowly flush out what is in it now and replace it with fresh Honda fluid.You can drive 100 or 200 miles.If the trans pan hasn't been dropped and thoroughly cleaned out, the old fluid sieved, inspecting for unusual metal debris, and the filter replaced, now would be a good time to do that.
Will the correct fluid be used in the flush machine if the wrong fluid is used?
I used an auto parts store brand fluid in the rear of my car but needed to add a tube of modifier to make it equal to the Dodge Dextron IV that the manual called for.
For the next few months, I could hear a faint sound coming from the rear end.As the driveshaft turned, it sounded like a brake pad as it hit the high spot on the rotor.I only heard it when moving forward or backward.I usually go back into the parking spaces for a better line of sight when I leave.
I replaced the fluid after buying a higher quality Dextron IV.I have never heard it again.It was Castrol Dextron IV.
I replaced my tranny after I bought a case of Castrol Dextron IV.It wasn't right for the tranny I thought.
I am not trying to sell Castrol as the best fluid, it could have been any brand.If you get cheap stuff, it may be missing something.Adding a modifier seems to be fixing what they left out.I would rather pay a little more for a better brand of fluid and get it right the first time.I stick with the brand names and don't buy re branded stuff from the store.I can't see paying twice the price for the fluid at the dealer.A case of Castrol was about $5 a quart and the dealer wanted just over $10 for the Dodge Dextron IV.The store brand stuff was $4 a quart.
I believe that your vehicle is in good shape.Don't do anything.Honda feels that you are fine, don't think so.Wait for the next maint interval and change it again.Honda is the main supplier of fluids currently.Just drive.
I used an auto parts store brand fluid in the rear of my car but needed to add a tube of modifier to make it equal to the Dodge Dextron IV that the manual called for.I replaced my tranny after I bought a case of Castrol Dextron IV.It wasn't right for the tranny I thought.