2004 Odyssey - Transmission Fluid question

RayKarpis · Apr 30, 2015

2004 Honda Odyssey, 135,000 miles, bought it from in-laws in 2007 (so practically one-owner).

I've been abysmal at maintenance and was unaware of the transmission issues with this vintage of Odyssey, so the ATF probably has never been changed. To date, I've not had any problems except for a little shudder accelerating between 30-35 mph. Took it to a local (reputable) transmission shop that is familiar with Odysseys (they drive a similar van as a shop vehicle) to inquire about a fluid change. The owner said I probably was nearing the end of the life of the transmission, but that he would not recommend a fluid change as his experience has been that fluid change under these circumstances could result in problems that did not show up before.

Any opinions on this advice? I don't want to put a rebuilt transmission in it until it starts to show problems, but I'd like to extend the life even slightly, if possible.

OD4Twins · Apr 30, 2015

Drain and fill fluid change (may need to do more than once) may be the cheapest solution to your problem.

Valvoline Maxlife Synthetic ATF (at wally). Comes in 1 gal container (about $16). Use 3.5 qt for each drain/refill. Very easy to do, several videos on Youtube showing process.

Good luck.

bernie_d · Apr 30, 2015

Yes by all means do a 3 x drain and fill driving for 15 minutes between changes on the highway to make sure the new fluid is mixed in completely. Doing this 3x drain and fill will change out the fluid.

You drain out ~ 3.6 litres/quarts per drain and only put back in the same amount you took out.

Your transmission shop may have been talking about a "Flush" which is know to cause problems with the Honda transmissions.

A simple drain and fill will not dislodge anything.

+1 on the Valvoline Maxlife.

Buffalo4 · Apr 30, 2015

I would recommend doing a single drain and fill using Honda DW-1 or Valvoline MaxLife Dex/Merc atf or another compatible synthetic atf.
Definitely do not use Honda Z-1 in case someone gives you some. See if it makes a difference in shifting, I would then recommend doing another drain and fill in 100+ miles and so on until you did 4 drain and fills overall with the same ATF.
Pull out the ATF dipstick and look at the color and clarity.
Some mechanics believed that a complete fluid change would clean too much of the dirt, etc, out of the tranny too quickly and possibly clog up some small passages.
The 04 Ody also has an ATF filter in the engine compartment which can be changed. It is sort of a PITA to get to. I would recommend changing this filter also. Check this thread: http://www.odyclub.com/forums/24-1999-2004-odyssey/111660-2004-transmission-filter-replacement.html
Buffalo4

OdyinNH · Apr 30, 2015

These are not the trannies of yesteryear that live because of the deposits in the old fluid. I would change it too. BTW, how does the fluid look and smell? If it doesn't smell burnt and still looks somewhat red then you should be fine. There are no guarantees with these trannies but they do need to have a fluid that is not broken down from years of use.

Rockwood · Apr 30, 2015

Any change may well cause a poor change or two for a few days after the change.
I favor a single fluid change now and at the next two oil changes.

dhauff · May 1, 2015

My 2003 had a similar shudder issue around 110k. Fought with the dealer on what caused it after replacing parts (they thought it was a engine misfire under load). Finally they said it was torque converter but out of warranty. THen I found this forum and began changing the TFluid, using Honda fluid, changing twice a year (spring and fall). Probably an over kill but we drive it 15k/yr and the shudder is gone and going on 205k. Starting to hear high pitch whine, which is probably bearing related. But it has lasted me longer that I ever thought. Its close to EOL. I use the Wendy straw manuever attached to one of those pointed gear oil caps that is then screwed onto a cut in half empty quart TFluid container. It makes a great funnel and is then all sealed in a ziplock bag for the next change. I've gotten it down so it only takes me a few minutes. By the way also wipe down the magnetic on the drain plug.

akgolfer · May 1, 2015

Tagging onto the OP, since similar scenario - I've got a 2004 Odyssey with 130k on it, which we've had since 75k. It's been my wife's car & she's airways taken it into the quick lube places for service - amounting to what could best be described as occasional oil changes. Thinking about driving down the Alcan had me looking online & I learned quickly of transmission horrors. So I bought her another car. Now I'm considering either keeping the Odyssey vs keeping my 91 Toyota pickup. On the positive side, the Odyssey had given absolutely no issues despite the poor stewardship of it. However I pulled the transmission dip stick and it's brown & smells nasty. Again, no problems whatsoever going on with it. But now I'm faced with either dumping it for next to nothing as is or taking what seems to be a chance with changing out the transmission fluid & having it fall on me. Best advice/recommendation (other than take better care of the car to begin with!)??

0dyfamily · May 1, 2015

Change the ATF, just like everybody above has said. There is an urban legend out there that says "If I change that old ATF, it will dislodge deposits and wreck the tranny." No. This legend gained legs because people would not change the ATF until very late in the vehicle's life, and the tranny was close to death anyways. Soon, they had problems, and they'd say, "That ATF change ruined my transmission." Incorrect; years of neglect did that.

A small number of people have posted pictures of open Odyssey transmission cases. No "deposits" all over, or anywhere. There was only one I can recall, and that guy had a completely destroyed clutch pack that left debris in the sump; other than that, the aluminum case was clean.

The ATF has additives that wear out over time. Modifiers for bearing and clutch surface friction, anti-foaming agents, items dedicated to controlling total base number and viscosity index, yada yada.

Look at it this way: changing out dirty oil is never a bad idea. Same with hydraulic fluid which, in our case also serves the purpose of lubricating every bearing and gear contact surface in the transmission.

OF

dhauff · May 2, 2015

OF I agree. But not mentioned is the transmission "flush". I believe that can sometimes do more damage than good.

0dyfamily · May 2, 2015

I wholly agree, sir.

OF

subnetking · Oct 8, 2017

I too have a 2004 Ody which I purchased back in 2005 with 11K miles. Recently surpassed 135K miles and started to notice the transmission shudder around 4th gear, typically about 40MPH. This thread and several others were key in helping me choose to do the work myself. I bought 4 gallons of Valvoline MaxLife DEX/MERC Synthetic AFT and decided to forego the ATF Filter replacement after watching this video (search Youtube for 2002 Honda Odyssey ATF and Filter Replacement). Filter replacement was a bit beyond my current mechanical competency and confidence. I was using a 3/8" socket extension while attempting to open the fill plug. I could not get the leverage to break the seal at 5'9" and 155 lbs and I don't have a breaker bar. I modified my funnel by adding a small section of plastic tubing that fit perfectly into the dip stick port. If you get creative, you never know what you may find in your house to make this work (pilfered the tubing from daughter's fish tank). I carefully measured exactly what I drained out the first time, came to 3 Qts. 12 oz. I put exactly the same amount of new ATF in and took her out on the interstate for 20 minutes of driving. Not once did the shudder occur! Upon returning home I immediately drained it a second time and measured 3 Qts. 20 oz. Perhaps the heated engine and transmission pushed out an extra 8 oz.? I refilled with the exact same amount of new and this time drove the van much further. Again, no shudder. I have 2 more gallons and plan to flush it again over the next week or two. VERY pleased to get rid of the shudder. Now if only the van will survive my teenage son...

Buffalo4 · Oct 9, 2017

Make sure you check the actual atf level on the dipstick to ensure you have it at the proper level. (Engine off, atf at operating temp, shifted through all gears inc TC lockup and R, vehicle level, and checked apox withing a minute after shutting the engine OFF) after your test drive. Putting in the same amt that drained out is a good way to do it ONLY if it was at the proper level before it was drained out.

I use a long necked black funnel from Walmart (around $2) that fits tightly OVER the dipstick tube, on my '03 and the atf drains quickly into the tranny.

Curious: How did the atf look and smell before you drained it the first time? How did the drain plug magnet look the first time you removed it?
How did the atf look and smell after the first change? After the second change?
I changed my original atf filter at around 170k miles and it still looked pretty good.
I actually had someone change it for me.

:ahh:

Buffalo4

2004 Odyssey - Transmission Fluid question

RayKarpis

OD4Twins

bernie_d

Buffalo4

OdyinNH

Rockwood

dhauff

akgolfer

0dyfamily

dhauff

0dyfamily

subnetking

Buffalo4

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