I have a 2012 Honda Civic, 5-speed automatic, that is in great shape. It just hit 100k. I just realized my wife has never had the transmission fluid changed. Should I have this done now with so many miles or what should I do?
Assuming it is automatic, I would go ahead and change it now (drain and fill, with filter change). Be sure from this point onward to change the fluid every 40,000 miles.
First thing to remember if that ATF is cheap compared to the price of having to undertake a repair to a transmission.........OR..... having to buy and have fitted a new transmission.
ATF is generally red in colour and over the years this fades to a brown colour. There is nothing wrong with the ATF if it is brown. It will still function, it's just showing it's age. Obviously if it is very dark brown it's an indication that it is old and will have lost more of it's lubricating properties than when it was red.
I change mine roughly once a year......whatever the mileage......working on the principle that the cleaner it is the better it is going to function. In purely financial terms this might not make sense, but hey, a gallon of ATF once a year is not going to break the bank.
Flushing is simply a matter of draining off the old fluid, and then adding the new. Filling is usually done through the ATF dipstick using a funnel, although some cars may have a special filler cap / neck for the addition of the ATF. This, if it exists will likely be marked ATF......and the general rule for ATF is that there may be an orange collar of tab at the filler point. The general rule for engine oil is that the colour of the collar or tab will be yellow.
Never use anything to flush the transmission before putting in fresh ATF..........This is because within the transmission itself there are very tiny passageways and valves, which in the normal course of operation the ATF fluid moves along and through.
Flushing the transmission with anything, (even if it is called ATF Flush, or something similar), runs the risk of any contaminants or crud, (that might be in the old fluid or the transmission), blocking the tiny passageways and valves.
Simply draining off the old ATF will be enough......Add the new ATF slowly and don't overfill it. Adding it in small quantities is the easiest way, rather than pouring it in from a large container. I measure mine out into smaller jugs or bottles.
It might be cheaper to buy a Gallon of ATF rather than the smaller quantity quart bottles, but having a spare empty quart or pint bottle, (or jug), makes it easier to measure the quantity used....
When the transmission is drained there will always be some of the old ATF that does not come out with the majority of the old fluid. This is a small amount and it remains contained within the Torque Converter within the transmission. This mixes with the new ATF when the car is being driven. It is such a small amount that it does not contaminate or reduce the quality or performance of the newly added ATF.
The ATF drain plug is usually a recessed plug, whereas the engine oil drain plug is a more prominent bolt-type plug and the casing nearby should be stamped ATF Drain Plug.
Changing the ATF is a job that takes about ten to fifteen minutes, (and that includes tidying everything away). Work methodically and slowly and all will be fine.
well it does depend on the exact model of the automatic.
On my car chaining the fluid is a hour long process with the fluid it self costing an arm and a leg and that's how most cars are nowadays.
I wish we'd go back to having 4 speed automatics and none of that 8 speed conventional and 7 speed dual clutch crap.
not cheap anymore. $100 just for fluid on my vehicle. Every year is waaaay overkill.
The smallest passage ways are around 1/4" in size, and I've never seen any crud in a transmission. Only suspended particulate about a micron in size.