[adimitrea]

Good morning all,
2015 EX-L with 56k miles. I’ve been doing a one time drain+fill at every oil change (~7k miles) and used Honda ATF. After reading a lot here about Maxlife ATF, decided to switch and did one drain+fill with the new ATF.
observations: smell of Maxlife if much stronger (doesn’t bother me) but I noticed that the shifting from first to second gear is a bit jumpy/jerky; can definitely feel it “push forward”. All other gear shifting is smooth. Usually, this happens until it is warming up and then it seems smoother but before Maxlife it did not behave like this.
I wonder if you have experienced something similar when switching to Maxlife? Should I try to do one or two more D+F to get more Maxlife in the system ?
Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[pkrface]

There have been limited reports of some transmissions not liking the MaxLife. How to proceed from here is your choice. You can proceed with several more MaxLife changes and see if it improves, or get back to DW-1.

 

[2011.2017.odyssey]

Good morning all,
2015 EX-L with 56k miles. I’ve been doing a one time drain+fill at every oil change (~7k miles) and used Honda ATF. After reading a lot here about Maxlife ATF, decided to switch and did one drain+fill with the new ATF.
observations: smell of Maxlife if much stronger (doesn’t bother me) but I noticed that the shifting from first to second gear is a bit jumpy/jerky; can definitely feel it “push forward”. All other gear shifting is smooth. Usually, this happens until it is warming up and then it seems smoother but before Maxlife it did not behave like this.
I wonder if you have experienced something similar when switching to Maxlife? Should I try to do one or two more D+F to get more Maxlife in the system ?
Thanks for your thoughts.

likely smelling the higher phosphorous content in the maxlife.
1/3 fluid exchange with maxlife and dw1 should not be noticeable.
phosphorus is good for the gears and bearings and clutches.

I have recently alternated my drain and fills between maxlife and dw1, and have not noticed any differences on a 6 speed 2011 touring.

maybe a bottle of lubeguard platinum is in order every 3 drain and fills.

 

[adimitrea]

There have been limited reports of some transmissions not liking the MaxLife. How to proceed from here is your choice. You can proceed with several more MaxLife changes and see if it improves, or get back to DW-1.

Thanks for your feedback - hopefully some of those folks get a chance to chime in and share some of their stories and what they did and how they resolved the issue.

 

[pkrface]

Thanks for your feedback - hopefully some of those folks get a chance to chime in and share some of their stories and what they did and how they resolved the issue.

I can tell you what they did. The switched back to DW-1, at least the threads I saw. I have had a really good experience with MaxLife and all my area dealers are such nimrods in the parts departments that I avoid them any chance I get, but that's just me.

 

[2011.2017.odyssey]

Thanks for your feedback - hopefully some of those folks get a chance to chime in and share some of their stories and what they did and how they resolved the issue.

add a bottle of this...

More Information for LUBEGARD 63010

www.rockauto.com

it wont hurt anything and may solve your issue.

 

[adimitrea]

add a bottle of this...

More Information for LUBEGARD 63010

www.rockauto.com

it wont hurt anything and may solve your issue.

Thanks for your suggestion of using Lubegard. I will probably get a bottle just to try it out and see how things behave in general.

 

[adimitrea]

I can tell you what they did. The switched back to DW-1, at least the threads I saw. I have had a really good experience with MaxLife and all my area dealers are such nimrods in the parts departments that I avoid them any chance I get, but that's just me.

Interesting how some transmissions like and some don’t like the MaxLife ATF. I will likely do one more D+F with MaxLife and if things don’t improve I may see myself switching back to Dw-1 also.

 

[2011.2017.odyssey]

Interesting how some transmissions like and some don’t like the MaxLife ATF. I will likely do one more D+F with MaxLife and if things don’t improve I may see myself switching back to Dw-1 also.

Drain and fill 3.6 Quarts, 3.4 liters, total fluid exchange is 7.4 Quarts or 7 liters.

your recent drain and fill, would of changed out slightly less than half the total fluid.

The DW1 oil has more detergents (calcium magnesium zinc) than the maxlife.
The maxlife has more phosphorous which is better for friction surfaces and bearings.

I like a mixture of the two, however since you are experiencing issues, you may be stuck with making a choice.
here is a formulation list I poached from a previous post.

​

Honda DW-1​

Valvoline Maxlife​

Idemitsu Type H Plus​

Aisin DW-1​

Mobil 1 HP​

ZF Lifeguard 6​

Castrol Import​

Redline D4​

Lubeguard Complete​

Amsoil ATL​

Royal Purple Max​

Honda Z1​

Valvoline Import​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Boron​

272​

272​

30​

46​

65​

140​

120​

405​

75​

288​

252​

290​

77​

Silicon​

4​

2​

2​

3​

2​

2​

8​

24​

3​

2​

7​

8​

3​

Sodium​

3​

8​

3​

1​

3​

4​

1​

9​

0​

5​

13​

1​

0​

Calcium​

353​

230​

265​

117​

117​

639​

0​

306​

76​

275​

116​

395​

120​

Magnesium​

204​

3​

2​

1​

2​

0​

0​

1​

5​

0​

1​

241​

0​

Phosphorus​

2​

579​

245​

340​

195​

400​

234​

823​

430​

680​

634​

2​

198​

Zinc​

320​

3​

3​

1​

6​

5​

0​

5​

15​

5​

11​

380​

0​

Viscosity@100C(cSt)​

6.93​

5.91​

5.91​

7.33​

5.75​

5.5​

7.99​

7.46​

5.96​

6.02​

7.32​

6.93​

6.9​

unrelated, was the software update for the transmission applied on your vehicle?

 

[WiiMaster]

I don't want to open up yet another DW-1 vs MaxLife debate, but I've used DW-1 in my Ody for its entire life, and I've never had a problem. Keep in mind mine is an 06, so it's the supposedly weaker transmission.

 

[MrRangerZr1]

Idemitsu H plus (literally Honda OE ATF) is my chosen ATF. Using it in my boosted van and also when it was N/A, so far so good.

 

[adimitrea]

Drain and fill 3.6 Quarts, 3.4 liters, total fluid exchange is 7.4 Quarts or 7 liters.

your recent drain and fill, would of changed out slightly less than half the total fluid.

The DW1 oil has more detergents (calcium magnesium zinc) than the maxlife.
The maxlife has more phosphorous which is better for friction surfaces and bearings.

I like a mixture of the two, however since you are experiencing issues, you may be stuck with making a choice.
here is a formulation list I poached from a previous post.

​

Honda DW-1​

Valvoline Maxlife​

Idemitsu Type H Plus​

Aisin DW-1​

Mobil 1 HP​

ZF Lifeguard 6​

Castrol Import​

Redline D4​

Lubeguard Complete​

Amsoil ATL​

Royal Purple Max​

Honda Z1​

Valvoline Import​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Boron​

272​

272​

30​

46​

65​

140​

120​

405​

75​

288​

252​

290​

77​

Silicon​

4​

2​

2​

3​

2​

2​

8​

24​

3​

2​

7​

8​

3​

Sodium​

3​

8​

3​

1​

3​

4​

1​

9​

0​

5​

13​

1​

0​

Calcium​

353​

230​

265​

117​

117​

639​

0​

306​

76​

275​

116​

395​

120​

Magnesium​

204​

3​

2​

1​

2​

0​

0​

1​

5​

0​

1​

241​

0​

Phosphorus​

2​

579​

245​

340​

195​

400​

234​

823​

430​

680​

634​

2​

198​

Zinc​

320​

3​

3​

1​

6​

5​

0​

5​

15​

5​

11​

380​

0​

Viscosity@100C(cSt)​

6.93​

5.91​

5.91​

7.33​

5.75​

5.5​

7.99​

7.46​

5.96​

6.02​

7.32​

6.93​

6.9​

unrelated, was the software update for the transmission applied on your vehicle?

Yes, I had the SW update applied a few years back and things were much better than prior to the update. Thanks for the info in the table.

 

[adimitrea]

I don't want to open up yet another DW-1 vs MaxLife debate, but I've used DW-1 in my Ody for its entire life, and I've never had a problem. Keep in mind mine is an 06, so it's the supposedly weaker transmission.

Good point - thanks.

 

[threeputtpar]

My ancedotal addition to the discussion is I tried Maxlife at around 45k miles after using DW-1 from new. My goal was to firm up what I thought were soft shifts. Very soft shifting in a slush box means increased friction between the clutches.

I got what I was shooting for and them some. 1-2 and 2-3 became so firm that it was annoying to drive around town. the 2-1 downshift felt like hitting a parking curb while approaching a stop sign.

I'm in the process of going back to DW-1, but unfortunately the effects seem to be permanent. It's drivable but not enjoyable. At least I know the clutches are not wearing down as fast.

More than you'd ever want to know about DW-1 from and actual tribologist, Molekule. And from what I've been able to find, Idemitsu HP+ is not the OE DW-1 as it does not have the Zinc DW-1 does.

Honda/Multi-Vehicle ATF Comparison Chart

I thought this would be helpful just for comparison sake. I'd love to add more data to this, perhaps Castrol Import Forumula, Beck Arnley Z1, and the newer Blue bottle Valvoline Import formula (non hi-mi formula)...

bobistheoilguy.com

 

[2011.2017.odyssey]

At least I know the clutches are not wearing down as fast.

soft shifts burn clutch packs...

 

[adimitrea]

My ancedotal addition to the discussion is I tried Maxlife at around 45k miles after using DW-1 from new. My goal was to firm up what I thought were soft shifts. Very soft shifting in a slush box means increased friction between the clutches.

I got what I was shooting for and them some. 1-2 and 2-3 became so firm that it was annoying to drive around town. the 2-1 downshift felt like hitting a parking curb while approaching a stop sign.

I'm in the process of going back to DW-1, but unfortunately the effects seem to be permanent. It's drivable but not enjoyable. At least I know the clutches are not wearing down as fast.

More than you'd ever want to know about DW-1 from and actual tribologist, Molekule. And from what I've been able to find, Idemitsu HP+ is not the OE DW-1 as it does not have the Zinc DW-1 does.

Honda/Multi-Vehicle ATF Comparison Chart

I thought this would be helpful just for comparison sake. I'd love to add more data to this, perhaps Castrol Import Forumula, Beck Arnley Z1, and the newer Blue bottle Valvoline Import formula (non hi-mi formula)...

bobistheoilguy.com

Thank you for the detailed explanation. It sounds like you have been experiencing a similar behavior. Interesting that smooth shifting is not good for the clutches and yet it is designed to work like that. Makes sense that the customer wants smooth shifting for comfort and “luxury” feeling. I will likely observe this behavior until me next D+F and decide then what path forward to implement. Sounds like a mix of DW-1 & MaxLife would be a good solution technically speaking but from a feel of the car stand point DW-1 is better.

 

[adimitrea]

soft shifts burn clutch packs...

One would think the shifting design would be more robust to prevent soft shifts from burning clutch packs.

 

[adimitrea]

So, the van is a 2015 with 56k miles; I bought the Lube Gard 10 oz bottle and was curious if you guys thin I need to put the entire bottle in (instructions say use 1 oz per quart of ATF - full capacity). Thinking that the full capacity is 12 quarts, but I have been doing D+F at every oil change I was considering putting 5-6 Oz in at my next D+F as the fluid is not old or too used up.

Any suggestions or should I pour the entire 10 oz bottle in?

 

[CroMath]

The ATF capacity is 8 quarts, so you'd only need to add 8 ounces. If you were going to be super anal about it, you could try to drain off a cup of ATF before adding the Lubegard Red but if you didn't, you would probably be just fine. Or if you wait for the next D&F you can adjust the quantities then very easily.

Don't dump the whole 10-ounce bottle in - that's too much.

 

[adimitrea]

The ATF capacity is 8 quarts, so you'd only need to add 8 ounces. If you were going to be super anal about it, you could try to drain off a cup of ATF before adding the Lubegard Red but if you didn't, you would probably be just fine. Or if you wait for the next D&F you can adjust the quantities then very easily.

Don't dump the whole 10-ounce bottle in - that's too much.

Thanks for the clarification on the capacity of the ATF. Appreciate the feedback.