[dsc888]

Yes, a single drain and fill is good but I did it twice when I did my Odyssey's fluid. The more of Honda's fluid that is out, the better in my opinion.

EOT 4 Life, thank your reply. That was helpful.

And yes, I agree with you that the AT software update is just a band-aid fix. No way they can keep the fluid cooler and keep MPGs without an external ATF cooler. Looks like 15,000k is about as long as I will dare go with the OEM fluid at this point.

 

[0dyfamily]

Years ago, a number of forum members asserted that they would not switch from OEM Honda ATF-Z1 to a proven synthetic like Red Line D4, Valvoline MaxLife Dex/Merc, AmSOil, Mobil 1, etc.

IIRC, the original Honda ATF-Z1 came about when Honda had not yet started producing V6 engines as a mainstream choice in its largest vehicles. I.e., ATF-Z1 was formerly for light duty applications. We still use it in our little 1998 4-cylinger Accord, helped along by Lubegard Red. It works great in that car.

We have come full circle, it seems. A number of people have posted that they would not consider anything except Honda's ATF DW-1 for their Odysseys. ATF DW-1 seems to cover all the bases in the 4-cylinder Hondas, but here we are now with degradation of the OEM Honda ATF in a more severe application (the Odyssey).

Is it thermal problems? Makes me wonder if the OEM Honda ATF cooler is once again way, way, way too small for the application. It seems the Long Tru-Cool LPD 4544 cooler will once again be the answer.

I'm not too concerned about ATF DW-1 being an adequate ATF in light duty applications. I'm a member on 9thgencivic.com, and Honda ATF DW-1 is the "go to ATF" for these guys. We just did a 4x drain/refill in our 2012 Civic EX sedan, and ATF DW-1 is doing fine, along with about 8 ounces of LG Red, too.

It seems that if you're not piling up highway miles in your Odyssey, but are giving the transmission a workout in an urban environment, or even towing, then Red Line D6, Valvoline MaxLife, AmSOil (Sig Series fuel efficient variety) may be good choices.

RinconVTR's Blackstone UOA supports 15,000 miles as a minimum single drain/refill interval for Honda ATF.

OF

 

[Neo Fender]

Curious to why it only effects certain trim models. You would think the put the exact same transmission in every Odyssey of a particular year.

On 2011-2013 models, the LX, EX & EX-L models have the five-speed transmission. The Touring and Touring Elite have the six speed, which became standard beginning with the 2014 models.

 

[dsc888]

RinconVTR's Blackstone UOA supports 15,000 miles as a minimum single drain/refill interval for Honda ATF.

OF

Thanks for the informative read! Glad we have some solid, validated data to support 15k ATF changes. And it was at about that point that I started noticing juddering. This doesn't bode well for Honda. Our van is light duty and gently driven on many a highway miles. And yet, the ATF is beginning to deteriorate at such low mileage. Either the 5th Gen Odyssey will need a beefy ATF Cooler or we will see a "DW-2" ATF eventually and/or shorter fluid change schedule, which will piss off owners.

 

[EOT 4 Life]

I called a local Honda specialty place today to see how much he charges to install a cooler and his fee is 2 hours labor at $89 per hour, but has to get back to me on the cooler pricing itself since they don't stock one. I am pretty confident that the Amsoil fluid can handle the heat without much degradation, and may wait to see what "fix" Honda offers first before putting in a cooler.

 

[dsc888]

Update to My Update

Ok, guys. I had posted about my now fixed transmission judder issues yesterday but only was able to test the van with myself onboard. My issues were noted with a full load of passengers and luggage in hot weather while going uphill at freeway speeds.

I just came back from an extended drive with my family and one adult passenger in the 3rd row plus cargo and I'm happy to finally confirm that the van is totally fixed. Judder is eliminated. Shifts from 6th down to 5th for passing is ultra smooth and quick. And I can't sense any hint of rear axel vibration up to 80 MPH.

So those of you who are suffering needlessly from transmission judder should make an appointment to have the TSB performed. At the very least, it saved me about $100 worth of Honda DW-1 ATF and at least an hour's labor doing 3x D&F in my driveway. The van's newfound responsiveness and smoothness, along with VCMuzzler installed, has made my drives with the family so much more pleasurable.

 

[EOT 4 Life]

Glad the posting of this helped you out, imagine how many others are out there dealing with this right now or who have already been taken to the bank by Honda for transmission "flushes" and paid out of pocket for it, or even worse had an expired warranty and got hit for a new torque converter.

 

[dsc888]

Glad the posting of this helped you out, imagine how many others are out there dealing with this right now or who have already been taken to the bank by Honda for transmission "flushes" and paid out of pocket for it, or even worse had an expired warranty and got hit for a new torque converter.

I can't agree more! I'd be on the phone to Honda's corporate offices to demand a full refund of repair bills now that they've admitted that this condition is often misdiagnosed as a bad TC. But then again, the average Odyssey owner isn't here on this forum and the dealer sure as heck won't publicize the TSB.

 

[EOT 4 Life]

I just did a quick search for "torque converter" and came up with a few threads, but this one sticks out as one with some out of pocket rip-offs:
http://www.odyclub.com/forums/54-20...-2011-odyssey/152689-2011-honda-odyssey-unresolved-transmission-problems-4.html

 

[EOT 4 Life]

It's a strange coincidence, but my neighbor just had his 2012's Odyssey's transmission crap out in yesterday's northeast heat while towing a light weight boat. He has had the fluid changed before and is now at 58,000 miles, and does have a Honda dealership installed hitch and cooler. It started shuddering and slipping and needed to be towed off of the highway, but he was far from home so he left it at a dealer within 15 miles of the incident. His is an EXL so it has the 5 speed tranny, which is not listed on the TSB, so we will see how this plays out. He does have an extended warranty luckily, and has a rental from the dealer, but no loaner was provided. Hopefully a few drain and fills will fix this.

 

[dsc888]

It's a strange coincidence, but my neighbor just had his 2012's Odyssey's transmission crap out in yesterday's northeast heat while towing a light weight boat. He has had the fluid changed before and is now at 58,000 miles, and does have a Honda dealership installed hitch and cooler. It started shuddering and slipping and needed to be towed off of the highway, but he was far from home so he left it at a dealer within 15 miles of the incident. His is an EXL so it has the 5 speed tranny, which is not listed on the TSB, so we will see how this plays out. He does have an extended warranty luckily, and has a rental from the dealer, but no loaner was provided. Hopefully a few drain and fills will fix this.

Oh no! That's not good. The heat has been record breaking here this summer and I actually saw my ECO light come on at stop lights quite a few times even with the VCMuzzler installed which tells me that everything is simply running pretty hot. But your friend's transmission failure doesn't give me a whole lot of confidence. I just don't get how Honda engineers can let such poorly designed transmissions and ATF go into production. If it wasn't for Honda making one of the best handling vans out there, I might have gotten a Sienna, which from my understanding has a more reliable engine and tranny. Please keep up all posted as to how your friend makes out.

 

[EOT 4 Life]

Just a quick update, seems my neighbor didn't have transmission issues at all, which is a big relief. It ended up being a faulty o2 sensor and oil pressure sensor which made it feel that the transmission was acting up. From what they explained, when the oil sensor detects low/no oil pressure present it will go into an engine-saving mode to stop it from seizing. I don't know for sure by what means that it engages, but I did read that it can cut off the fuel pump to kill the engine before it seizes up, which may be a great feature in theory but not good when pressure is actually fine but the sensor is bad. The good thing is that the towing bill for both the van and boat, along with the rental will be covered by insurance, and the repairs are covered by the extended warranty. He was very happy with the way the dealership treated him and the van is running great again. Also, the NYS Trooper was aces and very good to him as well.

 

[jetz1]

Under 60k miles and less than 5 years old that Odyssey should be covered under factory waranty.

 

[EOT 4 Life]

I don't believe the o2 sensor or pressure sensor are under the powertrain warranty

 

[sinbad]

It will be interesting to see how the software changes will change performance in order to eliminate exposure "to intermittent high heat loads under specific driving conditions." Does this mean when the going gets hot the ECU will retard the ignition, close the throttle and chop the power? Get ready for another band aid! What about the software on the 2016? I have 200 miles to go before the Red Line D6 goes in. The Civic went to D4 long ago.

 

[sinbad]

I would be interested is knowing what kind of software update can keep the fluid cooler without adding an external cooler to the transaxle.

Can you post the "flush procedure" referred to in the TSB?

 

[EOT 4 Life]

Can you post the "flush procedure" referred to in the TSB?

http://www.urvi.net/forumfiles/SB/A16-060.PDF

http://www.odyclub.com/forums/54-2011-odyssey/208481-2015-honda-odyssey-technical-service-bulletins.html

 

[sinbad]

http://www.urvi.net/forumfiles/SB/A16-060.PDF

http://www.odyclub.com/forums/54-2011-odyssey/208481-2015-honda-odyssey-technical-service-bulletins.html

Thanks. This is the same procedure that I posted years ago: ODY on lift or jack stands; 3 drains and refills; 5 drive cycles (run through all the gears) after first and second refill; be sure that the AT shifts through lower gears, and then into high gear, and then finally into torque converter lockup (overdrive).

 

[s2kroma]

So, I have 2015 Touring. Called the dealer in regards to this TSB, gave him my Ody VIN. Service guy stated that there are no open TSBs on my VIN even the TSB stated ALL TRIM for 2015 model year. What should I tell them once I go there this weekend?

 

[manfrotto]

So, I have 2015 Touring. Called the dealer in regards to this TSB, gave him my Ody VIN. Service guy stated that there are no open TSBs on my VIN even the TSB stated ALL TRIM for 2015 model year. What should I tell them once I go there this weekend?

I would try a different dealership. Or, print out the TSB (http://www.urvi.net/forumfiles/SB/A16-060.PDF) and bring it in to show the service department. Seriously, I would worry about a dealership which refuses to do work.