Hello!
I have a 2013 Honda CR-V AWD with the 5 speed automatic transmission. I bought it in 2019 and had no record of a transmission fluid change. I had the transmission fluid (ATF-DW1) changed, not flushed, when it was at about 108,000 miles. The fluid was brown, but not very dark in color. After the fluid change, the fluid is now a lighter shade of brown. Since this fluid appears to be somewhat dirty still, when should I have the fluid changed again? I had planned to change it again after about 20,000 miles. What do you think?
Thanks for your help! I really appreciate it!
Sincerely,
Aaron
The fluid was a lighter shade of brown after your initial fluid change because the new fluid mixed with some of the old fluid left in the torque converter. This is totally normal. If you want to do it again in 20k miles to get more of the old fluid out, then you can, but you don't have to. I'm assuming you changed the filter as well (if serviceable)?
I had my local dealership perform the drain and fill. I told them to change the filter too, and they said they did. Hopefully they did.
Thanks for your help!
Generally, when a Honda dealership does a drain and fill, they do a double drain and fill, because the filter, they say, is not accessible. (This is the case on my wife's 2013 Fit). You'll never get all of the old fluid out, but enough of it to replenish the additives that are so important (general lubrication and conditioning of the seals, for example).
Of course, you'll get a bit of a sense of how much metal is shed by looking at the kinds of filings on the magnetic tip of the drain plug. If they're fine in nature, that's probably OK. I wouldn't particularly worry about the color as a primary consideration after the change, as long as the consistency is good (not gummy, silmy, etc.) and the ATF is not burnt or carries a disgusting odor.
On my wife's Fit, doing a drain and fill is no more difficult than an oil change (because there is a dipstick). That should be the case with the 2013 CRV as well.
If you want to drain and fill with fresh fluid, soon, hey, there's certainly no harm done, and a lot of good, as long as you carefully measure how much you've taken out and replaced it, via the dipstick and a funnel, with OEM fluid.
To slightly change Scotty's aphorism: "ATF is cheap. Transmissions are expensive." And it is a very doable DIY project.
Thank you for your help!
Ihad my local dealership do the work, so I can only go by what they did. I told them to change the filter, and they said they did. They didn’t mention a “double” drain and fill, but I hope they did that if that’s what they did. I thought it sometimes hesitated a little, and occasionally I’d notice a vibration from the torque converter. It seems like the fluid change improved it a little. My main goal is to make the transmission last as long as possible.
Thank you for taking the time to post such a thorough and well thought out answer!