I have a 2000 Honda CRV with 220k miles
Not sure when the auto trans fluid was changed
Previous owner had for 3 years said he never did anything to it.
The fluid doesn't smell burnt but smells worn.
Shifts good no slips or anything.
Was wanting to do a drain and refill, maybe even change just 2 quarts now and change couple more later.
Theoretically it shouldn't damage the trans doing so right?
Like if there isn't much on the magnet it should be OK?
I remember having a 08 sentra way back, last owner had it few years and she never changed fluid. Well I did a drain and refill, and it actually improved the trans on how smooth it shifted. Many people told me not to change it and warned me. Welp I did and it only got better.
Some people are like don't change it if it's not acting up. I'm like wow don't you wanna at least freshen up the fluid so trans last a bit longer?
It's not brown it's visibly still red on the dipstick
If it's not gritty, it's your decision to make. If you do change it, keep the old fluid, just in case it starts to slip. You might change the filter at least.
How could these trans leak? I thought it had no pan.
I don't know if that trans has a removable pan or not but what about the seals?
I noticed I'm like over a quart low. Dipstick shows like nothing.
Are you checking fluid level according to the manufacturer's instructions, which usually call for the transmission being at operating temperature with the engine running and transmission in park or neutral?
If you're really driving around with a serious lack of transmission fluid you can damage the transmission.
Theoretically it shouldn't damage the trans doing so right?
No. Fresh fluid cannot damage a trans. But if the trans is already worn out, then a change might cause it to start slipping (ostensibly. hasn't happened to me and my trans guys doesn't think so either)
This is all explained in the FAQ. Anyway, the risk is yours to take. I'm not going to tell you to do it.
Friction material isn't magnetic.
the clutch is composed of alternating plates of friction material, and steel. Just like brakes. The steel does wear (to a lesser degree) and go into the fluid.
Interesting. I thought about that after typing it and I was going to edit it and I got busy. Sorry about that.
When I had the transmission in my Ranger rebuilt, the guy saved the parts. I vaguely remember getting a metallic splinter.
How could these trans leak? I thought it had no pan. I noticed I'm like over a quart low. Dipstick shows like nothing.
There is a pan. There's also a metal tube that collects hot transmission fluid and typically runs it into a separate circuit in the radiator. Once the fluid is cooled back down, it cycles back through the transmission again.
You could also have a leak in the torque converter. Fluid is inside the torque converter so you can step on the brakes and come to a stop without killing the engine. I have a 1979 Pontiac whose torque converter leaks a tiny bit of transmission fluid. It wouldn't be unexpected, given that car's age (it's 24 years old that's pretty old for a car, and I was 9 when it was built). Also, there's the fact that there are rubber seals -they're probably starting to dry out and shrink.
You could also have a leak at the output shaft of that transmission. Suspect anything that has rubber in it.
I think you meant 45 years old. 🙂
I don't know if that trans has a pan - mine doesn't. The "pan" is the top of the transmission and the valve body is underneath it on top of the transmission internals. Fluid is drained via a bolt in the bottom of the transmission case and the filter is removed externally underneath. (Saabs are weird.)
I referenced the car's age as I was typing that, haha. We're talking about the Honda CRV, right? That's definitely not 45 years old, haha.
I get it now, haha I was referencing his car, not my Pontiac. Hope I didn't age you too much I'm "only" 33 now, lol.
@scottydaman2023 Get a service manual. These are general guidelines, I must note that I don't know the specifics of your particular car. Chilton makes good service manuals and so does Hanyes.
Oops, I misunderstood - that's what I get for staying up so late with this stuff!
It happens, haha. We're all human. I'm also beyond used to working on 2nd shift, and I would just be getting home now, haha.
I'm serious about the trans on my car though, no removable pan underneath but a cover on top. Not as bizarre as the old Saab 99 and 900 though where the transmission is the engine oil pan! I sometimes wonder what they were smoking out there at the time...
That's engineers for you, haha. They can either make stuff really simple, or make you pull your hair out! Saab is a more high-end vehicle, isn't it?
Not originally, but they moved upmarket in the 1980s. Back then a poster of a black Saab 900 turbo with body cladding that looked kind of like Darth Vader hung on the wall of many a teenage boy's room. It was apparently also the perfect vehicle choice for serial killers, but we're getting far afield of the original topic here, time to call it a night before I get even more bleary-eyed and doing stupid stuff...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiU-CYOc7Bs
You don't know the history, so I'd leave it alone. You don't want to change fluid if it's been sitting there that long. Sometimes they'll just start slipping like mad if you do
Like if there isn't much on the magnet it should be OK?
Friction material isn't magnetic.
Theoretically it shouldn't damage the trans doing so right?
Quite the opposite. Automatic transmissions partly work based on hydraulic power; friction material is critical for it to operate properly. Draining and refilling a transmission that's had the same fluid since it was manufactured 24 years ago has built up a load of friction, in turn, wearing the friction material out. If you change the fluid now, what previously was helping it shift has now been replaced by slippery fluid at it will slip like mad. Feel the fluid. If it's gritty, leave it be.
I remember having a 08 sentra way back, last owner had it few years and she never changed fluid. Well I did a drain and refill, and it actually improved the trans on how smooth it shifted. Many people told me not to change it and warned me. Welp I did and it only got better.
That totally depended on how far you drove the car. It was also 8 years newer and I'm assuming from the terms "way back", that was a long enough time ago to safely change that fluid. I'm thinking like 10 years ago? You know, I don't, haha. Mileage was also critical in that case as well.
Surely if it was the original fluid at 220k miles wouldn't it be black by now. It's not black nor does it smell burnt. But I will see if it's gritty. Thanks for the info yall.
Transmission is pretty much always red, unless it's burned, then it becomes a brownish color. I had burned tranny fluid before my 1999 Ranger's Transmission was rebuilt. Motor oil becomes black due to soot from the combustion process. None of that takes place in a transmission. Lol.
this "old" fluid has about 45k on it (and it was likely ridden hard)
I was more meaning the color on the dipstick I guess, as opposed to a cup of the fluid. My Ranger's tranny after they rebuilt it was very faint red on the dipstick. Does transmission fluid actually become black on the dipstick? If so, I never knew that.
Isn't honda genuine fluid a dark red out of bottle
no, a 1mm layer wouldn't look this dark on the dipstick. And new fluid doesn't look like red nail polish on the stick either.
It's not brown it's visibly still red on the dipstick
How could these trans leak? I thought it had no pan. I noticed I'm like over a quart low. Dipstick shows like nothing.
Behold my old trans fluid from a 2000 Honda CRV
Bought it recently for 500 at 220k miles.
Not sure why it was a quart low I see no leaks, but I added a quart and drained and filled one quart just to freshen it up a little bit hoping would help it last longer. Didn't want to change all of it and risk it slipping.
Anyways here's a pic lmk what yall think. This before I added or drained any fluid.
Don't mind the water drops on side of bottle I just emptied the water out and poured in.
(use the direct image link so it shows up please)
it looks like well used fluid. Black from clutch dust.
So it wouldn't be a good idea to change more and it being black it probably won't last very long? Loos more like dark red to me
black material + red fluid = dark red to black. The point is that it's opaque and full of junk. If you dab it on a piece of white cardstock you might be able to see it separate out. When the fluid is new you can read a newspaper through it. (see the photo I posted earlier or in our ATF article)
I'm hesitant to give you internet advice because I haven't driven the car, I don't know the history, etc.
You wouldn't let a doctor prescribe any procedures without checking you over first.
Well they had it 3 years and never changed trans fluid.
I changed two quarts and still shifts fine no problems.
here is a blot test I did (70,000 km)
The dark spot in the center is wear material
I did this and looks like yours but don't see any blob in middle or anywhere