60,000 Tranny Fluid Change?
Thread Starter
Extreme Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Texas, US
Rep Power: 0 
60,000 Tranny Fluid Change?
Hey everyone, in my manual it says that it is recommended that I change the transmission fluid at 60,000 miles in my 01' civic and i'm about to that time. Is this supposed to be a partial drain or complete fluid change?
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 10,632
Likes: 0
From: Harker heights Tx
Rep Power: 388 
I had to change mine out earlier than that but when I rebuilt my tranny I decided to use REDLINE tranny fluid . If you switch it will be a noticeable difference.
Registered!!
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs
Rep Power: 0 
Originally Posted by ZSKCivic01
Hey everyone, in my manual it says that it is recommended that I change the transmission fluid at 60,000 miles in my 01' civic and i'm about to that time. Is this supposed to be a partial drain or complete fluid change?
Loosen the fill plug and remove it.
Loosen the drain plug and remove it.
Let the fluids drain for a good half hour, or longer if you have time.
Replace the drain plug (with new crush washer) and torque to specs.
Replace the tranny fluid. When the tranny fluid starts to come out of the fill plug, insert fill plug (with new crush washer) and torque to specs.
That's it!
Registered!!
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs
Rep Power: 0
Originally Posted by aznboysrfr
eh ... I would change mine long before 60k miles ... maybe every 20-25k miles ...
Originally Posted by aznboysrfr
the manual also states that you should go with 5000 mile oil change intervals -__-;;
Thread Starter
Extreme Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Texas, US
Rep Power: 0 I have an automatic and my civic is an 01', I have had it changed one other time around 30k I believe. I am pretty sure I can do a partial change if I have the DIY but for a full I would have to take my car in. So partial fluid change or the entire tranny?
Thread Starter
Extreme Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Texas, US
Rep Power: 0 No one is answering my question, I don't mind getting it done professionally, but do I need a full transmission flush or a partial? I'll also try that Redline ATF if I can find it! Thanks.
Like my dad used to say, Just bend over and take it like a man, son
iTrader: (-1)
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
Rep Power: 0 
full tranny flush. if it's an manual, u can do it urself, but if it's an auto, you have to get it completly flushed by a machine. I have an auto and took my car into the shop where my friend's dad works and got it done. and yes, I did mine at 60k miles.
Like my dad used to say, Just bend over and take it like a man, son
iTrader: (-1)
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
Rep Power: 0 def. do the full tranny flush. think of it this way, would you partiallay change the oil after 1000 miles, if you were to change it at 1000 miles?
Registered!!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Rep Power: 0 "Is it totally different to change transmission oil for auto and manual? from what i got from reading this, it sounds like auto is a beatch to do."
Manual doesn't have a filter so all you do is remove the drain plug and drain then replace the oil. Automatic must have a filter and if the filter has contaninants on it you need a flush, if not don't pay for something you don't need. Our Ford says change auto tranny oil every 50K miles but I know guys who went 100K miles with no problems, and they drive hard. Thing is, trans oil has no opening to the outside so no way for dirt to get in but gets very hot so in time probably loses some of it's characteristics.
A word of caution: Read the manual and be sure to use whatever tranny oil they specify. I had an older Mustang with stick shift and manual said use Mercon auto tranny oil. HUH? Undoubtedly a misprint so I went by a automatic transmission shop and the mech said the manual is right. Seems the synchronizer rings are made out of some fibrous material and if you use regular SAE 80-90W gear oil or anything but Mercon fluid it will cause the synchronizer rings to deteriorate. Learn something every day.
Red Line tranny oil: Never heard of it and I have a long way to go to 50K mi but I found this interesting. "Redline D4 ATF: A fully synthetic ATF designed to satify the requirements of Dexron III, Mercon and Mercon V, while satisfying GL-4 oil requirements. Superior stability allows high temp operation without varnishing valves and clutches."
Hmmm . . Veddy interest-ink. Local Honda shop foreman very knowledgable so will have a Pow Wow with him. Ya'll have a nice day. Huney.
Manual doesn't have a filter so all you do is remove the drain plug and drain then replace the oil. Automatic must have a filter and if the filter has contaninants on it you need a flush, if not don't pay for something you don't need. Our Ford says change auto tranny oil every 50K miles but I know guys who went 100K miles with no problems, and they drive hard. Thing is, trans oil has no opening to the outside so no way for dirt to get in but gets very hot so in time probably loses some of it's characteristics.
A word of caution: Read the manual and be sure to use whatever tranny oil they specify. I had an older Mustang with stick shift and manual said use Mercon auto tranny oil. HUH? Undoubtedly a misprint so I went by a automatic transmission shop and the mech said the manual is right. Seems the synchronizer rings are made out of some fibrous material and if you use regular SAE 80-90W gear oil or anything but Mercon fluid it will cause the synchronizer rings to deteriorate. Learn something every day.
Red Line tranny oil: Never heard of it and I have a long way to go to 50K mi but I found this interesting. "Redline D4 ATF: A fully synthetic ATF designed to satify the requirements of Dexron III, Mercon and Mercon V, while satisfying GL-4 oil requirements. Superior stability allows high temp operation without varnishing valves and clutches."
Hmmm . . Veddy interest-ink. Local Honda shop foreman very knowledgable so will have a Pow Wow with him. Ya'll have a nice day. Huney.
Registered!!
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Rep Power: 0
Originally Posted by sodaks2k
Do you have a manual or an auto? If it still feels smooth, you could just use Honda MTF if you have a manual. If it is a manual, it's very simple to do.
Loosen the fill plug and remove it.
Loosen the drain plug and remove it.
Let the fluids drain for a good half hour, or longer if you have time.
Replace the drain plug (with new crush washer) and torque to specs.
Replace the tranny fluid. When the tranny fluid starts to come out of the fill plug, insert fill plug (with new crush washer) and torque to specs.
That's it!
Loosen the fill plug and remove it.
Loosen the drain plug and remove it.
Let the fluids drain for a good half hour, or longer if you have time.
Replace the drain plug (with new crush washer) and torque to specs.
Replace the tranny fluid. When the tranny fluid starts to come out of the fill plug, insert fill plug (with new crush washer) and torque to specs.
That's it!
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 20
From: NV
Rep Power: 813 wow that is way overdue. auto tranny likes new fluid every 10k at least. the effects wear off after 5k tho. the tranny is junk. and for auto, I would only use honda atf.
Registered!!
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs
Rep Power: 0
Originally Posted by army005
Unfortunately, didn't get a manual with my used 02 civic si, so anyone tell me what the torque specs are for the transmission plugs?? Also, is Red Line synthetic the best brand for transmission oil for this model?? See a lot of folks using it.
http://www.hardtopguy.com/store/cust...uctid=254&cat=
and a bottle of this
http://www.pennzoil.com/products/gea...cro_fluid.html
The Friction Modified gives more solid shift engagement (increases friction of syncros) while the regular syncromesh increases lubricity. My wife noticed a differnce right away, as did another local member who used the same fluids.
Last edited by sodaks2k; Nov 5, 2005 at 02:58 PM.
Originally Posted by gearbox
wow that is way overdue. auto tranny likes new fluid every 10k at least. the effects wear off after 5k tho. the tranny is junk. and for auto, I would only use honda atf.
2k1civic.com O. G.
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,165
Likes: 0
From: PhILLy, Pennsylvania, US
Rep Power: 335
Originally Posted by Huney
"...
Manual doesn't have a filter so all you do is remove the drain plug and drain then replace the oil. Automatic must have a filter and if the filter has contaninants on it you need a flush, if not don't pay for something you don't need. Our Ford says change auto tranny oil every 50K miles but I know guys who went 100K miles with no problems, and they drive hard. Thing is, trans oil has no opening to the outside so no way for dirt to get in but gets very hot so in time probably loses some of it's characteristics. ...
Manual doesn't have a filter so all you do is remove the drain plug and drain then replace the oil. Automatic must have a filter and if the filter has contaninants on it you need a flush, if not don't pay for something you don't need. Our Ford says change auto tranny oil every 50K miles but I know guys who went 100K miles with no problems, and they drive hard. Thing is, trans oil has no opening to the outside so no way for dirt to get in but gets very hot so in time probably loses some of it's characteristics. ...
Registered!!
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Rep Power: 0 man, i just drained my old tranny ATF and put in 3 bottles of Honda ATF and what a difference it has made in terms of performance! its almost like how i remember it to be when i first bought the car in late 1999. Before the change, my fourth gear would change at approximately 85 kmph and now its back to normal changing at approx 105 kmph. I can expect a lot of gas saving now since i do most of my driving on the highway to go to work in the fast lane at 120 - 140 kmph. I should of done this sooner!
Next thing will be to go on the synthetic engine oil bandwagon.
Next thing will be to go on the synthetic engine oil bandwagon.
Registered!!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
From: jersey
Rep Power: 0
Originally Posted by JP375
I'm getting sick of your stupid comments. 10k? If you don't drive your car all that hard 60,000 is plenty good. You would just be pouring your money down the drain by changing every 10k. Just like the people who change oil every 3000. Get with the times, it isn't 1965 anymore.
Registered!!
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque, NM
Rep Power: 0 I'm about to hit 60K miles, and I've been driving my car hard since it had like 1,000 miles on it. I'm going to flush now that i've read all this and found out how easy it was. But how many bottles do I need? I'm going to get that Redline stuff.
Registered!!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Rep Power: 0 Yeah the auto is real tough LOL... ITs exactly the same practically atleast for an 02 civic lx. Both are just drain and fill, no filters or pans. In the manual it says to drain, then refill, drive a short distance then repeat 3 more times. This is for the auto anyway. The auto keeps several quarts of atf in the torque converter thats why you must drain and refill so many times so you eventually get the old fluid out. I would assume the manual transmission would be a little easier but basically the same. Ive heard so many bad things about shops that use a machines to clean trannys. While the flushing is great the fluids they end up with are wrong. They dont use genuine honda ATF which comes highly recommended to do the flush. Yeah if i was HONDA id say use my ATF too but I think theres actually some validity to it. Honda ATF is 6.00 a quart so itll cost quite a bit if you do it like the manual says. my owners manual (has the directions for auto and manual trannys) says replace tranny fluid at 100K, thats seems way too long. I drained and filled 4 times now , 2 times at 30k and 2 times at 64k. The fluid on the dipstick has remained bright red so im happy with that, ill do it again at 90k.
Thread
Thread Starter
Honda Civic Forum
Replies
Last Post
7thgensurvivor
Mechanical Problems/Vehicle Issues and Fix-it Forum
38
Aug 29, 2015 11:50 AM
MajTom
Mechanical Problems/Vehicle Issues and Fix-it Forum
4
Jun 2, 2015 11:48 AM
mrohitredd
Mechanical Problems/Vehicle Issues and Fix-it Forum
5
May 28, 2015 10:03 AM
