Honda Element Transmission Fluid Change

This video is about Honda Element Transmission Fluid Change
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[@DONphantasmo]

I'm not going to lie to you. This has been one of the best informative videos I've ever seen on youtube. Straight, to the point, good concise information. Nothing silly or trying to be funny!!! Just gimme the info and let's go!!! Thank you very much!!!

[@FlashDriveFilms]

Thank you! Kind words indeed. It shows me that my videos are getting seen by the people that will be able to enjoy them the most! Alden

[@justinpino8115]

Thank you for not lying to him

[@lightningfisher8177]

I really dig the little green arrow.

[@FlashDriveFilms]

Thanks! Soon to be a signature piece of merchandise from the channel. ( No, actually... no. Not gonna do that.) Alden

[@carlosherrera9337]

Thank you !!! No need to watch a 20 minute video for an oil change - straight to the point - and back on the road. !!!!

[@FlashDriveFilms]

Thank you! And thank you for noticing that I never use Artificial Plot Thickener in my videos.

[@louiesdj1]

Great video!! You have set the bar high , this is how videos should be made. I literally thought I had a several hundred dollar job on my hands , thanks!

[@FlashDriveFilms]

Thanks! I try to make videos to show what a task takes to do and then you can decide if you want to pay someone else or take it on yourself. Either way is fine if you know what is involved. And thank you for subscribing! Alden

[@Mattofwar]

Best video I have watched for any type of service on the element. Thank you.

[@FlashDriveFilms]

Thanks! Glad you liked it! And thank you for subscribing!! Alden

[@plowboy5220]

Outstanding. Clear and concise.

[@FlashDriveFilms]

Thank you!! Alden

[@carlosherrera9337]

Great. !!! Thanks

[@kenk8215]

Thank you so much for making this very clear and easy to follow video!

[@FlashDriveFilms]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! These are great cars and I like helping keep them on the road.

[@psdaengr6155]

The yellow top AT dipstick is shown mis-positioned in every part of this video. It should ALWAYS be angled to point to 10:00, toward the breather tube. If pushed in at the ~8-30 position as shown, it will not give an accurate indication when measured 60-90 seconds after stopping a warmed up engine. The ATF "change" amount shown in the Owners and Service Manuals through 2009 is NOT accurate. Somewhere in the capacity specification calculation IMPERIAL measures were used. The number in the manuals works out to being IMPERIAL QUARTS, not the US fluid quarts as shown on the US market DW-1 bottles. A refill will take between 3.25 and 3.5 US quarts. (3.3 US fluid quarts = 2.74 imperial quarts). Since this video was posted, JX Nippon, the OEM manufacturer of Honda's DW-1 (and those of other Japanese car makers has started marketing ATFs under their own name through NAPA that are guaranteed compatible, but the $3/qt savings For ENEOS H, may not be enough to chance it on a spill and refill.. It is not noted anywhere in the maintenance directions, that if the spill and fill shows any sign of metal particles on the drain plug, grit or sludge, the inline AT filter located at the bottom of the radiator, (a $20-30 OEM item), should be replaced. Otherwise, it should be replaced as part of the 110,000 mile scheduled maintenance. This filter can be accessed by raising the front end of the vehicle with a jack, removing the plastic push-pin fasteners from the sides and rear of the under-engine shield (not the front across the bumper), and lowering it. BTW, The Gen 1.0 Maintenance Minder service indicators of the Honda Elemenst are only roughly accurate if the vehicle has been operated in "normal" service and all resets have been done with a Honda HDS. If you change the oil before you get a code and reset the oil oil life counter with the ODO switch, the other codes may not be accurate.

[@FlashDriveFilms]

You sound like a professional Honda Service Technician with access to much more precise info than I have! I'd love to see your KZbin service videos! (oh...)

[@jackhouston9242]

like the narrative. reminds me of watching " how it works" on TV.

[@FlashDriveFilms]

Thank you! That is kind of what I am aiming for.

[@SinjinCerasani]

You my friend know how to make a video! The Robin Hood pointer is priceless. 👍

[@FlashDriveFilms]

Thank you! I really like these Honda Elements and I hope it helps others keep them on the road. Alden

[@ringoosheeesh9741]

Thank you

[@seansullivan3795]

Excellent video thanks!

[@FlashDriveFilms]

Thanks! Glad you liked it and I hope it helps! Alden

[@thomassmith2058]

Great Film

[@FlashDriveFilms]

Thank you !

[@marthamonroy1323]

Wow that’s awesome thank you 🙏

[@FlashDriveFilms]

Thank you! Glad it helps!

[@jpig6]

I like the music

[@FlashDriveFilms]

Thanks! (I'm no musician, this was all done on Garage Band on an iPad.)

[@ksoman953]

Is this video professionally made? Wow

[@FlashDriveFilms]

You're very kind. But no, still just a hobby. I try to make videos that I would like to see when I'm looking for car service information.

[@gtmedley]

Nice video. You didn't address the procedure to replace ALL the ATF in the system. You do the 3 quart replacement three times in a row with a quick jaunt around the block in between to mix the old and new. This requires 11 quarts and by doing so the old fluid is diluted and drained with each 3-quart drain and fill. When the third drain and fill is complete 7 quarts fluid are new.

[@FlashDriveFilms]

Please DO NOT change the transmission fluid that way. You only have to change about 1/2 of the fluid at each service interval. New fluid is not cheap and the method you just described has you needlessly throwing out some new fluid (intermixed with old). You never get all of the old fluid out until a transmission rebuild anyway. It is just the way the system is built. Honda is actually very clever in this feature, they expect that some old fluid will be in the mix. Do the first change of 3 quarts at 60K miles, then at every 30K after that and it will be fine. If you wait until the fluid turns dark brown or black, if you do the 11 quart process you describe, it almost guarantees the transmission will slip and fail prematurely. But don’t take my word for it. Some other references: www.elementownersclub.com/threads/auto-trans-fluid-filter-replacement-diy-instructions.51749/ kzbin.info/www/bejne/maXTh3aNn8lrmJY kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWecYXelq893d8U

[@0verload]

@@FlashDriveFilms What Gary said makes perfect sense if you don't know when the fluid has been changed last, you're having issues with the transmission or maybe you or someone used another brand of fluid just to get you by. Notice he did not say to do a flush? I believe that's what you're referring to when you're speaking about damage. Changing some or all of the fluid with proper honda fluid should not cause any issues.

[@joelvega4860]

But what about the trasmission fluid filter located under the radiator ?

[@FlashDriveFilms]

Not needed until the second service interval, past 100K miles. The transaxle holds 7 point something quarts, but only drains 3 at the service intervals. The in-line filter itself is inexpensive, but can be an awkward task to R/R.. Next time I do one, I might post an updated video. Alden

[@Toolboxboy69]

Good Question. I was just going to ask that. Thanks Joel.

[@CHIBA280CRV]

Fantastic tutorial thank you..

[@FlashDriveFilms]

Thank you!! Glad you enjoyed it! Alden

[@Toolboxboy69]

Shouldn't you drain the fluid twice and right before you add the final three quarts replace the external transmission filter right under the radiator?

[@FlashDriveFilms]

Even Honda does not recommend that. The transmission is designed to change half the fluid at each service interval. The filter is also an alternated time change. If you do that flush twice strategy you are actually throwing out brand new fluid in the process. In short: nothing stops you from doing it that way, but it is expensive and delivers no advantage. (and you'd be surprised how many owners never change their fluid at all until the thing fails. The process in the video puts you in the rare group that actually does any of their own maintenance.)

[@Toolboxboy69]

@@FlashDriveFilms Thanks for the reply. I think you only need to do the drain and refill twice if you have never changed the fluid and you have a lot of miles on the car. Doing it every 30 thousand miles is what I have been doing and the fluid looks new every time I have drained out the three quarts and ad the new fluid. I'm doing mine today and I have 140 thousand miles on my Element. This will be the first time that I have put a new external filter on it. Stay safe.

[@the86driver]

Thanks

[@FlashDriveFilms]

Thank you! I hope it helps out! Alden

[@ibrokemyfingerbowlin]

What size crush washer?

[@FlashDriveFilms]

It should be the standard Honda 18mm automatic transmission crush washer. Fits many models. One choice is linked in the description.

[@mike18755]

So I will only need 3 quarts ?

[@FlashDriveFilms]

Yes. Due to the design of the transaxle, only three quarts drains for the service interval. There is always going to be an amount of older fluid left in, although that gets diluted by the new fluid each time the transmission is drained and refilled. Alden

[@ericknicolas41]

Can i leave the drain plug open and add a quart to flush more transmisson fluid out? Or will it stay in due to the design of the transmission ?

[@FlashDriveFilms]

The extra fresh quart will just drain out on the floor. The transmission sump is divided in such a way that there will always be about half of the fluid sequestered from the drain plug. Only real way to get it all out is during a rebuild. Maybe some kind of suction pump thing might work. I just follow the service interval recommended and figure it will always have a mix of old & new fluid. Just don't let the old get *too* old! Alden

[@AR-uj3js]

Hey I bought a 2004 Honda element with 87000 miles can I now do this or will it damage the transmission more meaning causing slippage since I dont know if previous owner this any fluid change

[@FlashDriveFilms]

A lot depends on what shape the transmission is already in. (doe sit slip/grind/shift hard already?) 87K miles is not an issue, and remember, you are only replacing about half of the fluid each time. The one sure thing is to only use the Honda-branded fluid. Using regular Dexron WILL cause problems.

[@AR-uj3js]

@@FlashDriveFilms shift perfectly and yes I'll used only Honda fluid so I should be good changing fluid

[@MrVARhythm]

Transmission fluid is probably still in pretty good shape at 87k. Mine is still pink at 120k. Never changed. I'm changing it today. Generally, changing transmission fluid can only help. Flushing on the other hand can cause problems if your transmission fluid is black... Like if you waited wayy too long. That indicates transmission damage. If the color is pink or red you can flush or change.

[@ThermalCowboy]

do you warm it up first?

[@FlashDriveFilms]

Not intentionally. The car had been driven that day and pulled into the garage, but it then sat for a bit and the fluid did take some time to drain down. So the fluid was warm, but not hot. Alden

[@seanmccambridge]

I’ve read that Honda recommends warming it up first. Going to have to check up on that. Pretty sure about another third of a quart should mobilize and empty if you do this. Just going on what I’ve been reading. Great video editing, though!

[@jackhouston9242]

what year is your element? my 06 doesn't have the dash indicator service reminders.

[@FlashDriveFilms]

This one is a model year 2007, but it has a build date of October 06. So it must be a late year upgrade starting at that changeover. Just inside the drivers' door pillar, near the latch striker on the body, is a small black & white sticker. Top right of that will show the build month of your car. 10/06 for instance. Alden

[@carlosmunozleon]

Maybe that's a dumb question, but is that the same transmission fluid for the Honda Element Standard?

[@FlashDriveFilms]

Not a dumb question at all! The Honda DW-1 is for automatic transmissions only. The manual transmission takes a different fluid. I've only done automatics, so "check your owners manual" for the correct Honda fluid name.

[@carlosmunozleon]

FlashDriveFilms come on! I will download the manual, to review the type of fluid that really carries; thank you very much!

[@robertm6208]

not gonna tell us the crush washer size or part number? gee thanks.

[@FlashDriveFilms]

Added the part to the Affiliated links in the description.

[@suemitchell8495]

@@FlashDriveFilms Would that be the same part regardless of model year? I have a 2004. Thanks!

[@FlashDriveFilms]

I believe so. Honda kept many of the same components over the whole span of production.

[@DaPlayzGamesBros]

Great video however to do this properly, do the following. Follow this video, then drive around going through all gears. Then drain, fill, and drive again. Then fill 1 last time and your done. This gets all of the fluid out of the transmission.

[@FlashDriveFilms]

Thank you! When you say "properly" though you are exceeding the service intervals Honda recommends. No,you will not harm anything by doing the total fluid change as you describe, however, it is unduly expensive that way. Honda indicates to do the first change at 60,000 miles and then every 30,000 miles. The transmission is purposely designed so that it only drains 3 quarts for the service interval. To replace the total 7+ quarts is not necessary at each interval, as long as you you stick to the schedule. Alden

[@MrVARhythm]

No it doesn't get all of the fluid out of the transmission, you're just changing the fluid three times. There's nothing wrong with what he is doing in this video. If you want to flush the transmission, the way you described is nonsensical.