Just a few more pics of the hose attached to the long funnel and the fluid color prior to the drain and fill.

 

There is a fill plug on top of transmission.

 

Very good dumping the initial fill and getting some of the break in contaminants out. Great ATF also. What are your plans for future D&F' s?

 

Thanks for sharing!

 

I might do this over the weekend. What size plastic hose did you have on the funnel?

 

You're welcome, no problem at all.
I may do another drain and fill shortly to get more Amsoil flowing in there, then probably just a drain and fill every 15,000 miles.
The hose outer diameter measures 3/4" and fits perfectly. No burping or spilling of any fluid.
Just for comparison, the first pic is the fluid before the drain and fill and the second pic is after the drain and fill and driving a few miles with it all mixed together. There is clearly a big difference in fluid color, although I don't know if it means all that much as far as lubrication is concerned. It really is very simple to do and I strongly believe in preventative maintenance. A few bucks spent now can save tons later.

 

The short length of 3/4" OD hose attached to the long neck funnel worked great. I didn't make a mess this time trying to fill with the funnel inserted directly into the dipstick tube. Also letting the fluid dribble out from the loosened drain plug was a good tip as well. Watch your forearm when breaking the drain plug loose; mine caught the under body and caused a small rash.

 

Letting it drip for a while made it easier, and once I fully removed and the dipstick itself, it really flowed out. Was there a lot of sludge on your magnet and what fluid do you use?

 

Yes that hose worked just right. After doing the drain and fill on my Odyssey, I decided it was time to do it on my Sonata hybrid which s a bit harder. There is no dipstick or accessible fill port topside, so I had to fill it from the side and the tube was too thick to fit in. I got a new funnel and tube made for transmission filling and it was perfect. It has a twist top shut off and a tapered end to fit in perfectly, and would work great on the Odyssey.
FloTool Measu-Funnel, 7pc - Walmart.com

 

I just did a 2nd drain and fill on the Odyssey today at 16,691 miles and the fluid is now bright Amsoil red. I am good to go for another 15,000 miles easily now. It is such an easy process to do that I can't understand how the shop gets over $200 for it while it cost me less than $30 for some of the best fluid available.

 

Thanks OP.
Did you get a new washer? If you did, do you have the part number?
How long was hose did you need? Looks like less than 12"?
I want to do the drain and then see if I can suck out any from the top too.
.

 

No, I didn't use a new washer, the original still was fine. The hose was about a foot long and fits the filler tube perfectly. Do you have an extractor to suck out the fluid? I think the 2 drain and fills are more than enough to replace most of the old fluid.

 

Any difference on how the trans feels after the drain and fill?

 

No noticeable difference from what I can tell honestly. The transmission's shifting was very smooth prior to the drain and fills but it was dark in color and there was some gunk and shavings on the plug as displayed in my posted pics, so that itself covinced me that it was a good time to replace it.

 

At least your Hyundai has an ATF service interval of 100,000 miles and a drain plug.

Many new cars (e.g. Sienna) have "lifetime" ATF and a very difficult method of checking the ATF level.

A new owner might think the vehicle will have low maintenance costs, but just wait until major problems develop with the tranny, likely well after the warranty has expired.

Dave

 

I just double checked the service interval on my Sonata and under severe service it recommends a drain and fill every 60,000 miles, but absolutely nothing for normal service regarding the transmission. It does not have a dipstick to check the fluid level, which is what I believe you are referring to in the Sienna, but it's still simple enough to check the level from the underside of the car.

 

Exactly what I have been searching for

Thank you original poster (EOT 4 Life).

This is exactly what I was trying to do, to our new 2014 Honda Odyssey EX-L Nav.

I could not figure out the easiest/quickest/simplest/cleanest method to change the transmission fluid. This is exactly the type of article that I was looking for. Youtube and articles on this forum often show hundreds of instructions/videos for 2000-2004, 2006-2008, but nothing for newer Honda Odyssey's in the 2014+ newer range, which almost everyone in the bay area has where I live. I haven't seen anything older than 2010, but that's where I live, where tiny 1300 Sq Ft houses on 1/32 of a acre are "cheap" at $800,000... Having said that...

Thank you very much for these suggestions. I never understood why people unscrew the ATF drain plug, and as it very precisely drains directly below into a clean pour, into the container, the people then proceed to fully remove the plug, allowing transmission fluid to cover over every single possible nook/crack/cranny/etc.. It was always a head scratcher why people would choose a filthy messy dirty uncontrolled spill at 100% pressure, verses a very clean controlled pour at 95% pressure and simply wait a few seconds more. You are the first person that I have seen to recognize this phenomenon. How do people recognize a leak when the undercarriage is filled with so much filthy ATF discharge?

You would probably not believe me if I told you this, but I checked the transmission fluid on our van today, and despite having 7,000 miles, the fluid is very dark (almost like dark motor oil). The van is practically brand new, extremely clean, recently purchased from the dealer, and immaculate. I have already read forums regarding various transmission oils.

The best one that I could possibly purchase is Redline D6 full synthetic for these transmissions, but they are very expensive (you get what you pay for). I can get them for about $13.50-$15.00 PER quart (compared to a few dollars for cheap conventional based crap). Amsoil is also half the price and much more affordable. I will install the Redline transmission fluid this weekend.

Thanks again!

 

Van has 7000 miles and the fluid is dark already? Is that normal for our vans? I used to change the transmission fluid every 15k on my Acura CL-S and that kept the fluid at a nice pink color.

 

Cool, glad it helped you out. I have now discovered that using a bucket instead of the pan-type catch basin is the best way to avoid any spilling or splashing at all. You can let it come out full force and not a drop will spill at all. Then I pour the used fluid into a gallon container with a visible level gauge on the side so I know exactly how much to put in at the very minimum. My friend just came by 2 weeks ago with his '06 Accord (250,000 miles on it) and he said it had been slipping recently so he wanted to change the fluid to see if it would help. Drain and fill specs states 3.1 quarts for his car, but using the measuring method we only removed a bit over 2 quarts of fluid. He had been low by a quart and that's why he felt the slipping. We put in 3.1 quarts and the level is good now and he says it hasn't slipped at all since. In the past month or so I have done 5 drain and fills between both of mine and my friend's vehicles and the bucket is the cleanest way to do it for sure. Good luck on your fluid change.

This is the fluid I use from Amsoil, very good stuff but $12.45 a quart:
AMSOIL Signature Series Fuel-Efficient Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid

 

Cool, glad it helped you out. I have now discovered that using a bucket instead of the pan-type catch basin is the best way to avoid any spilling or splashing at all. You can let it come out full force and not a drop will spill at all. Then I pour the used fluid into a gallon container with a visible level gauge on the side so I know exactly how much to put in at the very minimum. My friend just came by 2 weeks ago with his '06 Accord (250,000 miles on it) and he said it had been slipping recently so he wanted to change the fluid to see if it would help. Drain and fill specs states 3.1 quarts for his car, but using the measuring method we only removed a bit over 2 quarts of fluid. He had been low by a quart and that's why he felt the slipping. We put in 3.1 quarts and the level is good now and he says it hasn't slipped at all since. In the past month or so I have done 5 drain and fills between both of mine and my friend's vehicles and the bucket is the cleanest way to do it for sure. Good luck on your fluid change.

This is the fluid I use from Amsoil, very good stuff but $12.45 a quart:
AMSOIL Signature Series Fuel-Efficient Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid

B123 Service just popped up no my van and I'm going to replace the trans fluid myself, but am curious why you did it two times? This will also be the first drain and fill for my van. Do you think it's fine to just do it once?

 

I believe that the dealers just do it once, but it only replaces a bit over 3 quarts. Total capacity is 7.4 quarts, so doing it 2 times gets most of the fluid replaced. It is totally up to you, but even just once is much better than not doing it at all. Good luck.

 

I just did ×3 drain and fill in my 2012. I couldn't find the ATF filter. It's not under that power steering module anymore lIke on the 08. Does anyone know where it is for 2012? By the way, I found a great deal for a case of DW1 on e parts plus via Amazon for 84 dollars which is pretty good for what I've seen.

 

I found my 2015 atf filter...bumper removal required. Look at the honda estore instructions for the atf cooler and you'll see the location. Im not sure about 2012 should be the same

 

Usually I'm a "by the books" guy...but filling via the dipstick tube is SOOO much easier.

 

I am doing a drain and fill on a 2014 at 60k miles and about 154 oz came out, but i only put 4 quarts (128oz) back in. The level is just above the two holes on the dipstick so im assuming thats all i need. The dealership was the last one to do the change. Would there be a possibility that they added too much? I am currently debating on whether to add more or not.

 

...The dealership was the last one to do the change. Would there be a possibility that they added too much? I am currently debating on whether to add more or not.

Garagejunkie,

Go with what you see on the stick! The Stealerships are not rocket scientists... The extra 26 oz. was not good for the transmission. Don't think they know more than you or EVEN THE STICK!

Ohio Jim

 

This post is great; thanks for starting it and for all the details about how to change the teams fluid.

I have a somewhat novice question about the procedure itself. I only have ramps for the front wheels and have been doing my engine oil changes by having the front wheels up on ramps. For the transmission fluid change is it ok to do with o luck the front wheels up on ramps or does the car need to be level?

Thanks in advance !

 

You can do all the work with front on ramps and then do the final check when the car is at level ground, just not over fill it, Leave a little lower when do it on ramps. You usually want to check all fluid levels on level ground.

 

Awesome, thanks for your comments.

 

Thanks for the procedures! My 2015 Honda Odyssey is has a code of A123 at 25k miles. I've managed to change engine oil and rotate tires but I couldn't locate the tranny's dipstick to fill with oil. Does anyone have a picture of exactly where the tranny dipstick is located? I've check the owners manual and it says to have dealer check fluid and replace if necessary.

 

I did a drain and fill with Amsoil Signature Series fluid today at 16,438 miles, along with an oil change as well. It is a very easy procedure and I refilled through the dipstick. I took some pictures of the procedure as it may assist anyone who is about to attempt it. Around 3-3/4 quarts were drained out and replaced. The drain plug was covered with metallic shavings and some grimy sludge as expected, but not too bad.

Thanks for the procedures! My 2015 Honda Odyssey is has a code of A123 at 25k miles. I've managed to change engine oil and rotate tires but I couldn't locate the tranny's dipstick to fill with oil. Does anyone have a picture of exactly where the tranny dipstick is located? I've check the owners manual and it says to have dealer check fluid and replace if necessary.

I just looked for it myself this evening and finally found it forward of the engine on the lower right hand side if you are facing the front of the car. It has a 90 degree finger handle that you can pull on to remove. It is dark in color and does not really stand out like the oil dip stick.

Hope this helps.

 

This was a great and useful thread. Really helped me walk through the process the first time.

We hit 10k miles on our odyssey, so I figured it was time to do a drain and fill of the ATF. It's super simple with a square plug for the drain, and two ways to refill (I used a long skinny funnel to add through the dipstick as I felt it was more straightforward). I put DW-1 in since I got a case of 12 cheap on Amazon. I'd consider Amsoil at some point in the future.


The good: the fluid was beautifully red and clear.


The bad: a TON of sludge and filings on the magnet.

Can't say there is any difference in feel, but the van gets lots of local driving and it's good to know that all that sludge is out and off the magnet...

 

Can't say there is any difference in feel, but the van gets lots of local driving and it's good to know that all that sludge is out and off the magnet...

Good job!

The newly-cleaned magnet will be even more effective at trapping any ferrous particles suspended in the ATF. That will definitely be good for your transmission.

Dave

 

That's not a ton. That's pretty normal, actually. The most I've seen on the magnet was on the first fluid change. After that it was less, but I do change fluid fairly regularly.