3rd/2nd gen auto box oil (ATF) results
Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2015 7:26 pm
Hi all,
Apologies if this has been covered before, I did a search and couldn't find anything.
I wanted to share my experience with everyone here, hopefully it may be useful in the future, I believe this will apply to all 3rd gen automatics and probably the 2nd gen autos.
And also pose a question.
As some of you know I've a 3rd gen project car, which due to my main car failing its MOT has now become my daily driver for a few months.
Anyway its an auto with 86k miles on the clock, I checked the auto box oil when i purchased the car, confirmed it was a nice Red colour and didn't spelt burnt.
However the gearbox changes up (1-2-3-4) frequently were jerky, not slipping or banging, but you could feel a distinct jerk when the gear changed, it also seemed to me the car was quite reluctant to go into 'full lockup' in gear. particularly worse once the car had warmed up fully.
Now I've had a few autos in the past, and been on quite a few car forums, from what I've learnt over the years this type of gearbox behaviour can be attributed to the wrong type of fluid being present. I know all dexron fluid proudly proclaims backwards comparability, but its not always the case with every gearbox, particularly an issue with old french automatics (ZF) gearboxes, (BX & Xantia ) which positively destroy themselves when presented with dexron 3.
So after a couple of weeks of this, I decided to change the box oil today, (sadly it started raining after work, typical
) with nice Dexron 2D, as recommended by the owners & haynes manual (the haynes manual is american, don't believe a uk spec on existed). I know the common rule is honda auto box must use honda ATF, but these are old boxes, and specify dex2 not honda ATF. I don't know when honda ATF was first available, but I'm guessing sometime after 1990. (Google has not found me an exact date yet)
Anyway to the core of the matter, Its a really nice and easy job, 15mins including getting tools out & putting away, I'll take some pics if anyone needs a guide.
Fluid came out lovely and clean, no sign of particles or burning.
roughly over 2.5 liters out, roughly 2.5 back in (handy having a dipstick
)
went for a drive.
The difference is night and day, completely smooth changes, full lock up in every gear, revs much lower per mph than before
Simply amazing.
So my advice 2nd or 3rd gen prelude auto, use Dex2 regularly, as each change is only a partial change, I'll be doing another change at the weekend just to make sure.
Now the question, Valvoline Maxlife ATF? anyone used it, I have always had excellent results with the maxlife engine oils, but as said above am very skeptical about using anything other than recommended ATF
Apologies if this has been covered before, I did a search and couldn't find anything.
I wanted to share my experience with everyone here, hopefully it may be useful in the future, I believe this will apply to all 3rd gen automatics and probably the 2nd gen autos.
And also pose a question.
As some of you know I've a 3rd gen project car, which due to my main car failing its MOT has now become my daily driver for a few months.
Anyway its an auto with 86k miles on the clock, I checked the auto box oil when i purchased the car, confirmed it was a nice Red colour and didn't spelt burnt.
However the gearbox changes up (1-2-3-4) frequently were jerky, not slipping or banging, but you could feel a distinct jerk when the gear changed, it also seemed to me the car was quite reluctant to go into 'full lockup' in gear. particularly worse once the car had warmed up fully.
Now I've had a few autos in the past, and been on quite a few car forums, from what I've learnt over the years this type of gearbox behaviour can be attributed to the wrong type of fluid being present. I know all dexron fluid proudly proclaims backwards comparability, but its not always the case with every gearbox, particularly an issue with old french automatics (ZF) gearboxes, (BX & Xantia ) which positively destroy themselves when presented with dexron 3.
So after a couple of weeks of this, I decided to change the box oil today, (sadly it started raining after work, typical
) with nice Dexron 2D, as recommended by the owners & haynes manual (the haynes manual is american, don't believe a uk spec on existed). I know the common rule is honda auto box must use honda ATF, but these are old boxes, and specify dex2 not honda ATF. I don't know when honda ATF was first available, but I'm guessing sometime after 1990. (Google has not found me an exact date yet)Anyway to the core of the matter, Its a really nice and easy job, 15mins including getting tools out & putting away, I'll take some pics if anyone needs a guide.
Fluid came out lovely and clean, no sign of particles or burning.
roughly over 2.5 liters out, roughly 2.5 back in (handy having a dipstick
) went for a drive.
The difference is night and day, completely smooth changes, full lock up in every gear, revs much lower per mph than before
Simply amazing.
So my advice 2nd or 3rd gen prelude auto, use Dex2 regularly, as each change is only a partial change, I'll be doing another change at the weekend just to make sure.
Now the question, Valvoline Maxlife ATF? anyone used it, I have always had excellent results with the maxlife engine oils, but as said above am very skeptical about using anything other than recommended ATF
