Once in a while it seems to almost stall/hesitate shifting from I think 2 to 3rd. From what I read you just drain the fluid and add approx. 3 liters and do it multiple times over a period of 20-40,000 km. Please advise.

 

How many miles on the car/trans/engine?

If you have no stored codes - some don't set the MIL light. Then yes I would do the normal service on the trans - drain and fill.

How much/many times you want to do this would be based upon the history of the trans fluid service. Example, I do a single drain and fill on my Honda(s) auto trans every 20 to 25K miles and ONLY use Honda trans fluid. Some might say that is too often and I'm wasting money on the fluid but I do sleep better at night and to date - knocks on wood - none of my Honda auto trans have "gone bad".....so again I sleep better but this is just my opinion.

 

160,000 km.

 

With that many "miles/KM" on it and if you don't know if the trans fluid has been changed.....and there are no stored codes.

I'd plan on doing three "drain and fills". You will want to drive a bit between the changes.....and that would be only a few miles/KM. Between the changes you are just trying to get the fluid to normal op temp and mixing the old fluid with the new.

From there, assuming the issue goes away, you would want to do a single drain and fill about every 30K~35K KM's.

 

So Honda oil only?

 

YES. IMHO the trans fluid should be Honda trans fluid.

 

Does anyone else have a comment about the oil? Why dealer only?

 

No other automatic transmissions are made like a Honda automatic, so IMO no other fluid company makes fluid like Honda fluid. What brand of fluid were you planning to use?

 

I didn't have a brand in mind. I just know from past experience with other vehicles that there are options. I'll stick with Honda since that seems to be the consensus here. Thanks.

 

If you search you can find Honda DW1 for small premium over aftermarket premium ATF. It does from many reports provide better performance in Honda AT's.

good luck