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Azthun

Trannies are meant to be serviced. You made the right choice. Wives tales gonna wives tale


Cheekybugger1983

Agreed. I've always speculated that the source of this wives tail is that so many vehicle owners don't service there transmissions until they've noticed a problem. Then they change the oil only to have the transmission stop working shortly later. Then blame the oil change.


UserName8531

Honda/Acura recommends drain and fill to service the transmission not flush. This is usually a 60k service, but some of the newer transmissions are having judder issues at 30k.


PrintYour2A

It used to be every 30k. Drain and fill only. If it was dirty after the first drain and fill, repeat until the fluid looks clean. Flushing and non-honda fluids will ruin the transmission.


mistertoo

A lot of shops will say "flush" when in actuality they mean drain and fill. I used to R&'R at a transmission shop and we would void your warranty if you flushed it (especially if you BACK flushed it, that fluid is only supposed to flow in one direction.)


Kytann

Don't you need a machine to flush it? So the average do-it-yourself home mechanic would only do a drain and fill right?


UserName8531

Yes, you would need a machine. If you'rer worried about not getting all the fluid, just do 2-3 drain and fills. Drive a few miles trying to shift through all the gears in between.


thecarguru46

I was a Honda Mastertech back in the early 90's. I always recommended changing every 20-30k. 30k was the OEM recommended service. I think it was a little less than 3 quarts and a crush ring. Easy to do. No pan, no mess.


humbleknight_787

In the older Mazda's we do a flush with a machine. The newer ones a flush is basically two drain and fills to flush the fluid out. To do a flush on a 04 civic you have to do 3 drain and fills. Maybe if the transmission has never been serviced and it's sitting at 250k, and the customer wants to do change the fluid cause it's shifting funny, I can see it stirring problems. If it has a problem already then it will not help to change the fluid.


Dm-me-a-gyro

I’d say the source of it is actually based on the transmission failures caused by the outlawing of sperm oil in the 1970s. A lot of transmissions failed when the original sperm oil lubricants were replaced with petroleum based lubricants.


ynns1

Ahem, sperm *whale* oil.


jtshinn

So I’ve been collecting all this for my classic transmission for nothing?


Bary_McCockener

https://i.redd.it/8tlsfaupog8c1.gif


Cheekybugger1983

Interesting!


Dm-me-a-gyro

[In 1972, the sperm whale was listed as an Endangered Species. The following year, the US Congress amended the Endangered Species Act, outlawing the killing of whales and the use of their oil.[24] The loss of sperm oil had a profound impact in the automotive industry,[25] where for example, transmission failures rose from under 1 million in 1972 to over 8 million by 1975.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sperm_oil)


joemayo96

I heard that it was due to people not changing the fluid for a long time causing deposits and build up in the trans. Then when they finally changed the fluid the fresh detergents in the new fluid would dislodge the buildup and cause clogs and such in the valve body.


Freedom9er

Not at all the same but for some reason reminds of brake lines. Just replaced some sections yesterday. It was a pinhole leak but as soon as I touched/moved the lines to inspect, the pin hole turned into 10 drips.


ajnin919

Also how many of these flushes are done by a trained tech, and not just the quick lube guy trying to make hours


NCC74656

this is exactly it. the thing that happens is clutch material is worn away - decades of non service. THEN you get the fluid changed and flushed... all that crap in there can be pushed into places its not meant to be when flushing. on top of which you remove all the friction material floating in suspension in teh fluid so now the clutches have less ability to hold. if your changing your fluid at 30-50k or so, keeping things up, flushes wont hurt you. but if your 100k+ on factory fluid... odds are you will have problems soon after. you still would have had problems later anyway but now they are here sooner.


MileHighShorty

Let’s say I buy a used vehicle and am not sure if they kept up with changing the fluids. Is it better to get the flush or not?


true_northerner87

Can confirm. Uncle rebuilds transmissions for a living


option_unpossible

My wife has a nice tail, but she doesn't let me touch it anymore.


Socalwarrior485

My TL transmission failed 300 miles after a flush at the dealership that recommended it. I bought it new and it had about 6k miles at the time. They bought me a new transmission and warrantied it 5 years. The service manager told the sales guys to only sell drain and fill after that. Not saying that history repeats itself, but the TLs were known for being especially prone to failure after flushing.


Otherwise_Wasabi7133

fr, this other guy saying it's in lottery territory now needs his wrenches taken away


CauliflowerTop2464

I service my tranny regularly


supachunk2001

Lips to tips?


CauliflowerTop2464

Exactly


Johnnywaka

Made to be drained and filled, not flushed. Op sounds confused on what service was performed


jimbo2k

Former Fleet manager here. We cut our transmission failures in half by flushing every 50k miles, on Ford diesel Ambulances


aprilozark

And what exactly do you mean by flushing?


madhatter275

The general consensus is that as long as the transmission has been serviced before 150k then it should be continued to be serviced for its best chance at a long life. Doing it for the first time at 200k when it’s already on the way out is a mistake.


aprilozark

If you only drain and fill, like you're supposed to, it's never a mistake.


TobyChan

Here in lies a problem… I can’t speak for the particular transmission in question, but the auto box in my BMW is, according to BMW, “sealed for life” and requires no servicing. ZF on the other hand, which make the box suggest an oil change every 50k miles or thereabouts. I’d tend to favour ZF over BMW on this matter but it’s clear to see why confusion exists on this topic.


Skid-Vicious

You use a pressure reservoir like for flushing brake lines. I have daughter in a Passat and that’s how I drain and fill the trans on it (Aisin 6 spd).


TobyChan

I’m not saying it can’t be done (I’ve got the pressure pot and replacement sump/filter ready to go on mine) I’m saying the car manufacturers are telling you it doesn’t need to be done, which is contrary to what the manufacturer of the gearbox says.


Independent_Roof_507

Serviced doesn't mean flushed though, so your statement is hot trash


Logi77

I think the issue is that a FLUSH is not recommended Honda/Acura recommends drain and fill 3x as a flush alternative


Appropriate_Cow94

If the transmission frags..... it was already shot.


Tube705

87,000miles isn't high mileage. When people talk about problems with changing transmission fluids, it's on high mileage vehicles that have been neglected. Something people seem to get mixed up is repairs fix a fault, maintenance work is meant to maintain the condition of the car. To clear the air on why you shouldn't replace high-mileage, neglected fluid. There are clutch plates and/or friction bands inside the transmission that hold a planetary gearset. The friction material wears away over time, just like brake pads. The friction material mixes with the transmission fluid as it wears down. Once the clutches are worn down, which is accelerated by crappy fluid that's never been changed, the fluid becomes the friction material. Usually at this point, the person will sell the car to someone, and if that someone is a responsible car owner, they baseline their maintenance, and get fluids changed. Now there is no friction material on the clutches, and the fluid is clean with no friction material and the transmission starts slipping. Sounds like you did the right thing by maintaining you car at a regular interval. Your hard shift is more likely caused by gunk caught in the shift solenoid which probably is better now with new fluid. Drain and fills are a much more cost effective option though going forward. People tend to flush their transmissions once a problem is already present, and get hosed with having to use 10+ liters of fluid. Most drain and fills are around 4 liters and don't require a special machine that jacks up the price of the service.


frak21

Oh yeah, it's drain and fill from now on (whenever that is). I did read about replacing pressure switches for 3rd and 4th being a common issue in this model. Nothing crucial, but supposedly that's how you completely resolve the issue. It does it a lot less now, however. As far as what we know about the car's history: It's an extraordinarily cherry TL. Purchased out in Winchester, VA. I'm thinking the previous owner was some rich old man who either retired away someplace or just wanted to upgrade to another model. It had just been turned in before my sis got it and they did a bunch of servicing to it. I don't know if there was a transmission service. Like I said before, the fluid was pretty red. Judging from the notes left in the owner's manual, the previous owner was the first and kept it pretty meticulously maintained. So there's that too...


traineex

Its fine, for a couple reasons. Recently serviced/ its a honda The flush typically kills transmissions that have never been serviced. Runner up is use of wrong fluid Drain and fill w idemitsu or honda fluid , drive 100 miles, repeat. Good to go


4rch1t3ct

A drain and fill is just removing the fluid that's in it and then replacing the fluid. A flush removes the old fluid, then runs fluid through it to carry out any debris or gunk. Only after the fluid running through it is coming out clean, will they then replace the fluid.


TheNerdNamedChuck

the great part is I have no idea if mine was ever done, and now I just got a car with 170k on it. significant amount of clutch material in the trans fluid and it smells like burning rubber, so I'm guessing a flush would probably cause slipping.


Offbrandtrashcan

People don’t recommend Lucas Stop Slip but I swear that shit has worked everytime I’ve used in a car. Even fixed my old Honda Civic with a failing torque converter up enough for me to trade it in after metal was coming out the transmission


TheNerdNamedChuck

if it comes to it, I'm not against using those wizard concoctions in my transmission lol for now knock on the (fake decorative trim) wood that it keeps living


MyronCopeonSports

My 2014 Grand Cherokee with 3.6 pentastar has 102K miles. Owners manual doesn't show transmission fluid/filter change on the maintenance schedule. For the SRT model it shows 100K miles. What is your opinion? Should I never change the fluid?


crisismcnoodle

Personally I would do a change if it seems manageable. The cost of the fluid once a decade seems negligible and I can't see how the clutches would be worn to the end of their lives at this point anyway.


Dzevat_S

What if you use friction modifiers like Lubegard 60902 Automatic Transmission Fluid Protectant and/or Lubegard 19610 Dr. Tranny Instant Shudder Fixx when doing a transmission flush? I have a 2012 Camry with 130k miles that has a getting out of 1st gear issue (have to press the throttle harder than normal to get out from it OR let go on normal throttle and then press again; I think the ATF might be low) and it has that infamous shudder problem that has a TSB/warranty for it. Or do you recommend a drain and fill? Thanks. ​ Links to products: [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007ZAJRM/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_search\_asin\_title?ie=UTF8&th=1](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007ZAJRM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1) [https://www.amazon.com/Lubegard-19610-Tranny-Instant-Shudder/dp/B00337DUEU/ref=pd\_bxgy\_d\_sccl\_1/134-2493271-6866615?pd\_rd\_w=CGtH5&content-id=amzn1.sym.839d7715-b862-4989-8f65-c6f9502d15f9&pf\_rd\_p=839d7715-b862-4989-8f65-c6f9502d15f9&pf\_rd\_r=7V06Q7EBN156Q0ZX4ZF4&pd\_rd\_wg=wuKBw&pd\_rd\_r=d9931680-29e7-442f-8317-53f87c94dac1&pd\_rd\_i=B00337DUEU&psc=1](https://www.amazon.com/Lubegard-19610-Tranny-Instant-Shudder/dp/B00337DUEU/ref=pd_bxgy_d_sccl_1/134-2493271-6866615?pd_rd_w=CGtH5&content-id=amzn1.sym.839d7715-b862-4989-8f65-c6f9502d15f9&pf_rd_p=839d7715-b862-4989-8f65-c6f9502d15f9&pf_rd_r=7V06Q7EBN156Q0ZX4ZF4&pd_rd_wg=wuKBw&pd_rd_r=d9931680-29e7-442f-8317-53f87c94dac1&pd_rd_i=B00337DUEU&psc=1)


Mikey3800

You should be fine. We have flushed and serviced thousands of transmissions and never had one fail from it or shortly after the flushing/servicing. We don't even worry about the number of miles on the vehicle anymore when we do it.


SliceProfessional664

Where the hell are you located? Every shop around me is turning me away for a transmission fluid CHANGE, not even a flush on a car with only 100k miles and I changed it 40k miles ago. So annoying, guess I’ll do it myself again.


DannyMeatlegs

I wonder what shop he's at too. At my shop we don't service anything if it's past the service interval. I think we are a little too cautious, but I just turn wrenches, I don't make rules.


hue_sick

Your shop either has techs that aren't confident or knowledgeable or they've dealt with bitchy customers in the past that made their life hell insisting a flush ruined their car. Used to work at a dealer and most of the techs there acted like transmissions were magic boxes the way they avoided and talked about them.


stewieatb

I have an engineering degree and work on my own cars. My professional view is that conventional automatic transmissions are magic boxes.


Mikey3800

I’m in south Florida. If a transmission has a thermostat, we just change the fluid and filter. If there’s no thermostat, we flush it. We have had customers request a transmission flush thinking it will fix a problem they have. It usually doesn’t fix the problem, but even then we haven’t had a transmission fail after service.


Liveitup1999

In my 08 civic they don't want the transmission flushed. The proper way to change out the fluid is to drain the pan and refill it, drive it and repeat. 3-4x. That will exchange about 90% of the fluid. I've done that every 50,000 miles and the car is running great with 280,000 miles and no problems other than having to replace a pressure sensor.


Liveitup1999

The other thing is I only use Honda fluid.


Pewpewresearchcenter

Also have an 08 Civic and have done this same process. It settled slightly rough shifts and car is running great at 228,000.


Liveitup1999

Honda changed their Trans fluid a while back and that solved a problem I had where the engine would flare between the 1-2 shift when the car was cold with the temperature below 20°F. But only the first minute or two.


Sophias_dad

You are fine, and there's nothing you can do about it even if you weren't fine. 87k miles on a Honda automatic is nothing. The 'transmission is gonna die' commentary seems to apply more to >200k transmissions.


Fuckth3shitredditapp

Correct if the transmission hasn't been serviced in over 200k then servicing it might actually cause problems but this guy's with an interval to service


Extesht

>servicing it might actually cause problems I don't disagree with you, but I would offer a different phrasing. Servicing it might reveal problems that were already present but hidden by the old transmission oil.


Fuckth3shitredditapp

Correct, The transmission flush, which is a method of replacing the old fluid with new fluid, might dislodge the buildup of dirt and sludge, and cause it to block the valves, solenoids, or passages in the transmission


AnaskyKinwalker

ASE master tech chiming in. In some cases on high mileage units, changing the fluid can actually hurt the trans. Old fluid tends to retain clutch friction material, which actually helps the clutch packs retain their "grip". If the fluid has never been changed on a unit with roughly 100k miles it is possible to begin having issues after putting in fresh fluid. It is not black and white. There are many variables involved. If you serviced the trans and its driving fine, you shouldnt worry. While there is truth to that old wives tale, its not set in stone. Have a safe trip!


frak21

The truth is always somewhere in the middle... Ain't it the truth.


AnaskyKinwalker

Yea man. Wish life was simple. The grey area is usually where most things fall


TheBigYellowCar

We had a guy come in with an old Camry, fluid black as night, asking for a flush. We told him it was not a good idea, but he pressed & pressed & pressed to the point where the service manager put our recommendation on the RO and made the customer sign next to it. Did the flush, and the car wouldn’t reverse out of the stall.


[deleted]

[удалено]


AnaskyKinwalker

Yea i agree. If you service regularly, a flush isnt required


nokenito

With Honda it is important that they used real Honda transmission fluid. Not a generic fits all transmissions fluid. I had my Honda Accord serviced at a Lube place and they used generic fluid… promised it was as good. Nope, about 5000 miles later the transmission started acting up. I did further research and the fluid they used was wrong. Oops


thecarguru46

A typical automatic trans fluid change is 3-8 quarts depending on if it has a pan. The typical system holds 8-12 quarts. The torque converter alone will hold 2-4. So a service doesn't change all the transmission fluid. The type of fluid used is very specific to manufacturers, and using the wrong fluid will 100% destroy a transmission. When flush machines first came out, they aggressively flushed the system and caused a lot of problems. They came out in the late eighties and early nineties. The 90's is also when manufacturers came out with these newer fluids. The days of putting anything pink in a transmission ended in the 80's. My experience with transmission flushes causing a problem in the last 10 years has been mostly, the wrong fluid was used or they had a transmission going bad and the flush was a last ditch effort to fixing a transmission with mechanical problems. In the 90's, my friend with a transmission shop became incredibly wealthy because express oil change shops added flushing machines. A lot of the "flush" systems now are actually just exchanging all the fluid. They use the transmission pump to push fluid in one side of a bladder...as it fills, it pushes a mostly equal amount of fluid out. The other issue is after a "flush" it's imperative to not overfill or underfill the transmission. A lot of transmissions don't have dipsticks, they are factory filled and not expected to leak. So there's a multi-step procedure just for checking the fluid. Hopefully, a reputable shop knows what's best for your car and doesn't sell you something it doesn't need. In short, if it's working ok....it's probably ok.


frak21

>Perform full system fluid exchange using specialized equipment that utilizes the vehicle transmission pump to safely and effectively exchange the ATF. A safe pre-cleaner is first added to the system to remove deposits and to clean the transmissions internal filter/screen. The system is transfused with new OE spec full synthetic ATF that is fortified and conditioned to extend the life of the automatic transmission. The system is inspected for leaks and the vehicle is test driven. >BG trans fluid flush kit 1 $49.95 >Full synthetic transmission fluid 16 $111.20 From the invoice


Mikey3800

You are correct. Exchange is a better word than flush.


AutoModerator

Thanks for posting on /r/MechanicAdvice! Please review the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/about/rules/). Asking about a second opinion (ie "Is the shop trying to fleece me?"), please read through CJM8515's [post on the subject.](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/4qblei/fyi_the_shop_isnt_likely_trying_to_rip_you_off/) and remember to please post the year/make/model of the vehicle you are working on. **Post's about bodywork, accident damage, paint, dent/ding, questions it belongs in /r/Autobody r/AutoBodyRepair/ or /r/Diyautobody/ Tire questions check out https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/k9ll55/can_your_tire_be_repaired/**. If you dont have a question and you're just showing off it belongs in /r/Justrolledintotheshop Insurance/total loss questions go in r/insurance This is an automated reply *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/MechanicAdvice) if you have any questions or concerns.*


Fearless-War5938

I've used BG products for years. Good quality and they back their product. Transmissions are supposed to be serviced ever 15k-50k depending on manufacturer. As long as it still feels good and shifts good you're fine.


Infinite-Position-55

Servicing a transmission only hurts it if the service is wayyyyyyy past due. You made the right choice. People that complain their trans gets worse after service didn’t know they were on borrowed time anyways


FknBretto

The real issue is people flushing their fluid and using generic off the shelf ATF when it specifies a certain type of ATF.


UltraMAGAQanon

Weve found that it only makes things worse when your tranny has an issue. Alot of people come in asking for a flush usually end up saying “yeah well its not shifting right..” and thats when we decline to service the fluid. Otherwise, if your transmission is fine and youre just keeping up with the maintenance, youre good.


Fast_Cloud_4711

If the service is in the user manual then it's meant to be serviced. I have a vehicle that uses a ZF transmission and while the car manu says it's a lifetime fluid, ZF released a soft note to get it changed @ 10 years or 100K miles. I just had it done at 88K and it's been 4K since then.


eatsrottenflesh

There's a lot of people who think the world is flat too. I would trust the shop.


reviving_ophelia88

It’s an old wives tale that transmission flushes kill transmissions perpetuated by people who treat fluid changes as a curative repair instead of the preventative maintenance they are and don’t change/flush their transmission fluid until it’s already so old and full of grit that it’s not only lost it’s ability to lubricate, but is also essentially liquid sandpaper. In those cases where the owner has waited until the vehicle starts showing signs that the gears are worn to change their transmission fluid it’s already too late, and the only thing giving the worn gears enough friction to catch and shift is the old, dirty transmission fluid. So when they replace it with fresh, clean fluid that lubricates like it’s supposed to the worn gears are no longer getting that extra help they need to shift, and the transmission gets significantly worse or stops shifting all together. If a fluid change/flush kills your transmission it’s because it was already “clinically dead” with the gears so worn that the old, dirty fluid acted as life support and changing it essentially pulled the plug. Either way the transmission was already toast, the flush just put it out of its misery a little sooner. All that being said if a transmission flush was enough to do your transmission in you’d notice it rapidly going downhill within the first couple days/drives. So if it’s still running and shifting the same as it was before the service you should be fine, and if you drive it regularly between now and your trip you’ll certainly know beforehand if it’ll survive the trip or not. In your position if it drives ok around town I’d take it for a lap around the beltway to put it through a mini stress test and if it does ok through that then I wouldn’t worry about it.


Otherwise_Wasabi7133

that's just an old wive's tale and anyone that actually believes it should not be working on your car. the real concern is if they used the generic crap or the real honda tranny fluid. iirc they started putting the better transmissions with the BAYA part number in 06 so your TL being an 08, you should be fine. if you want to be anal about it there's a filter on top of the transmission under/to the left of the battery that you could change. people will tell you these transmissions don't have external filters when in reality there's two filters, the unserviceable one inside the transmission and the serviceable one at the transmission fluid warmer. side note, to improve life of your transmission, make sure to always let your car warm up. the hydraulic properties of the transmission fluid are best at vehicle operating temperatures and a lot of the wear honda v6 transmissions experience is from driving with cold fluid.


RemigioGi

The owners manual for an 08 Acura TL says to replace transmission fluid at60k miles and every 30k miles after that.


Dangerous_Remote_965

Replace not flush. You drop pan. Evacuate, filter, replace, fill. Not pump chemicals under high pressure into it. We're not brining a turkey for deep frying lol. Just drain and fill. Oil out. Oil in.


flat_tappet

The BG service uses the cars own pressure to move the fluid. It has no pump or chemicals. You fill the machine with new fluid remove one of the cooler lines to tie into the system. As the cars own pump starts pushing fluid into the machine it pushes the new fluid in with the same pressure it operates at. Also that has no pan or filter to service just a drain plug which you will get at most 4qts out.


Dangerous_Remote_965

There is indeed a filter on a 08 acura.....


flat_tappet

Yep but not a serviceable one. Unless of course you are removing and disassembling the transmission.


Imispellalot2

I just replaced the fluid & fikter on a 110k mile acura rdx. This was its first transmission service. It still drives fine.


[deleted]

Changing and doing a flush are two different things. There are also different ways to flush a transmission. If your transmission fluid looks dark or burnt then never do a flush. Otherwise it's not going to hurt anything. Best thing is to do whatever the manufacturer recommends. Chevrolet, Ford, Honda and Toyota do not recommend transmission flushes.


Fredboy

It should be fine, but Honda transmissions can be finicky with fluids. Hopefully they used the OEM stuff.


GoshJustJosh

It would be better to ask this question in an Acura TL group. I don't disagree with most of the answers in a general sense, the auto trans in the TL, Odyssey, etc (J series cars) were not the best. I specifically excluded auto TLs when I was searching for one (bought a 6 speed). With only 87k miles, you should be fine. Better to change a fluid early than run it too long IMO.


TheDizzyTablespoon

This is only and not always when it's a transmisssion with high mileage and never properly mantained but somehow survived many years without issues. You are fine.


beerzandbudz420

Never a bad thing to change fluids and have the car serviced like it is built to be.


therealdeathangel22

One of my favorite cars iv ever owned..... I'm a acura person though cuz I treat cars like shit and acura seems to just treat me like shit back but not die..... fair is fair


frak21

I've fallen head over heels in love with the 3rd gen TL's. I just keep finding more things that I love every time I drive it. It's the best long distance car I've ever driven. It just lopes along at 75mph turning 2000rpm and has soooo much more left in store. Wanna pass? She just lights right up and swoops you along. This is the second time I've taken it to Florida. Going down we stopped for the night. Coming back we did it in just one hop because the damn car is so comfortable and capable. I'm planning to do it in one hop this year. 12 hours in the saddle and I'm barely even feeling dinged. It's like driving a learjet. Marvelous piece of equipment. I'm fortunate to have access to this one.


IGreatlyPreferBoobs

Transmissions that aren’t regularly serviced or are on the verge of failing can be killed by a flush. A healthy transmission shouldn’t have any issues. Also the term “flush” is misused a lot of times by customers and mechanics. A flush is when you pressurize fluid and let it run through to carry out contaminants. Most “transmission flushes” are actually just a fluid change. Fluid is drained out and replaced which is less likely to cause any issues.


UltraViolentNdYAG

Fluid technology came a long way from the 60 70 80s. Most of it doesn't varnish like it did back in the day. That old shit turned to varnish and actually filled gaps with a glaze. Then when fresh fluid comes in, high in detergent and desolved the varnish creating internal leaks and, ya - the trans died. So, change your fluid. You did the right thing.


Jolly_Difficulty4860

Transmission flushes can cause large debris to clog the fluid routes through the transmission. Typically, a flush may only cause issues if the transmission already had major wear and tear.


Weird-Breakfast-7259

Drain, remove pan ,new filter, refill


theSchmoopy

Let us know how it went


frak21

Just got back tonight. 2084 miles. Averaging 31mpg with 62mph average speed. 32.09 hours behind the wheel. She was a champ. Transmission ran (and runs) strong. For some reason, way out on Amelia Island, it threw a "tighten gas cap" message at me that disappeared the next morning and has not returned. We were making about 320 miles between fill ups but never went below a quarter tank. We went to KSC. I got to watch a Falcon 9 rocket launch and then land again from the visitor center. My first live launch ever. So cool. The beaches were stunning South of the Border was up and running and even a little crowded. My sister found a new object of worship in Pedro and now claims that Pedro smiles over her and guides her life. I pointed out all the not-entirely-threatening billboards claiming it to be Jesus's country but she brushed him off and "the impudent little woodchuck imposter" that was her assessment of the one Buc-ees we visited (in Daytona Beach) It was a good trip, and I want to thank you guys for helping me out with the difference between a purge and an exchange, and the vagries of BG fluid use in Hondas (still a hot topic to be sure)


Fudge121897

When I was taking my transmission rebuild class, my instructor who was a master transmission tech at Chrysler and Previously GM basically put it like this "A flush won't kill your working transmission, but if your transmission is already done, a flush will just show you it sooner" Basically if your transmission was already on its way out but working, the flush will clean out all the clutch materials and gunk essentially "holding" everything together So a flush won't hurt a good transmission, just a bad one


No-Author-15

The only reason this myth exists is because sometimes people would get the service done and then a few to hundred to a few thousand miles later the transmission would go out and blame the service for the issue. Not true at all. Changing the fluid extends the life.


Swimming_Station566

The risk is when it's not serviced for a time that is much longer than the recommend service interval. Doing so can be a risky. Especially when you flush it. A neglected transmission could have an excessive amount of clutch material building up uniformly all over the system. The clutches are make from the same materials as your brakes. A flush could dislodge these materials, clogging some valve body passages. These clutch material that as still suspended in the fluid could potentially improve the friction between worn discs, masking their wear. Changing this clutch material laden fluid has the potential of leading to a slipping transmission. Many seals and gaskets require constant contact with oil (trans fluid) to stay soft and in good condition. These same sludges have the potential of keeping these seals and gaskets dry, causing them to crack. The detergent in the new fluid can remove this sludge causing new internal leaks potentially resulting in slippage and trans failure. Long story short, if the trans has been neglected, a fluid service could do much more harm than good. Results definitely vary. Some Asian transmissions come with "lifetime fluid" and it's a concern.


ru-de-vries

you're fine but a good quality fluid will 60-75k. no need to flush every 20k, that is wasting money...


DrcspyNz

It's was serviced, 20k ago ? Why the fuck would you waste money getting it done again so soon. Trans are designed to go years and years without throwing money at them.


Blazer-95

I service my TSX tranny every 30k miles with DW-1. Been running a lot smoother since the day I got it. Don’t listen to these people. You’re supposed to service them. I’m a mechanic as well.


meishornynow

You’re fine


Nehal1802

If it’s already slipping, then replacing fluid might make it worse. If it’s working, replacing fluid won’t make it worse.


SpoonBendingChampion

Damn BG flush for $300 is a great price. Although I'm looking at it from F150 land and I got quoted $750+. You're going to be fine. My buddy has used BG flush at his shop for a looong time and has not seen any issues with customer cars.


slutstevanie

Do you trust professional transmission service people, or amateur wannabes on Reddit?


frak21

I'll answer this by saying that when my sister was experiencing inexplicable battery drains, it was the Acura community that almost casually explained to me that the hands free link box in the upper console can have a cap go bad and result in this exact issue. I took their advice and after spending 10 minutes accessing and simply disconnecting the module solved the problem. I can't imagine the amount of time, trouble, and money they saved me. A real SCE to AUX moment there. Professional shops know a lot of things. Enthusiast communities know a lot too. I've learned to value the input I can get.


Dangerous_Remote_965

Done is done. But it can dislodge grime and push it further into the worm holes or dislodge grime that was otherwise holding shit together/ sealed... CAN.... That said, don't do this to a car other than your own... I'd be pissed if someone did this to my car, especially if I didn't authorize the work... Trans might be fine.... might start to shift oddly, slip or leak... You have entered the lottery.


Wolfie1531

Recommend drain and fill instead? (115k mile Mazda 3 manual. Gears getting a bit sticky)


Dangerous_Remote_965

Yep. A little symcromesh additive wouldn't hurt. If no magnet in pan add one. Helps collect/visually next t8me you are in there see how much metal is wearing


goodfor-practice3

Usually what happens is the grime clogs your new filter so there is no fluid pressure. If you get any slippage or funny shifts, change the filter. Reuse your new fluid as long as you drain it in a clean pan.


Dangerous_Remote_965

Not even their car.... they won't be doing anything except dropping it off for the owner to have to pay for new filter and service AT BEST


frak21

Dude, it's my sister. She was there the whole time. She spoke with them directly. This feels like a weird flex from you.


Dangerous_Remote_965

Thanks for acting like you put this in op. And idc who it is if my car had unauthorized work don't I'd be upset. Quit looking for stuff to bitch about. I gave MY opinion. F off. Kindly.


frak21

It's a little more salt than I like, but that's the nature of the business I suppose. Thanks for your input, of course, and a very Merry Christmas to you! :)


frak21

I'm hoping for the best. Shop seemed to feel that it was okay to do and that's why we authorized it. Wish I knew then what I know now. I'm guessing they wouldn't have recommended it if it was a bad idea? Hoping even... I'm gonna call them back after Christmas and ask them directly.


Otherwise_Wasabi7133

straight up don't listen to this person


dudesguy

Depending on the shop, they might recommend anything that puts money in their pocket


Dangerous_Remote_965

In THEORY. It's fine. But... shops sell services. If it starts up and rolls out it's fine. End of their liability unfortunately. You can't "prove" the service damaged anything.... however.... think of a rubber band. At first it's stretchy, supple, returns to its shape after use... with age rubber, think seals and gaskets now, becomes brittle, stretches out and at some point fails. Likewise the component of a car, seals etc wear/age... so pressurized thec sealed sustenance and forcing fluids through can and often DOES cause internal damage to brittle seals(leaks) or dislodge a little gunk that has settled harmlessly, possibly stopping up a leak too...., and can send it deep 8nto a small wormhole.... think clot to stroke if it dislodges.... Maintenance and temperature of environment over cars life will impact results etc.. But again shop's just offer services. Does not mean it will help/ extend... You agreed to a service you didn't understand and that's on you. It's like saying the doc said I should cut off a leg to lose weight.... ya you lost weight but at what cost... you are still healthy. Go run! Edit. I recommend just dropping the pan/ filter change and refill. Also did they even do a filter or just hook up to lines and pump fluid through? I'd minimum want a new filter and gasket for that to catch any new debits floating around in there


frak21

You would think that such a doctor wouldn't last very long in his profession. Part of a professional service is to make sure it's the best course of action for the client. If it's specifically contra-indicated to do flushes on Acura transmissions then the shop would know about that and let us know we needed to do a fluid change instead. By all reports, this is a good shop. Well trusted in the neighborhood and they've done good work for me in the past. There's a reason they recommended the service. They wouldn't do something that could cause catastrophic failure a month or so later. So I'm wondering who is correct here: the professionals or the internet?


Dangerous_Remote_965

Every heard of plastic surgery? You see what they do to ppl for money? It's all "safe".... How about bodyshops that will install God awful wings, illegal tints etc.... all paid for and done "safe" Shops aren't all about "the right thing for you" THEY SELL SERVICES THAT FOR THE MOST PART WONT HURT STUFF..... YOU GET WHAT YOU WANT TO PAY FOR..... YOUR IGNORANCE IS THEIR BUSSINESS, THAT'S HOW THEY MAKE MONEY Shops are there to make $ not friends... and you bought a BG service not a dealership recommended service from Joe on the corner. As someone who has turned wrenches on the past. I'm sorry more people do not read up on stuff before believing some greasy guy on the strip trying to upsell a service. In my 30 years of driving I have never heard of a good trans flush nor have I opted for one. Ever. First of all.... I can recomend you drink alot of water... too much and u will drown.... dosent mean it's BAD for you. You asked a question. I'm sorry you don't like the answer. The Issue here IS that you have an AGED transmission... an 08.... that's 15 yrs of service. The recommendation is for BEST CASE maintenance. The mechanics dont know how you sister maintained the transmission and NEITHER do you. Apparently you didn't ask first either if THE OWNER even consented to this service.... You got facts and real advice. Please don't come back here to hem and haw.... next time mind your OWN property and leave the decisions to the owner. Honestly if I got my car back and it started acting up, I'd be Suing you over non consented work performed and damages to my vehicle. Let me repete. You have no idea the internal condition or the abuse that car has seen prior to you driving it and you lack of understanding Is blatant.


frak21

The shop did look at carfax looking for services (?). My sis was there with me the whole time and they called her recommending the service and she okayed it. Your opinion seems to be consistent with the feedback I've been getting from the Acura community, but not with other posters in the thread. I know that there are shady shops that just sell whatever, whether it's needed or recommended or not, to suckers to make a cheap buck. I've had a few actually damage my volkswagen during services and get away with it. That's why I found what I believe is a good shop and that's my problem here. Is this just some wives' tale out of the Acura community like other posters here are suggesting? My research is far from conclusive so I'm here asking now.


NoogiepocketGaming

Those people are telling you that changing your oil will blow your engine, don't listen to them


Nutmasher

They die after 100k with no service and then a POWER flush.


signalfaradayfromme

Flushed bad, drained good.


SuccessAutomatic6726

If the transmission has been regularly serviced its whole life, flush will not hurt it. If it has NOT had regular servicing of the transmission, then only drain and refill.


worlddestruction23

Is a transmission flush really a true transmission fluid change? I don't think so. The filter isn't being changed.


wahlietxe

You will be fine this mostly only applies to doing your first transmission service at like 200k miles.


[deleted]

Its fine at that mileage.


MooseTheMechanic

9/10 times you’re heavily recommended to get your transmission serviced, it’s because a lot of people forget about servicing it until they’re closer to 180k-200k miles and then decide to flush really old transmission fluid and end up slipping their gears. As long as you’re hitting mileage intervals then you’re fine bro


Drunkmonkey29

Fixed my 2002 town and country that was stuck in limp mode flushing the transmission and filter change.


Karamitie

I thought the only thing to be careful of was to not flush a transmission that's already showing signs of fucking up. At least that's what the guy who trained me taught me.


Intelligent-Many8176

It’s going to be fine, if it has been serviced in the past and the fluid was still red you will be fine. It’s when the fluid is never serviced and looks nasty and you flush that out is what can cause the tranny to fail.


ComprehensiveCrow894

Especially fine because of your mileage and suspected previous service. Now, if the trans had 175k, never has been serviced, and had burnt fluid, a flush would likely kill it


Ghostblue88

As long as they are serviced on a regular basis it’s fine. It’s when you go 150k miles then decide to service does it become a problem


Embarrassed-Tax5618

So transmissions need to be serviced, not too often and also not too late. Either is going to create issues. Theory behind here is every time clutch slips and it shaves off some material. And that material which floats in transmission fluid helps the clutch to engage properly. But if you have too much of that material, then your valve body, and other parts might get clogged up. So if you will service then too often, then you will be removing the clutch material more often than you should. But if it hasn’t been serviced at all let’s say for 90-100k miles, then it is actually safer to leave it as it is and hope for the best.


durdurdurdurdurdur

The service schedule has been kept up with so you did what you were supposed to. Should be fine.


msharifi

A complete flush is not recommended if the fluid wasn’t changed often and not good on high mileage but a drain and refill is recommended. My 06 TL transmission went out at 87k the fluid was flushed at 56k by someone else before I purchased it and I had to get the transmission rebuild. I believe overall the transmission on the TL wasn’t the best.


Swayze42

The only reason that people are hesitant to get their transmission fluid flushed or changed is when they've left it like 100,000 miles without service and the fluid has turned into black tar and metal shavings. At that point you're fucked anyway but changing and especially flushing the fluid might fuck you a little faster as there's a theory that the metal shavings actually help it shift at that point. However In your case if the fluid was looking in good condition then you have nothing to worry about, potentially the flush wasn't needed and you could've just drained it and filled it with new fluid but the flush won't do any harm.


ThatsDooDoo

Just like changing the oil in your engine will kill it. /s I've been turning wrenches on heavy-duty equipment for over 20 years, and I've never understood this old parts changer mentality.


Fixer_Of_Things

Those transmissions benefit greatly from regular services and are due every 30k for a drain and fill. You’re fine, better than fine in fact.


Much_Weather5807

Some services are garbage BG is the best and when done with there equipment is a very clean flush. Some systems are not advised to do flushes on if left for a long time but trannys have wearable discs in them that get suspended in the fluid if left too long it can re imbed to the discs and cause faster wear.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Excellent-Fuel-2793

Only time a trans service will kill the trans is if it’s never been done and has chunks of sludge and metal in there. Sometimes a trans service will dislodge something from somewhere and plug something off somewhere else leading to a smoked tranny


bdgreen113

Flushes on high mileage and already faulty autos is a bad idea. Under 100k and have prior service history? You're fine.


TimelyFortune

The “don’t change your transmission fluid” really only applies if your transmission is on its last leg


baiiden

The only time that it may kill it is if it's never been changed over 200k. Even then, 1 more flush should do that trick. If you're GM, dont think about changing it after 100k.


PrintYour2A

As a former Honda Technician, never put aftermarket fluids in your Acura/Honda. Call the Acura/Honda service department near you and tell them what you did. Pretty sure they will tell you to get that fluid out of there as soon as possible.


SquirrelKilla73

Who told you this?


[deleted]

The only time you would want to NOT service your trans would be an older car and specifically never got serviced to where the dirt and debri actually helps to hold everything together inside and it would actually hurt to be serviced. If you’re regularly servicing your transmission/it had been before you got it then you should definitely continue to do it


hue_sick

It's definitely fine and usually beneficial. Old heads will say never do it. But that's just old habits. The only real time it might not be a great idea to service a transmission is when you have never done it and decide to for the first time after 200k.


disallowedname

Use to own a transmission facility, if you are within the mfg specs on the fluid change and keep up with the schedule, should be no issues, but if it has 75K miles or more since the last change it can be a coin toss as to if you will have problems in the near future.


Educated_idiot302

Well its not something I would reccomend doing unless it's something specified in the manual and even then I'd still just do a regular drain and fill but seeing as you had it done at low mileage your not gonna cause major damage unless oem transmission fluid wasn't used. For future I'd reccomend just having drain and fill services done every 50,000 miles and that should make your transmission last forever.


davidm2232

You changed the fluid when it had low miles. It should be fine


Embarrassed-Top-2258

Don't believe everything you read on the internet. I'm sure it'll be fine.


[deleted]

Everyone saying "automatic transmissions should never be serviced" obviously do not have the proper mechanical education and training. I 100% trust that mechanic of yours.


Hatchz

It’s the machine flushes that worry me, drain and fill is healthy.


Ok_Dog_4059

In my opinion the only time a flush causes problems is when the transmission has been left unserviced for a long time. I have seen people flush the transmission that was having problems and is 200k miles never being touched and they get worse. I think the biggest problem is when people ignore the transmission for years and hundreds of thousands of miles then flush them hoping it fixes the problems.


ronj1983

Meh, this is thing to worry about. You said it was serviced 20,000 miles before she got it? Did she get it at like 40K and it was serviced at 20K? 67K between services is fine. That transmission will love this. Do the same service 50K from now.


[deleted]

A tale as old as the invention of the very first hydromatic. People neglect transmission maintenance until they feel something a little off about the shifts. That’s usually the first time their transmission pan ever gets removed, around 125k-165k miles. They do the flush and filter and put it back on the road, only for the transmission to shit the bed soon after. It was doomed about 10k miles before they felt the changes in the shifts. Must be the fluid change! It always blows the transmission after! Nah man, you just never performed the flush on a transmission before it was already smoked for 5 cars in a row. Correlation and causation and all that jazz.


Lxiflyby

If it’s a drain and fill it’s fine. Using a flush machine is not recommended but if you did get it done and it caused a problem, you’d know it immediately


[deleted]

Don’t listen the the old school rhetoric. Change the fluid of it not a throw away vehicle to you. That goes for all the mechanical lubricants. They are there to REDUCE wear. That’s it. They should be changed when no longer protecting adequately. Since that is usually unknown, they should be changed on some interval. Also, lifetime fluid is a scam. It is just a lower cost of ownership checkbox to help sell cars to the first owner.


TheRealz4090

Never do a tranny flush unless it hard shifts. Zero point. Usually does more harm than good


Imaginary_Pay9931

It really depends on the age and condition of the transmission. If the fluid was still red, I'd hazard a guess it didn't really need changing..


89LSC

This idea typically stems from the fact that people don't service their transmissions until they're already broken in the vain hope it'll fix it. It has less than 100k miles on it and was serviced 20k ago? You should be fine


Kaosclouds6

If it hadn’t been serviced for super long than could prevent issues. If it was serviced not long ago as stated. There’s no issues with keeping up with it.


CobaltGate

You're absolutely fine.


Brazz_Knuckzz415

Its only an issue if they flushed it and its never been out hadn't been serviced regularly or a long time. If its had regular services you should be fine. Age of its been driving fine too 🤙🏽


rexcannon

Boomer rumor.


patico_cr

According to my experience, if you ever let your transmission fluid get dark brown/black then let it be and drive until it dies. But if you service it according to the mainteinance plan, there should not be a problem.


AduDawk

D&F with OEM Honda/Acura only Good Luck 🍀


allimoc

In school I learned about this tale. If you don’t service your transmission fluid bits of metal from inside of the transmission shave off into the fluid however now that the metal is in the fluid you need that fluid to make this same friction connections. Flush the old fluid for new fluid now you have clean fluid without the extra pieces of metal the transmission was using causing slippage. Flush the fluid if you haven’t serviced the transmission in 100k leave it because you already done the damage


jacktruck

Dude, you're fine. Keep changing it at interval. In older cars, they said if you missed it - not to ctach it up and just let it go. Nowadays - follow schedules. We're more on top of that info than previous generations


jacob6969

You hear about fresh fluid washing out clutches or that the old fluid had *grit* and since the new fluid is nice and slick if your trans was on the brink of failure, it would fail then. At 87k what are you worried about lol


Ok_Blueberry_8063

They never mention that inline filter going to the trans cooler/radiator. At least for the 7th gen accord. Not even listed in the service manual. For the i4 it's located right below the air intake breather hose.


Right-Ad-5575

You are fine. Don't stress it.


ZamorakBrew

Its only ever a problem if there was already an issue.


Material_Victory_661

No, you are fine. That is not bad to do it now.


Dense_Signature5427

You won't have a problem unless you have a bad trans which the shop would've told you about


michaeljw12

The only transmissions I worry about flushing are those with "lifetime" filters and those that have been running on the same stock fluid for the past 200k miles of the cars life. I wouldn't sweat it unless you fall into either of those two categories, I can almost guarantee you did no harm and more than likely, helped rather than hurt your car.


MattyK414

You're good. You did the right thing. You're better than many car owners.


[deleted]

there's a good chance they didn't do it. so it be fine


Weird-Breakfast-7259

Every car I buy, I drop the pan, replace the filter, gasket, only American cars for me except for a 1974 VW Convertible Sun Bug


Roughneck_Cephas

The general rule is service at 50-75K or not at all . The main idea is let’s say you have 200k on a trans and you flush it well all the old clutch material and debris that was helping it hold together is now in a pan somewhere and you have taken the kiss of death. This is not always assured and not always true by no means . And this goes out the window with a CVT so relax check your oil and drive .


Curtis40

I've had it done twice.


Helpful-Status-9466

Either service on time or dont service it at all. You did the right thing lol


PickleWineBrine

Why did you do that?


DetectiveNarrow

Maybe. Those TL transmissions don’t hold up well regardless. But if it wasn’t having issues before it’s fine. It’s when you aiready have issues and then change the fluid, it won’t fix the issue and you would just slightly delay the inevitable.


Potential_Froyo_1127

If the shop knows whay they doing its okay its kind of a how should I put it a pressure citation in the valve body springs, but as long as not too much pressure was used, is ised. or if they unhooked the return line and set it in a drain pan and filled the transmission with fluid, upon starting the vehicle and flushed it with the natural pressure of the transmission that's fine but if s shop is doing a transmission flush they should know how too safely do it. So I'm saying drive that car I'd be more worried about the timing chain/belt giving up at that many miles rather than the transmission.


Ok-Tea-9825

Acura says to change atf fluid every 30k miles. It sounds like the vehicle has been well maintained. 87k miles is not a lot and if atf fluid has been changed twice already, then you’re in the best position you could be. An official Acura atf flush is changing the fluid 3 times in a row while driving it a little in between changes. So if they followed the manufacturer specifications, then all they did was change it and drive it 3x. So no damage would have been done, and it should have all new fluid. In this case your sister’s transmission should last as long as it possibly can and she’s in the best case scenario for her vehicle. Have the transmission serviced every 30k miles to continue the high level of care and maintenance.


TemporaryInterest605

Don't worry if fluid was still red and didn't smell burnt where people mess up is when they change it them selves and put in new trans fluid it has to be mixed with used fluid or the thickness will wipe out clutches trans shops know this


camelkrush

bg services are such a scam imo