[Api]

I am fully exercising the engine and transmission when driving mountain passes and the steep grades in the western states. With the recommended maintenance, it has performed well too. I do have a transmission cooler installed, primarily to extend life of the transmission and the fluid between changes.

With your initial transmission fill of 3 quarts, was that after you had warmed the transmission and exercising through all the gears? The factory procedures specify running the transmission through all the gears. So, the additional 1/2 quart may be a result of that?

With the bottom transmission bolt seal, do you mean that it may have been stuck to the transmission case or dislodged?

We used to have a CRV which didn't like the western states at all. The mountain roads were too much for it. The Passport loves the mountains. : )

I didn't do the full process. I didn't raise it and put it through the gears as their engineers have said to do. I don't have enough jack stands and I am not confident in myself to do that. I would take it to a dealership if I thought it was needed. As the Car Care Nut said in his video, a drain and fill within schedule should be good. He goes over it more in the video.

An additional note about the half quart. The first time I changed the transmission fluid was less than 30,000 miles and it drained 4 quarts. So that extra half quart was put in at the factory. It kind of made me less afraid of putting in too much if the factory does it.

The seal is plastic and it was on the bolt. It fell into the pan with the bolt but became separated in the pan. I didn't see it until I drained the pan and by then I'd put the bolt back on. I didn't know what it was but researched it and found out what it was and that I could get by as is. Otherwise I'd have needed to take that bolt out and refill the transmission fluid. I'm going to keep the seal and put it back on or buy a new bolt and seal when I change the transmission fluid in a couple of years. I don't think it will cause any issues.

Have you changed your transmission fluid yet?

 

[DudeCS]

@Api, I have changed the transmission fluid twice already and likely due for my third change soon. I am the original poster for this thread The seal on the bolt is silicone and it does deform. These particular bolts are suppose to be replaced if removed and the bolts are expensive. If the seal is not damaged, it may be okay to re-use. See my previous posts to this thread too.

 

[fx_chip]

Have you changed your transmission fluid yet?

I think people should read threads before posting or commenting on it. @DudeCS created this thread so he certainly has changed his transmission fluid a few times.

Also, if you have questions about drain and fill vs flushing - watch this video from the Car Care Nut on YouTube. He knows his stuff and says the drain and fill is the best option staring at 9:30 in the video.

The video might be useful but considering that the subject transmission is a different one, for a different vehicle with different attributes and manufacturer prescriptions, I think the opinions expressed in the video should not be be viewed as more sacrosanct than the advise of the manufacturer of the Passport. A one-to-one example of the same 9 speed in the Passport would have been more appropriate.

The seal is plastic and it was on the bolt. It fell into the pan with the bolt but became separated in the pan. I didn't see it until I drained the pan and by then I'd put the bolt back on. I didn't know what it was but researched it and found out what it was and that I could get by as is. Otherwise I'd have needed to take that bolt out and refill the transmission fluid. I'm going to keep the seal and put it back on or buy a new bolt and seal when I change the transmission fluid in a couple of years. I don't think it will cause any issues.

The transmission drain plug does not have a crush washer, the silicon washer that's glued to the plug is the only defense against transmission fluid leaks. On realizing your mistake, I think you should have corrected it by using a new drain plug.
But considering the fact that most automobile fluid drain plugs need some sort of washer when being used and the fact that the transmission drain plug in the Passport looks exactly like the fill plug and also the level check plug with the same silicon washer, I can't imagine why you didn't recognize that something was wrong before putting the drain plug back in with the silicon washer missing.

I'm sure transmission fluid will start leaking at some point. Your car, your rules but the irksome thing about your fluid change is the hidden fault you will pass on to the next owner when you sell that car.

You went against or Honda's service guidelines that mandates the use of a new plug while doing the transmission fluid change, so your Passport is now a candidate for use by future owners to blame Honda for making cars with bad transmissions even though any issues they are experiencing with shifting or transmission failure is not Honda's fault.

 

[Api]

@Api, I have changed the transmission fluid twice already and likely due for my third change soon. I am the original poster for this thread The seal on the bolt is silicone and it does deform. These particular bolts are suppose to be replaced if removed and the bolts are expensive. If the seal is not damaged, it may be okay to re-use. See my previous posts to this thread too.

Thanks!

 

[Api]

I think people should read threads before posting or commenting on it. @DudeCS created this thread so he certainly has changed his transmission fluid a few times.



The video might be useful but considering that the subject transmission is a different one, for a different vehicle with different attributes and manufacturer prescriptions, I think the opinions expressed in the video should not be be viewed as more sacrosanct than the advise of the manufacturer of the Passport. A one-to-one example of the same 9 speed in the Passport would have been more appropriate.



The transmission drain plug does not have a crush washer, the silicon washer that's glued to the plug is the only defense against transmission fluid leaks. On realizing your mistake, I think you should have corrected it by using a new drain plug.
But considering the fact that most automobile fluid drain plugs need some sort of washer when being used and the fact that the transmission drain plug in the Passport looks exactly like the fill plug and also the level check plug with the same silicon washer, I can't imagine why you didn't recognize that something was wrong before putting the drain plug back in with the silicon washer missing.

I'm sure transmission fluid will start leaking at some point. Your car, your rules but the irksome thing about your fluid change is the hidden fault you will pass on to the next owner when you sell that car.

You went against or Honda's service guidelines that mandates the use of a new plug while doing the transmission fluid change, so your Passport is now a candidate for use by future owners to blame Honda for making cars with bad transmissions even though any issues they are experiencing with shifting or transmission failure is not Honda's fault.

I think people should read threads before posting or commenting on it. @DudeCS created this thread so he certainly has changed his transmission fluid a few times.



The video might be useful but considering that the subject transmission is a different one, for a different vehicle with different attributes and manufacturer prescriptions, I think the opinions expressed in the video should not be be viewed as more sacrosanct than the advise of the manufacturer of the Passport. A one-to-one example of the same 9 speed in the Passport would have been more appropriate.



The transmission drain plug does not have a crush washer, the silicon washer that's glued to the plug is the only defense against transmission fluid leaks. On realizing your mistake, I think you should have corrected it by using a new drain plug.
But considering the fact that most automobile fluid drain plugs need some sort of washer when being used and the fact that the transmission drain plug in the Passport looks exactly like the fill plug and also the level check plug with the same silicon washer, I can't imagine why you didn't recognize that something was wrong before putting the drain plug back in with the silicon washer missing.

I'm sure transmission fluid will start leaking at some point. Your car, your rules but the irksome thing about your fluid change is the hidden fault you will pass on to the next owner when you sell that car.

You went against or Honda's service guidelines that mandates the use of a new plug while doing the transmission fluid change, so your Passport is now a candidate for use by future owners to blame Honda for making cars with bad transmissions even though any issues they are experiencing with shifting or transmission failure is not Honda's fault.

No, the video is appropriate. He was talking transmissions and has the expertise and knowledge to be trusted.

Real-life is that cars go without crush washers and these seals all the time with no issues. I'm not going to worry about it.

I've had my main Honda for nearly 20 years with the same oil bolt for that time and changed the crush washer years ago but it won't come off and had same transmission drain bolt for almost 200,000 miles. No issues with it and the people I know who work with cars have said not to worry about them. No issues with the other two cars I owned before them. I don't plan to get rid of either of my Hondas.

I would happily submit my engine oil and transmission to any lab for analysis and take the car for inspection for a prospective buyer if I were to sell either of them 20 years down the line. When I've taken them into the dealership for brake fluid changes and regular inspection, they've always commented how good of shape my cars are in.

Yep, I scanned through the thread but don't memorize users' names and I hope nobody else does because it's ridiculous.

You seem very worried about other peoples' vehicles but you would be better off spending time working on yourself. I don't tolerate people who try to belittle me in real-life or online. Please stop replying to me.

 

[carpayments4life]

Api...How much did each qt of type 3.1 tranny fluid cost?

 

[jrsanders1953]

Api...How much did each qt of type 3.1 tranny fluid cost?

From what I've seen, it's between $20 and $25 a quart. Not cheap, by any means. And no one else makes it except Honda (as far as I can tell), so they kind got you. My local Honda dealer does the trans service for around $250, so I just let them do it.

 

[HarveyW]

From what I've seen, it's between $20 and $25 a quart. Not cheap, by any means. And no one else makes it except Honda (as far as I can tell), so they kind got you. My local Honda dealer does the trans service for around $250, so I just let them do it.

I suspect that there are lots of versions of the fluid that are the same under different brand names. Honda, as do many other manufacturers use the ZF 9Hp transmission. ZF Lifeguard Fluid9 was specifically developed by ZF for use in the 8Hp and 9Hp transmissions. The ZF Lifeguard Fluid9 goes for around $25-$27 a quart most places.

Here is what ZF has to say about their fluid.

https://aftermarket.zf.com/remotemedia/new-structure-2020/applications/lubricants-psd-msd/lifeguardfluid-9/pds-zf-lgf9-20191025-eng.pdf

 

[knucklebusted]

I suspect that there are lots of versions of the fluid that are the same under different brand names. Honda, as do many other manufacturers use the ZF 9Hp transmission. ZF Lifeguard Fluid9 was specifically developed by ZF for use in the 8Hp and 9Hp transmissions. The ZF Lifeguard Fluid9 goes for around $25-$27 a quart most places.

Here is what ZF has to say about their fluid.

https://aftermarket.zf.com/remotemedia/new-structure-2020/applications/lubricants-psd-msd/lifeguardfluid-9/pds-zf-lgf9-20191025-eng.pdf

I'm with you. So, it appears the ZF-branded fluid isn't any cheaper than Honda-branded fluid.

I have a 2-post lift, retired and too much time on my hands to pay someone $250 to change 4 quarts of transmission fluid. I've done service on everything I've ever owned since I had motorcycles at 14. Changing this transmission fluid isn't complicated but they went out of their way to make it difficult. Not easy to do it per spec without a lift since they removed the dipsticks a decade ago.

 

[Tadakatsu]

Thread closed, certain posts will be deleted. Sometimes it's better to say nothing, please exercise self-restraint next time.