Transmission Fluid

[myshtern]

How often should tranny fluid be changed?
What fluid do you use for a manual Honda Civic?

I asked at Brakes Plus (because they are a walking distance from my house) and the guy told me they fill them with motor oil, after looking it up in a book.

Where is the tranny fill hole?
Is there a dipstick?
I went to go look, but I dont have any light in my garage so it didnt work out.

BTW - this is for a Honda Civic D16Z6

[Weston]

Check your owner's manual.

Honda sells manual transmission fluid. I do not use motor oil for the transmission, even in my beater, since that's not what it's formulated for. Motor oil and transmission oil are not the same; they are for very different applications with different needs and different lengths of use, so they are made differently.

The clown at Brakes Plus isn't exactly well educated on the matter, and their whole business is based on people who are too cheap to take care of their car properly. You don't exactly have to be very qualified or experienced to work at places like that.

[djet820]

Check your owner's manual.

Honda sells manual transmission fluid. I do not use motor oil for the transmission, even in my beater, since that's not what it's formulated for. Motor oil and transmission oil are not the same; they are for very different applications with different needs and different lengths of use, so they are made differently.

The clown at Brakes Plus isn't exactly well educated on the matter, and their whole business is based on people who are too cheap to take care of their car properly. You don't exactly have to be very qualified or experienced to work at places like that.

Actually, Honda says that you should use 5w-30 or 10w-30 can't remember which one for your transmission fluid...

Somebody correct me but I remember seeing it and that's what I used for my transmission the first time.

[myshtern]

Actually, Honda says that you should use 5w-30 or 10w-30 can't remember which one for your transmission fluid...

Somebody correct me but I remember seeing it and that's what I used for my transmission the first time.
I didnt believe the guy at Brakes Plus at first but he pointed to the book and the book said 5W-30.

Where is my fill hole?

[doctorstupid]

I put a new tranny in a 90 prelude, had to check 4 or 5 times and a few different sources but sure enough Honda called for 10W30 motor oil changed every 20k (as I recall, either way it was motor oil and changed frequently).

Only way to find your fill hole is to go looking for it (God that sounds dirty), it'll be a bolt on the side of the tranny, usually they're about 17mm. Find a big bolt on the side that isn't holding anything in and that's it, fill until it starts oozing back out the hole (again, that sounds really dirty.)

[myshtern]

Halarious post

Thanks for the info

[David]

yup, honda trannies can take motor oil

I thought it was straight 30...you might want to look that part up

[Weston]

Actually, Honda says that you should use 5w-30 or 10w-30 can't remember which one for your transmission fluid...

Somebody correct me but I remember seeing it and that's what I used for my transmission the first time.

They said that before they came out with a suitable MTF. Look into what actually goes into gear oil vs motor oil... you clearly want gear oil for gears, and motor oil for motors.

[myshtern]

Weston, what you are saying makes sense but Doctorstupid is doctor smart when it comes to cars.

2 books said to use 10w-30 (brakes + and tom's)

Can you link me to whatever product you use?

[Weston]

I use Honda Manual Transmission Fluid available at any Honda or Acura Dealership. There are things that you want in a gear oil that you don't want/need in a motor oil and vice versa. Like I said, look into what actually goes into each oil and what each application requires. Don't just do what someone says because you think they are smart or it was written in some grease monkey book. If you are looking at any book, it should be the official service manual such as Helm's; anything less is a joke.

Here's a good place to get started: http://www.bobistheoilguy.com

[myshtern]

The only way we can really differ the two is with a taste test.
I'll look it up in the computer database thingy at school on monday and tell you what it says.

[doctorstupid]

written in some grease monkey book. If you are looking at any book, it should be the official service manual such as Helm's; anything less is a joke.[/url]
I was unaware that my "grease monkey book," which incidentally costs more than your car, was a joke :p

While Weston is correct that the two oils are very different, unless I'm upgrading it I go with what the service manual (not those cheap pieces of shit at AutoZone, the REAL service manual) calls for. If I had to guess I would say the reason some Honda trannies call for light weight oils is tight synchronizer clearances, it may also be that these Honda gearboxes run with less backlash in the gears themselves. I'm sure Tobi would know for sure, though, what with him being a specialist and such ;)

Alex, what database are you guys using at school? AllData?

[STIBungy]

I put Redline MTL in my GSR. Never had any problems. Motor oil should work just as fine.

[Weston]

I was unaware that my "grease monkey book," which incidentally costs more than your car, was a joke :p
...

A "costs more than your car" joke coming from a DSM guy, lol. :rofl: Actually, I was trashing on the morons at Brakes Plus, as well as the Chiltons and Haynes manuals.

[doctorstupid]

It's a Mitsubishi, not a DSM, n00b. And it wasn't a joke ;) :p

[Weston]

It's a Mitsubishi, not a DSM, n00b. And it wasn't a joke ;) :p

We've been through this already... all the ricers know that anything made by Mitsubishi is a DSM. ;) Also, if you pay that much for a book, then you are the n00b. ;NutKick; :rofl:

[doctorstupid]

:rofl:

[Dustin]

I put Redline MTL in my GSR. Never had any problems. Motor oil should work just as fine.

Finally a good answer, Redline MTL, BG Syncroshift II or GM Synchromesh.

[HONDA GHANDI]

I was wondering when someone was going to get to a real answer.

Honda MTF > motor oil For a stock daily driver
Redline MTL, Synchroshift If the engine is modded or car will be raced

[Dustin]

I have also found the synchroshift helps tremendously when it's cold outside.

[myshtern]

Alex, what database are you guys using at school? AllData?
No, I can't quite remember the name, but I think it is the same one you guys run at Power Sports Inc (the one worth more than weston's car).

The school probably got it donated to them though.

Whats the name of yours?
It will ring a bell if they are the same