senicalj4579

I have a 96 civic,auto trans. What do I need for trans fluid?How much?
Im gonna drop the pan,clean it out,change the fluid,change the filter,and probly new pan gasket. Anything else I should know?

ScottDR

Yes, you should know you don't have a pan. Nor do you have an externally replaceable filter (you'd need to remove the transmission and crack it open). Just do what Honda recommends:

The owners manual will tell you how much fluid a drain and fill takes. Do that then drive over 40mph until the torque converter kicks in. Then drain and fill again, repeat a third time and you've done what Honda states is a complete fluid change. If you don't have a CVT transmission use Honda ATF-Z1 fluid. Trust me, don't go aftermarket fluid or shifting will suffer a bit and more importantly so will wear. If it is indeed a CVT (HX model auto in the US) you cannot use any other fluid than CVT fluid from Honda.

dnice78

I had the Chilton manual and it never said to do this three times, did you hear this from a honda tech, need so more info. I might need to do this again

ScottDR

Umm, not a Honda Tech exactly, more like a Honda internal memo and Honda service manuals (from Helms). The manuals pay for themselves the first time you use them (and the completely blow Haynes and Chiltons out of the water).

senicalj4579

Idk. I havent done to much work on my honda but the manual that I saw shows the pan. I dont really wanna pay for and dump trans fluid in there a few different times only to be wasted. idk lol

oh and the filter is in the pan.

senicalj4579

ha! i was just under the car fixing an exhaust leak and theres no pan. so i guess i will not be doing the filter. the manual i was looking at showed a pan idk. but you were right my friend and looks like ill be doing in the way honda recomends lol

senicalj4579

what fluid can I use other than the honda stuff? Gearbox can you tell me?

nvrfstenough

I always love to work on my own ride but with something like that i think its good to take it to jiffy lube and have them do a flush. They hook up to your tranny coolant lines and while the car is running flush the trans with a machine. Its the only way to get all the bad deposits out of the tranny and its not to expensive. And if something goes wrong with it theyre more than likley going to be liable. NOT your buddy helping.

ScottDR

I'd not do a flush ever in my Honda's. Just drain and fill with Honda fluid (no others as I have tried several and all cause excessive wear in comparison). Just stick to a maintenance schedule and you won't have any worries.

senicalj4579

i drained the trans last night and refilled. im thinking about doing it one more time but idk.

ScottDR

Well, when was the last time you had done it? If you do a single drain and fill every 30,000 miles you will be fine. If it hasn't been done in 60,000 miles I'd do it three times (after driving above 40MPH and having the torque converter engage before each subsequent drain and fill). Then in the future do a single drain and fill every 30,000.

senicalj4579

yea i have no idea. i bought the car 300miles ago. its got 144k on it. i looked at the fluid again today i thought it looks pretty clean. i thought maybe i would change it again in 15k idk im gonna keep an eye on it

ScottDR

Ok, an update. I found the information directly from Honda on flushes:

Transmission Flush Systems:
Just Say “No”
Transmission flush systems are not approved or
recommended for Honda A/Ts because many flush
systems require or encourage the use of solvents,
additives, or non-Honda ATF. To flush only an A/T
oil cooler, refer to Service Bulletin 89-022, A/T
Cooler Flushing Procedure, filed under
Clutch/Trans./Diff., or to the appropriate S/M. To
flush an A/T, refer to the article A/T Flushing
Procedure Revised in the June ’97 edition of
ServiceNews.

The 'flush' info mentioned above was as follows:

A/T Flushing Procedure
Revised
Here’s the best procedure to use whenever you flush the
A/T on a FWD Honda. This new procedure is even more
thorough than the one we told you about in the April
issue of S/N (Mainshaft Speed Sensor DTC on ’96-97
Accords).
1. Set the parking brake, and raise the vehicle.
2. Drain the trans, and refill it with Genuine Honda
ATF, P/N 08206-9001.
3. Start the engine, shift into D4, and release the parking
brake.
4. Raise the speed to 50 mph, making sure the A/T
shifts through all forward gears, and the torque
converter goes into lockup.
5. Apply the brakes to bring the speed to zero, then shift
to reverse, and shift to neutral.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 four more times.
7. Repeat steps 2 through 5 two more times.
8. Drain the transmission, and install the drain plug
with a new washer.
9. Refill the trans with Genuine Honda ATF.



So there it is...stay away from flushing machines at all costs.

civicpapi

I have a 96 civic auto, changed the fluid, not at 30k but more like 60k intervals, now have 210k miles no problems.

Nosepicker

Question: For A/T, the above doesn't mention whether the vehicle needs to be leveled or not.

Do I really need to lift the car on all fours?

Angad Bal

Plz advise how much litres required to fill. I put 4 litres. Is it ok?
My car is Honda civic 1996 1.5 automatic

ezone

Too much.
Probably holds about 2.5 US quarts (simple drain and fill service).
Use the dipstick to check level and adjust. Drain out excess if necessary.



Fluid level check:
With a fully warmed up engine and transmission:
Start engine, shift lever into each gear for several seconds, return lever to Park. Turn engine OFF.
Check trans fluid level within 90 seconds of turning engine off.