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Just got a quick question for everyone. How do you know when it's time to change the automatic transmission fluid. I think the color on my atf fluid is ok. But sometimes when I smear on it a white napkin, there's a slight dirt touch on it. I don't know if it's the stick or that there's dirt in the liquid itself. Can anyone please clarify how to go about this...??

 
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manual says every 30k, but i do mine every 10k. it gets bad fast. when i first did mine at 18k miles, it was black with metal in it instead of red/pink.

 
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^i must drive ultra conservative...
i just flushed mine at 60k
i checked my fluids and it was reddish brown...

 
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what is "flushing" your transmission vs "changing (replacing)" your transmission fluid?

 
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a flush is where you refill the amount of neccesary fluid, drive it around for a quick minute, drain then refill again. this requires 2x the amount of fluid.

changing/replacing - refilling = just like changing motor oil. but some folks do a flush along with motor oil as well.



i honestly believe flushes arent neccesary if you kept up your vehicles maintence

 
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The only way to FLUSH is by a machine, which removes ALL the old fluid, usually costs like 59.99 at most shops, problem is most shops dont use honda atf they use dexron. Id rather them not touch my car! Only honda or select other shops use genuine fluid. Even honda dealers dont use flush machines they just drain and fill several times which will get 90% of the fluid changed. Honda fluid is way too expensive to use in a flush machine thats why it isnt usually done. 12 quarts x 6.00 $ = 60$ in just fluid not labor.