Changing Transmission Fluid???
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Changing Transmission Fluid???
I have a 2001 Acura CL with 44K miles. I recently visited the dealership to address the recall on the automatic transmission and was subsequently informed that the transmission is fine. However, the transmission fluid does need to be changed (has never been changed). I opted not to allow the dealership to do the work since their price appeared to be a bit gouching. Can anyone provide me with the details to change the transmission fluid and if necessary the filter. Additionally, can anyone provide me with the details to change the cabin filters. These are the filters that filter the air inside the car. Thanks.
Lord Vader Moderator
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From: Bay Area, CA
There are no tranny filter you need to change. You just basically drain and refill the tranny fluid. As for the cabin filter, I believe the CL's is located behind the glove compartment.
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Honda-Acura.net Vigor/TL/CL Forum Moderator.
Comptech Icebox, Headers, Exhaust, Lowering Springs and Sway Bars. Mugen front grille. Inspire tailamps. MOMO Sport 18 X 7.5 +42 offset. Axxis Metal Master front/rear pad. 2 Polk/MOMO 10" subs, Orion Xtreme 500.4 amplifier and Alpine CD changer.
Noob '01 CL (non S-Type)
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: SW Ohio
Tranny Filter and Fluid Change
30k miles is a good tranny fluid change interval, IMO. Be sure to use only the Honda fluid, as no one else makes a compatible fluid (anything you find at AutoZone, Wally World, etc isn't the proper fluid unless it is branded "Honda").
There is no filter in the traditional sense of a flat metal canister that is attached to the bottom of the tranny and resides in the pan area; but there is still a filter (yes, another Honda myth broken...). Consult the factory manual and there definitely is one. How often should you change it? Well, I think that most manufacturers try to extend their maint intervals too long in order to make the maint costs appear cheap when you are comparison shopping. I would change it every 60k (every other fluid change). It is a canister type filter and it resides on top of the tranny case, behind the battery and beneath the air filter box.
Never changing this filter is akin to believing that some coolants and lubricants are lifetime - lifetime just means that if you don't do the maint the fluid lasts as long as the part itself does, which of course has it's life shortened considerably if you don't do the maint. - a nested loop if you will. Nothing lasts forever, the question is only really is it cost effective? I always err on the side of too much maint rather than not enough. Honda believes in using only as much fluids as absolutely necessary - witness the 4.3 quarts of oil they deem adequate for the 3.2 litre engine. VW puts in 7 quarts for a smaller V-6 and 13 quarts for a 4.2 litre V-8. Possibly overkill. I change my oil with synthetic every 3k in this car, as I believe the oil sump doesn't hold enough oil. I say change the darn tranny filter. YMMV.
There is no filter in the traditional sense of a flat metal canister that is attached to the bottom of the tranny and resides in the pan area; but there is still a filter (yes, another Honda myth broken...). Consult the factory manual and there definitely is one. How often should you change it? Well, I think that most manufacturers try to extend their maint intervals too long in order to make the maint costs appear cheap when you are comparison shopping. I would change it every 60k (every other fluid change). It is a canister type filter and it resides on top of the tranny case, behind the battery and beneath the air filter box.
Never changing this filter is akin to believing that some coolants and lubricants are lifetime - lifetime just means that if you don't do the maint the fluid lasts as long as the part itself does, which of course has it's life shortened considerably if you don't do the maint. - a nested loop if you will. Nothing lasts forever, the question is only really is it cost effective? I always err on the side of too much maint rather than not enough. Honda believes in using only as much fluids as absolutely necessary - witness the 4.3 quarts of oil they deem adequate for the 3.2 litre engine. VW puts in 7 quarts for a smaller V-6 and 13 quarts for a 4.2 litre V-8. Possibly overkill. I change my oil with synthetic every 3k in this car, as I believe the oil sump doesn't hold enough oil. I say change the darn tranny filter. YMMV.