Per Honda - Never FLUSH Fluids !

[mdugan7000]

http://www.in.honda.com/Rjanisis/pubs/SN/a060200.PDF

Just what many here preach to all the newbies...

From page 4 of the 2/06 Honda Service News...
Read from the link above, or pasted, here...

Flush Systems: A Big Taboo
In Honda vehicles, the transmission, as well as the
systems that handle lubrication, cooling, fuel, and
power steering, are designed to give thousands of
miles of trouble-free service if you follow the
maintenance schedule to the letter.
Flush systems are a popular aftermarket offering
these days. These products look impressive and
make lots of claims, but American Honda strongly
recommends you avoid using them on any Honda
vehicle. Here’s why:
• The maintenance schedule neither requires
nor approves of aftermarket flush systems.
• Flush systems take time to do; this adds to
your service customer’s wait time.
• Flush systems haven’t demonstrated an
improvement in vehicle performance or
reliability.
• Flush systems using solvents may leave
solvent in the system you’re flushing. This will
dilute the fluid or lubricant and degrade its
performance.
• Flush systems using filters can filter out vital
additives and degrade the fluid’s or lubricant’s
performance. This is particularly true for
coolant.
• Any damage caused by flush systems isn’t
covered by warranty.

[erniep]

Can we get a sticky on this bad-boy?

If someone can dig up an article that explains about doing a second change of specific fluids, that would be spiffy too.

Or, we can just keep buming it

-Ernie

[roadster]

perfection MD...........

you'll never hear me say that/ I recycle mine to a shop
oops never do anything that can manually be done

[mandyfig]

We drain and fill, never flush.

[roadster]

Nissen will use a machine on their systems as wel as honda we are to an Old school, andkeep to old school. if the company states this we keep to it

Malano 27.00 per qt and i believe it is 8-12 per change out.
just toss that in to stir the pot

[4hondaowner]

Good article Mark.

It is so easy doing this maintenance yourself that I don't know why owners out there would trust a machine much less a freckled and pimpled faced kid making a mistake.

Come on any time. I'll do it for you.

[olefam]

I'm sorry, but Honda doesn't impress me with their service schedule or "recommended" maintenance.
Honda recommends 10,000 mile oil change intervals using conventional petroleum oil. Does this make it right? Of course Honda throws in the caveat about "severe duty" which requires 5,000 mile oil change intervals. It's double-talk. Virtually every single Honda vehicle will fall into the "severe duty" class in the United States. But it sounds good to say that you can go 10,000 miles between oil changes. And how about a 10,000 - 20,000 mile change interval for the oil filter? Does anyone actually believe that this constitutes a good maintenance program if you want a car to last past the warranty period?
5 years ago Honda built a poorly engnineered automatic transmission that resulted in a highly publicized recall. This transmission did not come from the factory with any type of serviceable filter because"it wasn't needed." All rebuilt transmissions had an in-line filter quietly installed as part of the rebuild package. In 2005 and thereafter all CR-Vs came standard with this in-line filter. Was Honda right then? Or now? Which is it - a filter is a good idea? Or it's not needed?
Anyone here buy Honda's "towing package" for their CR-V? The CR-V is the only Honda vehicle (to the best of my knowledge) that does not incorporate
an aux ATF cooler in their towing package. So, if it's good for the Pilot, why isn't it good for the CR-V? Will Honda start using them after enough people destroy their CR-V transmissions towing their fishing boats? Will Honda simply replace customer's transmissions as an act of "good faith?" Or will Honda say it's your problem, deal with it.
And how often does Honda say to replace the differential fluid? From personal experience the differential starts "clicking" long before the "regular" service schedule suggests a change.
Finally, getting back to the ATF, Honda says to do a "drain and fill" at 105,000 miles. then every 60,000 miles thereafter for my 2005. To that I say, "No, thank you." I would prefer to have my transmission last longer than my payment schedule. I've already had the local dealership install my after-market aux transmission cooler. The in-line filter will be replaced at 30,000 miles - when I have the transmission fluid replaced by experienced Honda mechanics.
My suggestion would be to carefully consider Honda's past poor performance with their 5-speed auto transmission. Consider why Honda stated a repaceable ATF filter wasn't needed in 2004, but is standard equipment in 2005. Consider why so many people on this forum do different versions of "drain and fill" at 15,000 - 30,000 miles rather than follow Honda's recommended change intervals. Consider why almost every other car manufacturer DOES recommend some version of an ATF flush, but Honda doesn't. If you are still comfortable that Honda has your and your vehicles best interest at heart, then by all means follow Honda's service recommendations. But if you are as skeptical of Honda's motives and advice as I am, then a visit to a trusted mechanic for his or her opinion may be in order to establish a maintenance schedule that satisfies your needs, not Honda's.
I recognize that not everyone will agree with me. I'm OK with that. I just felt it was important to say that some of us do not believe that Honda is the last word in advanced engineering or that their service / maintenance schedule is gospel.
Glen

[4hondaowner]

Very well written and said Glen.

We will be coming through Brainerd/Baxter around June 9th or 10th. I would love to meet you for dinner.

Until then, keep writing your good thoughts.

[mdugan7000]

dang.

All it said was "do not flush".

[olefam]

I know, mdugan7000, I get windy (wordy???) when I get excited. Sorry for the long response.
Glen