your second rear diff change...

[shingles]

Originally Posted by BillB

I was the poster who said every 15K for Diff fluid and this came from my Honda Dealership and also confirmed by another who just had the service done and his Dealership said the same - every 15K. I too am interested in who gets the 2nd service minder about Diff change and at what mileage it comes up at and also if it is indeed tied somehow to when the Oil Monitor is reset. There still is mystery surrounding this tie in between the Oil Monitor and other service minders and since the documentation given us by Honda is terrible when it comes to what service intervals to expect we are left guessing at these answers. I for one am not happy with Honda treating us like some brainless children and not giving us a difinitive service interval chart in our Owners manual. This is the first vehicle I have owned that such a chart was not included in owner's book and I can't for the life of me figure why anyone at Honda thought this was worthwhile to leave out.

The system is not just an oil change monitor. It infact tells you when everything is supposed to be changed, with a few exception. The system takes into account a lot of variable and driving conditions and calculates when you need to chagne things. This is a MUCH superior system than hard schedule as those do not take into account driving conditions other than "normal" vs "severe". Beacuse the system does calculations based on these variables, surely honda cannot print a schedule on a piece of paper, as it does not apply to everyone. I might drive 99% freeway while another owner 99% city. The change requirements for these two owners are different.

My question relates to whether honda purposely made the first change sooner to flush out the gunk in the diff, or if it is just supposed to be this way always. And this is why I am asking. It seems that most that have had to do the B6 service have been around 12,000-15,000 range. Thus if someone does the second one around 45,000, it would give an indication that the second change period is infact longer.

[BillB]

I agree that the 2nd Diff change question is the real question in this thread that cannot be answered by us guessing. And maybe the monitor system is the expert at when changes need to be made. I am involved in various types of artificial intelligence programming projects at work and once you get past the first few levels of guessing what comes next, the answers become much more difficult to rely upon. My problem with this Maintenance System is ultimately that Honda does not publish its basis for the 2nd and beyond level answer criteria and it is frustrating to just sit around and let the vehicle "remind" me when to change a replaceable fluid or whatever. It has just become the "principal of the thing" to me that I cannot get a straight answer or a range of answers from my Owner's manual.

[jeffiam]

I am at 17,000 miles and have not had the MM tell me to change yet. I follow it for oil change schedule. I remember Gary Flint stating in his interview with the ROC, that changing oil and resetting MM earlier than recommended would increase service times for all MM items.

[ridgeln]

My first "B6" code occurred last week and I am scheduled to have the service done this Friday. I will be almost exactly 14,000 miles when I have this done, and >10% on the MM. I changed the oil the first time at 7K and >10% as well. I am also interested in when the next change will happen. I'll make sure I ask at the dealership, but am not holding my breath - they told me I needed to get the oil changed every 3K. The vast majority of my driving is highway (probably 80%).

-ridgeln

[ridgeln]

From the Honda OwnerLink Web site regarding the VTM fluid change (MM Code 6):

"Replace VTM-4 rear differential fluid: Driving in mountainous areas at very low vehicle speeds or trailer towing results in higher level of mechanical (shear) stress to fluid or frequently fully loaded. This requires differential fluid changes more frequently than recommended by the Maintenance Minder. If you regularly drive your vehicle under these conditions, have the differential fluid changed at 7,500 miles (12,000 km), then every 15,000 miles (24,000 km)."

Sounds to me like this is one-half the MM recommendation - if so, then "normal" use will result in 15K for the first, then 30K for all the rest.

-ridgeln

[ProHonda]

The truth is WHAT is in the rear diff. Domestics come with full sys fluid and don't require change till 100K
The rear calls for a vtm-4 and NOT some 90w oil. (which lasts longer)

I plan on the break in change then depending my towing useage, change it sooner.

heat is the #1 killer in drivetrain fluids...............

[BillB]

I just had my first service and asked so many questions about service intervals, TSBs, etc.. that the service manager just started printing out the computer screens that they work on and gave them to me. Unfortunately for all of us involved in speculating answers in this thread, the service managers have no magic information about VTM4 change intervals that we don't already "know" about by reading the manual. They too are relying on the owner's Maintenance Minder to guide them in when to change the VTM4, and if the service writer is competent, they will inquire about your driving style to help make some additional maintenance recommendations outside the maintenance minder schedule. My dealer did not know the answer to when the 2nd Maintenance minder was "supposed" to come on for code B6, but he did an "expert" guess at around 45K (if that came on at 15K).

[MyBrainHurts]

I am finally seeing b6 on my dash at 11,700Mi. But my question is this. I do all my own maintenance on my vehicles, but have never had a 4x4 to deal with before. Is this something i want to do myself, or is it worth taking in? If so, is it a pricey service?

[2006Ridgeline]

I have over 19k on mine and I've never seen this "B6" code you're talking about. Where might I see it? I am now in need of an oil change, but I don't see any indication that my vtm4 fluid needs changing. Help me find out, thanks!

[BillB]

There is a slim, remote possibility that you have not received a B6 because your Oil monitor driven intervals are very long. The B6 is an oil change recommendation with additional services to be performed at that time. Like all service messages, an oil change is always involved - in a type A only oil is recommended (many of us will do a filter at that time anyway because we feel it is helpful, but Honda does not really have that same feeling about filters every time) and in type B the filter is mandated. The additional service numbers after the A or B are all "scheduled" around how your oil seems to be wanting to be changed (and Honda is trying to make the service streemlined by doing more than one thing when you are in the shop - although I feel this is benefitting them more than us). Say if you had your first oil change (probably an A1 - oil plus tire rotation) at 10,000 miles (this is why I say slim/remote chance this happens), the maintenance scheduler may think the B6 shouldn't come until 20,000. You are saying you need an oil change now, is this because the maintenance minder is giving you a code in the display window, or because you just feel about ready by the mileage on the truck? It is also possible your dealer saw the B6 and just did an oil change the last time but did not do the VTM fluid. When he reset your maintenance window, the B6 would have disappeared and hopefully this is not what happened to you.