Transmission Fluid: To change or not to change? - Page 2

RinconRidgeline · 11-07-2009, 08:09 AM

Automatic tranny fluid needs to be changed. I will NOT buy a vehicle that does not have a tranny dipstick.
Our Ridgeline had a very small leak at the temp sensor. Honda dealer drained fluid to inspect the O-ring. The fluid at 10k(?) was dark colored. They did not have an O-ring in stock so back in with the old one along with new fluid. I returned 2 weeks later to have O-ring installed and the tranny sensor was not leaking, so I agreed to leave well enough alone. 2 years later I found the leak had returned. This time the new O-ring was installed and once again fluid was dark colored.
I got 2 partial fluid changes at Hondas expence.
As a rule I change my filter one time @25k and just drain the pan and install new fluid every year.
My mechanic friend told me that if the tranny filter were to become clogged that enough wear has taken place to rebuild your tranny.
I have a 96 Regal 165k and a 96 Dodge Cummins 182k and the automatics have never failed me with this type of service.
Transmission fluid will not hold up to heat like engine oil.
While checking, take a white paper towel and if it is dark colored or smells burnt then change it. Simple.
I do not know the cost to rebuild the Ridgeline tranny, but I would guess close to $4000. I do know that the largest section in my shop manual is about the,,,tranny.

breye · 11-07-2009, 03:01 PM

Do the RL have a transmission filter?

Jet Pack · 11-07-2009, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by breye

Do the RL have a transmission filter?

According to the service manual, yes.

shovelhd · 11-07-2009, 10:02 PM

There is no transmission filter to change during normal maintenance.

flying butcher · 11-08-2009, 06:53 AM

my mechanic told me that it doesn';t need to be changed as often as most people believe. Changed mine at 79,000 and again at 130,000 no problems and I tow a boat 60% of the time my 2 cents

breye · 11-08-2009, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jet Pack

According to the service manual, yes.

Now that’s good news.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shovelhd

There is no transmission filter to change during normal maintenance.

I don't like that idea very much

Jet Pack · 11-08-2009, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by breye

Now that’s good news.

I don't like that idea very much

You would have to open the tranny if you want to service the filter.
I've never owned an automatic before the R/L, I thought most auto trannys had inner filters.

breye · 11-08-2009, 11:44 AM

All the transmissions that I have changed fluid on don’t have a drain plug. The only way to change the fluid was to drop the pan and the filter was right there. So you changed the filter at the same time as well as a magnet.

Jeep Wrangler automatic transmission fluid and filter change
http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgur...a%3DN%26um%3D1

shovelhd · 11-08-2009, 05:23 PM

That's not the way it works on a Ridgeline transmission. You guys gotta forget what you know about American transmissions. This drivetrain is different.

g8rrr · 11-09-2009, 07:25 AM

i just changed mine at 30,000 miles and it it looked pretty grungy

11-07-2009, 08:09 AM	#11
RinconRidgeline ROC Rank: Stuffing 2007 RTS Formal Black Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Auburn Alabama Posts: 32	Re: Transmission Fluid: To change or not to change? Automatic tranny fluid needs to be changed. I will NOT buy a vehicle that does not have a tranny dipstick. Our Ridgeline had a very small leak at the temp sensor. Honda dealer drained fluid to inspect the O-ring. The fluid at 10k(?) was dark colored. They did not have an O-ring in stock so back in with the old one along with new fluid. I returned 2 weeks later to have O-ring installed and the tranny sensor was not leaking, so I agreed to leave well enough alone. 2 years later I found the leak had returned. This time the new O-ring was installed and once again fluid was dark colored. I got 2 partial fluid changes at Hondas expence. As a rule I change my filter one time @25k and just drain the pan and install new fluid every year. My mechanic friend told me that if the tranny filter were to become clogged that enough wear has taken place to rebuild your tranny. I have a 96 Regal 165k and a 96 Dodge Cummins 182k and the automatics have never failed me with this type of service. Transmission fluid will not hold up to heat like engine oil. While checking, take a white paper towel and if it is dark colored or smells burnt then change it. Simple. I do not know the cost to rebuild the Ridgeline tranny, but I would guess close to $4000. I do know that the largest section in my shop manual is about the,,,tranny.

11-07-2009, 03:01 PM	#12
breye ROC Rank: Stuffing 2009 RT Billet Silver / Gray Join Date: May 2009 Location: Blind River,Ontario Posts: 64	Re: Transmission Fluid: To change or not to change? Do the RL have a transmission filter?

11-07-2009, 10:02 PM	#14
shovelhd ROC Rank: Green Bean Casserole 2006 RTL Steel Blue / Gray Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Western MA Posts: 8,701	Re: Transmission Fluid: To change or not to change? There is no transmission filter to change during normal maintenance. __________________ Shovelhd media installation thread Kenwood DDX8019Garmin KNA-G510 Nav 2009 MapsKCA-BT200 BluetoothKTC-HR100 HD Radio TunerKTC-V500N TV Tuner (RIP)KCA-iP200 iPod AdapterSIR-KEN1 Sirius Satellite Radio Tuner with Lifetime SubscriptionWebb OEM XM Antenna ConversionPPI DCX-730 DSPEclipse XA4000 Mains AmpRockford-Fosgate T1500bd Sub AmpRainbow SLC 265 Front ComponentsRainbow 165 SL Rear Coaxials(2) Diamond Audio D610D4 Subs in Custom Subthump BoxKP Technologies Rollup Modules

11-08-2009, 06:53 AM	#15
flying butcher ROC Rank: Stuffing Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 32	Re: Transmission Fluid: To change or not to change? my mechanic told me that it doesn';t need to be changed as often as most people believe. Changed mine at 79,000 and again at 130,000 no problems and I tow a boat 60% of the time my 2 cents

11-08-2009, 11:44 AM	#18
breye ROC Rank: Stuffing 2009 RT Billet Silver / Gray Join Date: May 2009 Location: Blind River,Ontario Posts: 64	Re: Transmission Fluid: To change or not to change? All the transmissions that I have changed fluid on don’t have a drain plug. The only way to change the fluid was to drop the pan and the filter was right there. So you changed the filter at the same time as well as a magnet. Jeep Wrangler automatic transmission fluid and filter change http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgur...a%3DN%26um%3D1 Last edited by breye; 11-08-2009 at 11:53 AM.

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11-08-2009, 05:23 PM	#19
shovelhd ROC Rank: Green Bean Casserole 2006 RTL Steel Blue / Gray Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Western MA Posts: 8,701	Re: Transmission Fluid: To change or not to change? That's not the way it works on a Ridgeline transmission. You guys gotta forget what you know about American transmissions. This drivetrain is different. __________________ Shovelhd media installation thread Kenwood DDX8019Garmin KNA-G510 Nav 2009 MapsKCA-BT200 BluetoothKTC-HR100 HD Radio TunerKTC-V500N TV Tuner (RIP)KCA-iP200 iPod AdapterSIR-KEN1 Sirius Satellite Radio Tuner with Lifetime SubscriptionWebb OEM XM Antenna ConversionPPI DCX-730 DSPEclipse XA4000 Mains AmpRockford-Fosgate T1500bd Sub AmpRainbow SLC 265 Front ComponentsRainbow 165 SL Rear Coaxials(2) Diamond Audio D610D4 Subs in Custom Subthump BoxKP Technologies Rollup Modules

11-09-2009, 07:25 AM	#20
g8rrr ROC Rank: Stuffing 2007 RTS Formal Black Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sarasota, Fl Posts: 53	Re: Transmission Fluid: To change or not to change? i just changed mine at 30,000 miles and it it looked pretty grungy __________________ 2007 Black RTS, Curt hidden hitch w/ OEM wiring harness, ventshade window visor, husky rear mud flaps, Backup sensor, Sportwing door guard, SS Raptor nerf bars, Window tint

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