Transmission service 2006 Accord

I was making an appointment to have my first transmission service at 15,000. I called the dealership and spoke with the service department and found out that on the 2006 (probably others) the "service" is just a drain and fill. No filters etc. For this the dealership gets $54.99.
I decided to do it myself and found that a "drain" of the transmission fluid removes approx 3 quarts of fluid leaving quite a bit behind in the torque converter. Anyways, 3 quarts of HONDA fluid and the crush washer cost about $13.00. Thats quite a bit less than the $55 at the dealership.
Since the drain and fill does not remove all of the fluid I am planning on doing it at every oil change. I change the oil every 6-8 weeks. If I do this I will do a complete fluid change every 15,000 miles.
Does this make sense or am I missing something?
When the dealership does the service are they doing anything else?
Thanks

excellent service to your car i do applaude. the best thing to do to your tranny is a drain and refill, and it will be just under 3 quarts. you should just do it every 15000 miles, although i cant really think of anything negative about doing it sooner than that. dont worry about a complete fluid change. its good to keep most of the old stuff in there.

The dealership probably isn't doing anything different but I'm sure they have a one hour minimum charge or something... so they hit you for about $45.00 in labor and $10.00 in parts (their cost) all they MIGHT do is check your radiator fluid, oil, windsheild washer fluid and a basic engine check... They just do complimentary stuff.... I'd do it all myself as well...

quote:

the crush washer

Would I need one of these for a 2002 V6 Auto? Or do are there links on here to pages with service explainions? (new to site, haven't had a chance to fully look around)

Thanks,

It's a good idea to get one... they're cheap and if you don't replace it you have a much higher risk of leaks... Just ask for one when you get your fluid.

I don't understand why the 2006 Accord doesn't have a filter, but I can't find mention of one in my manual.

I don't understand why we have to use Honda transmission fluid. I think Mobil and Amsoil synthetic transmission fluid meets Honda Z1 spec. The Magnuson-Moss act passed by congress requires a company to provide free fluid when the company states their fluid is required.

What is different about Honda DOT 3/ DOT 4 brake fluid than American DOT/ DOT 4 brake fluid? All of the Honda fluids are made in the USA by someone since the container doesn't state made in Japan (or China).

Why would their power steering fluid be different than USA produced fluid? The container doesn't state made in Japan. Their coolant mixture uses the animal friendly glycol instead of ethylene glycol so why is it different.

All of our American brand vehicles always state to use their Delco, Mopar, etc. fluids for the best performance.

quote:

ORIGINAL: longhornjohn

I don't understand why the 2006 Accord doesn't have a filter, but I can't find mention of one in my manual.

I don't understand why we have to use Honda transmission fluid. I think Mobil and Amsoil synthetic transmission fluid meets Honda Z1 spec. The Magnuson-Moss act passed by congress requires a company to provide free fluid when the company states their fluid is required.

What is different about Honda DOT 3/ DOT 4 brake fluid than American DOT/ DOT 4 brake fluid? All of the Honda fluids are made in the USA by someone since the container doesn't state made in Japan (or China).

Why would their power steering fluid be different than USA produced fluid? The container doesn't state made in Japan. Their coolant mixture uses the animal friendly glycol instead of ethylene glycol so why is it different.

All of our American brand vehicles always state to use their Delco, Mopar, etc. fluids for the best performance.

to answer a few of your questions.......

# 1 .. none of the honda automobiles have a easy replacable filter,, there is a filter in the tranny but it sits below the valve body. which requires total disassamblement of the tranny to get to it,

# 2 ...if other tranny fluid meet all the specs of the Honda ATF-Z1 ,, i see no reason why one cannot use it. i guess by using Z1 one feels safer cause it is reccomendedand believe it or not it has made a difference on some of the trannies i have serviced using z1 , versus other products.

# 3 ...no difference in DOT/3 ,, 4 .. you can buy and use the one sold at Autozone or any other local parts store

# 4,, you can also get non Honda ( factory ) p/s fluid as long as it says it is for honda cars .

# 5.. you can use regular coolant ,no need to buy Honda coolant

OK everyone, i know very very few of you know what i know. BUT HONDAS TRANSMISSIONS DONT HAVE FILTERS, they have a screen inside and a magnet on the bottom bolt. if this is an automatic you just need to drain and fill. thats all honda specifies and honda also doesnt reccomend transmssion flushes. As i said all you have to do is drain and fill either on automatic or manual. So save the money and do it once every 30,000 miles. In reply to Longhorn as well, ive heard that if honda power steering fluid is not used in hondas it could cause a powersteering pump failure. No clue why but its what ive heard.

it is not a filter as one would envision a filter that you can replace ,,you are correct it is a metal filtering screen .
At the dealer we always did a drain and refill. we never flushed the tranny... but think for a second ..

wouldn't you rather get all the dirty fluid out of the torque convertor as well?? and fill it with all new fluid ?
or would you rather add 3 qts of clean fluid to 2 qts or so of dirty fluid that stays in the torque convertor ??
I don't know about you but ,,,,Personally i rather have all new clean fluid ..

As for p/s fluid you DO NOT have to buy the fluid at the dealer ,, as long as it is Honda compatable it is ok,, i have personally used it before and have never had an isuue , you can get it at your local Autozone..

deserthonda:
Are Honda autotrans converters different than GM and Ford converters? It use to be that the only way you could drain their converters would be to remover the converter drain plug. I believer their present converters can only be drained by removing the converter. If Honda's autotrans is built this way then the converter oil can't be flushed out. Personally, I hope they can be flushed out because I don't want the band and clutch material residue staying in the unit.

quote:

ORIGINAL: longhornjohn

deserthonda:
Are Honda autotrans converters different than GM and Ford converters? It use to be that the only way you could drain their converters would be to remover the converter drain plug. I believer their present converters can only be drained by removing the converter. If Honda's autotrans is built this way then the converter oil can't be flushed out. Personally, I hope they can be flushed out because I don't want the band and clutch material residue staying in the unit.

Hondas torque convertors CANNOT be drained,, for the life of me i do not know why they did ( do ) not istall a drain plug on it as well..you are correct , the new fluid will mix with the old fluid,,, it is like doing an oil change and not replacing the filter ,the new oil will mix with the oil oil still in the filter ..
Honda does not reccomend flushing the transmission.. all they reccomend is that you do a drain and refill at the required maintanace schedule ,,it used to be 15k miles all the times on AT and 30k miles on Manual trannies on the older cars ,but now they say that you can wait longer,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,For as critical as sensitive trannies are internally with all the valves, i would invest the 30 dollars and replace tranny fluid still every 15k or once a year ...make sure to use only Honda ATF-Z1 ,, it does make a difference over the regular DEXTRON III OR IV

some shops do a complete tranny flush where supposely they drain even the fluid in the torque convertor, i have never used a machine to do that,, so i cannot personally say how good of a job it does,,,,,,,,,perhaps another forum member that works at a shop that use that machine might be more familiar and have more info on that than i do ..but working at dealers for all those years all i ever did was a drain and refill as required by honda

Excellent Info guys ...I've got to Service the 03' V6 later this week..just Glad I don't have to let Honda rip me off.

Thanks