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Maintenance : Transmission Fluid?

43K views 59 replies 17 participants last post by  andrew28 
#1 ·
The manual calls for transmission fluid changes at some undetermined interval. The way I heard it, there is no typical transmission. Does that mean the electric motor has transmission fluid in it where it connects to the axles?

Funny thing is, the finance advisor, in his attempt to sell me an extended warranty, said that the electrical motor assembly was covered under the basic warranty and not the powertrain one...
 
#3 · (Edited)

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#4 ·
How to check transmission fluid level

I did a stupid thing -- thought I was draining the engine oil, but drained the transmission instead. I've refilled it with approximately 2.3 qt of the recommended fluid, but can't find any way to verify the fluid level. It's not visible in the filler hole.

Also, the guy at the Honda parts counter talked with the service tech about the proper method to add transmission fluid. The tech was unsure, since he'd never changed the fluid on a 2019 Insight, but he seemed to recall from his training that he was told to fill a bit, start the motor, shut it off, fill a bit more, and do that a few times until full. Does anyone know anything about that?

Thanks.
 
#6 · (Edited)
I did a stupid thing -- thought I was draining the engine oil, but drained the transmission instead. I've refilled it with approximately 2.3 qt of the recommended fluid, but can't find any way to verify the fluid level. It's not visible in the filler hole.

Also, the guy at the Honda parts counter talked with the service tech about the proper method to add transmission fluid. The tech was unsure, since he'd never changed the fluid on a 2019 Insight, but he seemed to recall from his training that he was told to fill a bit, start the motor, shut it off, fill a bit more, and do that a few times until full. Does anyone know anything about that?

Thanks.
I think you can find the instructions if you pay for a 1 day access subscription to the Honda repair site. https://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/logon.aspx



https://www.carcarekiosk.com/video/...l._Sedan/transmission_fluid/check_fluid_level
^I found instruction videos for the 2016 Civic transmission dipstick.


Edit: Ignore the video from the link above. The Civic doesn't have a transmission dipstick. Transmission fluid level is done by the check bolt where you wait to see if transmission fluid drips out.
 
#5 · (Edited)
The service/maintenance manuals are online, but require a subscription or temporary membership. Can't wait until someone in forum cracks these!:

In the meantime, maintenance info on the Insight is limited as you mentioned... but I found this link from a Honda dealer in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with description for transmission maintenance on a 2019 Honda Accord with instruction for the start-up and recheck process (see STEP THREE below).

I pasted all steps below for forum reference, in case the page/link breaks in the future. (Some metric conversions needed, but I think we can manage...): https://www.hondaqueensway.com/en/n...ansmission-fluid-on-a-2019-honda-accord/62418


HOW TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID ON A 2019 HONDA ACCORD
As Honda recommends changing your new Accord's transmission fluid after six year's or 144k-kilometres, (whichever comes first), it's unlikely that you will need this guide anytime soon. But, because these instructions apply to most Honda's and many other vehicles, you may want to keep it handy. Changing your Accord's transmission fluid is not difficult, and similar to changing your car's oil and does not need a Honda Service Specialist. Here's a simple step-by-step guide:

STEP ONE - ASSEMBLE YOUR TOOLS AND SUPPLIES
Here's what you will need to change the transmission fluid on your 2019 Honda Accord:
  • Transmission Fluid - 4.3 litres of Honda Automatic Transmission Fluid ATF-type 2.0.
  • Socket Wrench - A 3/8" drive standard socket wrench.
  • Mechanic's Creeper
  • Drop Cloth - You will want to protect your driveway as transmission oil stains concrete and blacktop
  • A Car Jack and Four Jack Stands - Jacking up the car is more work but, the extra room is worth the effort
  • An Oil Drain Pan
  • A Container for the Used Oil
  • A Funnel

STEP TWO - DRAINING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID
  • Because draining transmission fluid works best when done on a level surface, you may either jack up the car and put jack stands under all four corners, or leave the car on the ground. Jack-stands will give you much more room to work, but they aren't an absolute necessity.
  • Be careful not to confuse the oil pan for the transmission pan. The oil pan is located directly under the engine and has a drain plug at the rear of the pan. The transmission pan is located further towards the back of the vehicle, about even with the car's side mirrors.
  • The transmission fluid pan has a drain plug, on the side, which takes a 3/8 drive socket wrench with no socket on the end. You must stick the 3/8 drive directly into the plug.
  • Loosen the plug in a usual manner. After several turns, you should be able to turn the plug by hand.
  • Prepare for the fluid to shoot out at first - about ten to fifteen centimetres - so position the oil drain pan accordingly. Replace the plug when the oil finishes draining.

STEP THREE - REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID
  • Locate and remove the transmission fluid dipstick. It will be on the firewall side of the engine and looks just like the motor oil dipstick but, with a yellow handle.
  • Pull it out, place the funnel into the tube, and pour in the same amount of new fluid that you just removed from the pan and replace the dipstick.
  • Warm up the car (with it back on the ground).
  • With the engine running and your foot on the brake, cycle through every gear waiting about three seconds at each.
  • Next, pull, clean, replace, and pull the dipstick again. The oil level should be in the stick's crosshatch area.
  • If it's still low, add oil in one-quarter litre increments.
  • If it is too high, you will need to drain small amounts of fluid until you get the proper dipstick reading.

FINAL NOTE
  • Many automakers do not put drain plugs on their transmission fluid pans because typically when the transmission fluid gets changed, the transmission fluid filter also gets changed. This procedure requires dropping the pan and draining the fluid anyway.
  • Honda Motors puts a drain plug on their pans to simplify the process. It is recommended to change the transmission oil filter with every fluid change.
 
#7 ·
This video for transmission fluid change in a 2013-2017 Accord shows the shifting process thru gears to distribute fluid (albeit in a stick vs push button transmission). It also mentions an additional "check hole" process beyond just the dipstick check. Not sure if the Insight has the same, so maybe you can advise if this applies:

 
#25 ·

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#10 ·
For cross-reference, the Insight Owners Manual lists fluid spec (Honda ATF DW-1) and volume info (2.3 qt US / 2.2 L CA) info on p572 and p653.

The listed volume differs from what's mentioned above from service manual excerpt - but maybe it relates to filling to lower level, doing gear shifter check step, then topping off to final level as needed.
 
#11 · (Edited)
The 2020 Honda Insight's owner's manual list 2.3 QT so I assume Honda might have corrected it since @pcsailor 's post. Transmission Fluid level can change depending on temperature and if you overfill the check bolt should leak it out presumably...

Edit:
The 3:25 mark in the accord youtube you posted confirms that the check bolt/hole will leak out more transmission fluid if overfilled. So after waiting for the leak to finish it should be at the proper level. If nothing comes out that means you need to add more transmission fluid.
 
#14 ·
Thanks everyone for your replies. I think my best bet will be to follow the instructions above to access the manuals on Honda's web site. The information some provided for the Accord didn't look right. The Insight doesn't have a dipstick that I can find, and the filler hole is on the forward, not firewall side of the transmission.
Regarding the information on type and quantity of fluid, the Honda parts clerk was surprised to see that DW-1 was called for, as that is not normally used on Honda's CVTs. The quantity I drained out seemed to be about 2.3 qt when I poured it into an old oil jug for recycling. I put the same amount back in, so I expect I'm OK. Of course I also "expected" I was opening the correct drain plug. I'd rather be "darn sure".
 
#15 · (Edited)
We don't have a transmission and if I remember correctly someone here mentioned it's being used for a different purpose (coolant?). Did you find a check bolt behind the radiator on the bottom?


Edit:
The electric motors are cooled by the ATF, so changing that fluid will also be helpful in keeping any moisture from creating internal high voltage leaks.
Found the answer from one of @insightfully's post. So the transmission fluid in our Insight is for cooling the electric motors.


 
#23 ·
Well, I paid the $10 for 24 access to techinfo.honda.com. Here's what I found:

There is a filler plug on the opposite side of the "transmission" from the drain. Add fluid until it comes out the hole. The manual doesn't say much -- nothing about warming up the car or running it through the gears.

Not mentioned in the on-line manual, but something the parts tech found in his book, is that there is also a rubber filler plug on the front of the transmission. This works fine if you know how much you need to add, but there is no way to verify the level.

Regarding the quantity -- I had added an estimated 2.3 qt, and after removing the filler plug found that the level was just right.

There were a lot of posts here related to the Accord. I'm not sure that's relevant to the Insight. The posts mentioned running through gears that the Insight doesn't have, and the fluid type is different.

Finally, regarding the posts about "lifetime", I have to share a quote from an old Haynes manual for a Fiat 128 I once owned. The manual said "Fiat says the oil will last the life of the transmission. That may be true, but the life will be much longer if you change the oil every 60,000 mi."

Thank you all for your help.
 
#24 ·
There is a filler plug on the opposite side of the "transmission" from the drain. Add fluid until it comes out the hole. The manual doesn't say much -- nothing about warming up the car or running it through the gears.
It sort of makes sense that we probably don't have to run it through all the gears since the transmission fluid is used for another purpose in the Insight. Nice to know that the check bolt/hole is how we determine proper transmission fluid level. Glad everything worked out in the end for you.
 
#26 · (Edited)
Background / What we know:
- The Insight carries transmission fluid (2.3 qt / ATF DW-1) to cool the electric motors --> despite not having a "conventional" transmission
- Honda started eliminating transmission dipsticks in the mid-90s (Honda Passport was first), replacing with a check bolt and angled overflow tube to check level --> making regular level/quality checks unavailable
- Honda makes no claim of the ATF being a lifetime fluid --> maintenance sub-item (#3) will appear when transmission fluid change is needed
- Honda defines "severe" use as regular driving in mountainous areas at low speeds, since it raises transmission temperature --> need transmission fluid change at 47.5k mi / 3 yrs if regularly run in these severe conditions (p559).
- Honda recommends that the dealer checks and replaces fluid and discourages owners from doing this themselves (p572).

And reading between the lines:
- I can't check the transmission fluid/quality myself, and need to rely on the maintenance minder OR proactively change the transmission fluid if I think I run the car in severe conditions.
- "Severe" conditions are triggered at low speeds (electric motor running?) and regular hill/mountain driving (high load?), where the fluid temperature increases and less-effectively cools the electric motors.

So my question is:
- To maximize life of transmission fluid, is it better to take hills at as high speed as possible (i.e. engage gas engine / direct drive / clutch rather than linger on use of electric motors)?

- One 'benefit' is that the oil quality/condition can be checked for the gas engine via dipstick (vs no other indicator on transmission fluid), and using the gas engine more would perhaps keep transmission fluid operating temperature low and out of 'severe' range.
- One 'downside' is that the gas engine offers less torque than the electric motors do.

Thoughts? Opinions? I have a large hill (500 ft elevation change) on my daily drive, and have these (overthinking) thoughts/questions above almost every time I navigate this hill.
 
#35 ·
Driving in mountainous areas at very low vehicle speeds results in higher transmission temperatures. This requires transmission fluid changes more frequently than recommended by the Maintenance Minder. If you regularly drive your vehicle under these conditions, have the transmission fluid changed every 47,500 miles (76,000 km) or 3 years.
^The above is the only thing Honda mentions in the maintenance schedule as an exception to the Maintenance Minder. I'm probably going to change it every 3 years just to be safe since I'm low mileage and I'm not sure if the maintenance minder factors in time for transmission fluid changes.
 
#36 ·
My 2019 Insight TOURING has 48,000 miles on it now. Besides my oil changes, what shall I do next? After thinking it over (I'm not going to trade in the Insight as I'm still in a toss up). May keep it longer.

At 50,000 miles, shall I do Transmission fluid change?..and Differential fluid change?

100,000 miles, Timing belt & Spark plugs change?


What can I do inbetween? Very essentials
 
#37 ·
If you are driving slowly up mountains constantly then yes.. Otherwise - wait for the minder to come on. The fluid is not under as much strain as a regular transmission - it's used to cool the motors (generator and traction motor) and lubricate the few gears that the transmission has in it. Insightfully - can you help me out with one of our other members who recently had the notification at around 95,000 miles to change his??
 
#40 ·
#38 · (Edited)
I'm constantly driving everyday to work @75mph constantly highway for 1hr & 10 min straight 75mph. (68miles one way to work).

Is that considered hills? Hard on the transmission fluids & Differential fluids?

Hard to believe is that all I've done is oil change every 6k miles and rotate tires every 8-10k miles
 
#39 · (Edited)
75mph isn't low vehicle speeds so you should be good to wait for the maintenance minder (transmission fluid). You can always ask your dealership to check the transmission fluid level and condition. At your mileage, I would check fluid levels of the engine coolant reserve tank, inverter coolant tank, and brake fluid under the hood. They might need to be top up by the dealership if running low. The air cleaner element(engine air filter) and cabin air filter should've been change already. Spark plugs would be best to wait for maintenance minder. Honda doesn't mention anything about differential fluid for the Insight so I would assume our car doesn't need it.

The spark plugs and air cleaner element is free upon your first replacement according to the emissions warranty for B state(within 15 years/150k miles) and A state(within 3 years/36k miles) btw.
 
#41 ·
I just found out that we don't have a differential fluid flush? Not need it.

Also I got quoted $129 vs $229
on a Transmission Flush?
One is 10 gallons vs 3 gallon flush & fill?

What is that mumbo jumbo?

Also. I'm in NY state, is my spark plugs replacement free? At what mileage?
 
#42 ·
#47 ·
I’m at close to 96,000 miles now and I never got a transmission fluid reminder around 93,500. I don’t think the dealership could’ve done anything to my car to prevent that when I change the transmission fluid at 89,000 miles.

Weird...
 
#48 ·
I’m at close to 96,000 miles now and I never got a transmission fluid reminder around 93,500. I don’t think the dealership could’ve done anything to my car to prevent that when I change the transmission fluid at 89,000 miles.
Did you have other service (e.g. oil change) done along with the transmission fluid change at 89k? The dealer would likely have reset your Maintenance Minder, which could prevent the notice.
 
#51 ·
Yes oil change and transmission fluid changed at 89k.. totally forgot dealer can reset maintenance reminders even if they are not on.

At the time of my service, there were no maintenance reminders..
 
#54 ·
Interesting to discover the Insight has no transmission dipstick. At 51k, my dealer suggested that I should consider changing the fluid at the next oil change because the fluid looked a bit “dirty”. I highly doubt they actually siphoned fluid out and was simply pushing an unneeded service because the Insight literally makes little money for their service bay. An uninformed customer would just believe that statement and waste money….so irritating how unscrupulous businesses have become.
 
#55 ·
My dealership loved seeing me when I had my 09 Civic. Not so much with the Insight cause I only visit them once a year for an oil change + state inspection now (tire balance/rotation at Costco). I did do my first wheel alignment and brake fluid change this year(3rd year of ownership). The maintenance minder system is probably hurting them for those owners that follow it.

You would need to change your transmission fluid earlier if the below applies. Otherwise wait for the maintenance minder alert from the Insight.
  • Driving in mountainous areas at very low vehicle speeds results in higher transmission temperatures. This requires transmission fluid changes more frequently than recommended by the Maintenance Minder. If you regularly drive your vehicle under these conditions, have the transmission fluid changed every 47,500 miles (76,000 km) or 3 years.
 
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