First, let me welcome you to the forum. Good questions and the answer to your first question is read your owners manual. Basically you have a Maintenance Minder or MM for short. It will throw codes for you like A1 or A2, B1 or B2, etc and you can find those codes in your manual which will tell you what maintenance needs to be done. As far as the procedures I've never done a CVT before, so I don't know. The amount of fluid an type will also be in your owners manual. Good luck!

 

If it were my car, I would change the fluid every 30K. More than likely like anything else these days it is just a drain and fill and you will need a new crush washer. The filter is a non maintenance item. All the more reason to change your fluid regularly. Your dealer should be able to print off some detailed instructions on the procedure. They did for my 2012. I would also suggest picking up 1 extra quart to what they say a drain and fill will take. I learned that lesson when I did mine. It was the easiest transmission drain and fill I have ever done on a vehicle. If you can change your own oil, you can do your transmission drain and fill.

I would suspect your drain plug is located behind a cover that is secured by a couple of screws similar to what secures the cover where your oil drain plug is. It will be located near the front of the vehicle under that sloped portion in the front on the underside. Mine was. Your fill hole will be like any other automatic, thru the dipstick tube.

 

As others have pointed out there probably is a specified service interval, but Honda isn't saying what it is: you have to wait for the Maintenance Minder for the alert. The manual does give a severe service interval of 25,000 miles.

The CVT seems to be a simple fill and drain, with no filter. There's a drain plug at the bottom of the transmission and an overflow bolt on the side. Drain the fluid, remove the overflow bolt and add fluid through the fill port (looks like a small dipstick -tho it isn't used to check fluid level - when looking straight down inboard of the battery) until fresh fluid flows out the overflow bolt hole. Replace the overflow bolt and you're done. Of course, be sure to use only the Honda-specified and branded fluid and make sure the car is on an absolutely level surface.

I know where the overflow bolt is only because mine leaked fresh from the dealer. But it's not in any way obvious so get a manual before you start wrenching. Or have some coffee and let the dealer do it.

 

Honda CVT Fluid Change Procedure

Use only: HONDA HCF-2 CVT FLUID


Transmission Drain:

1. Start car and warm it up to normal operating temperature (the radiator fan comes on twice). Shut off the car.

2. Jack up and support the car with jack stands. The car should be level when jacked up; so, you can properly check the fluid level afterward.

3. Remove the drain plug and drain the fluid.

4. Reinstall the drain plug with a new sealing washer.

Transmission Fill:

1. Remove the filler cap (plug).

2. Refill with Honda HCF-2 CVT Fluid.

CVT Capacity: 3.9 U.S. quart (3.7L) at change*
* 2WD models

3. Install filler cap. The filler cap handle should be perpendicular to you if you're standing directly in front of the car.

Transmission Fluid Check:

Note: Do not remove the Check bolt before or during refilling of the CVT.

1. Apply the parking brake.

2. Start the engine in P.

3. Move the shift lever through all positions while pressing the brake pedal firmly, and wait at least 3 seconds in each position.

4. Move the shift lever back to P and shut off the car.

5. Remove the Check bolt and sealing washer.

6. The transmission fluid is at proper level if the transmission fluid is dripping from the check hole gradually (a slow and gradual drip).

If the fluid is low, loosely install the check bolt, remove the filler cap and add fluid. Then repeat step #2.

7. With the fluid at proper level, re-install check bolt with new sealing washer.

 

Thanks everyone!!!!!!!! I don't like waiting for electronic reminders to tell me it's time, I will always do it sooner than later, I'll plan it at 25000, wife drives all highway so the severe service will be my timing. My 15 Si will be getting all services sooner than later also, only 3000 on that though, 18000 on the CRV and 4 oil changes done so far.

 

Great description of the process! Since it is right up front I can change the fluid without jacking the CR-V. Just be sure you are on level ground. Be sure to use a torque wrench, especially on the weep hole. These aluminum threads are not overly strong.
One other question, IIRC, the capacity of the tranny is much more than 3.9 quarts. I have read that 3 fluid flushes are required for a change, which becomes awfully expensive. Is this the reason for the short 30k interval? Has anyone done the 3 flushes in a row change? I am thinking of spacing them out. Perhaps 1 fluid change every 10k miles. Thoughts?

 

This is about the CVT transmission, not the conventional automatic transmission. Only drain and refill one time, every 30,000 miles for severe service or 60,000 for regular service; or follow when the MM reminder comes up.

...the specs are from page 511 of my downloaded owner's manual.
Hope this clarifies what is needed.

 

Thanks JimBob15, that is very helpful. I was misinformed and I am sorry that I shared incorrect information.

 

Anyone have a good picture of the Check Bolt location on the 2015/2016?

 

Sorry I don't have a picture. I have removed and checked the CVT fluid level. It is easy to find. Once found and you remove the bolt you will quickly place and thread it back in as the fluid level will be high enough to spill out some. This is normal. It should look fairly clear and just smell oily, not burnt.

I'll change mine out at 30,000 miles (just as preventive maintenance), and purchase the correct fluid from my Honda dealer. It will be an easy change-out.

Good Luck,
JimBob

 

I'm confident of the procedure, just don't want to pull out the wrong bolt/plug. Does this bolt face the front or side and is it at an angle?

 

I only did the CVT check fluid level once and that has been over a year ago. As I recall the check bolt faces to the inside and not at an angle. I could be wrong because heck, I barely know what I had for breakfast!

 

Anyone have a good picture of the Check Bolt location on the 2015/2016?

Same as Accord, grab the PDF from this link

 

Thanks Hondo.

 

Necroposting to older thread.

Just serviced a few of our 2016 Touring V's and each was overfilled from factory by about 0.5 qt

Drained out 4.4 to 4.5 and refilled between 3.8 and 3.9 qt using the "3 seconds in each gear" plus 12mm level check plug to verify fluid level(s).

 

It's funny you mention that they were overfilled from the factory. I just changed the CVT fluid in my Civic about 2 weeks ago and it was overfilled too. I put the correct amount in and checked it. I've already put 1,000 miles on it since the change and it feels perfect.

 

Interesting as those same numbers are the difference mentioned before between 2wd and AWD CVT CRVs. Have assumed that the extra was to provide the extra final drive gears some much needed lubrication.

 

The Used CVT Fluid Stinks Badly

I just changed the CVT fluid in my 2015 CRV AWD this evening. I got out about 4.5 quarts of fluid and boy did it stink! Not a burnt smell, just a nasty oily smell that stunk out my garage. It was surprisingly dark colored for 33k miles, and the magnetic drain bolt had a lot of particles on it. I was rather surprised at this as the engine oil drain bolt had only a small amount of particles when it was new but now has next to nothing. I plan to change the fluid again in a few weeks and we'll see how it looks than. I put the required 4 quarts of fresh fluid back in, so we'll see how it runs tomorrow.

 

You removed 4.5 qts but only refilled 4 quarts? :Eyes:

The bolt on the front side of the trans is the FILL bolt, hopefully it was dripping fluid out when you refilled.



PS: I don't think you can compare the amount of chaff on the magnets between a transmission & engine.

 

I believe the FILL opening is where you pull out the rubber plug, right at the front of the engine compartment. The CHECK plug is lower. And the DRAIN plug is still lower and faces inward.

I think my transmission was overfilled as several people have mentioned theirs were. I will check it again this evening.

I was surprised at the amount of chaff on the magnetic plug. Maybe it's just because this is the first time I have changed the CVT fluid and, like with new engines, there are a fair amount of particles that are a result of break in. I will probably change it again this weekend anyway.

Still trying to figure out why the fluid stunk so much. The new stuff didn't smell so badly but it did have a smell stronger than engine oil. Any ideas?

 

Bad experience from factory

Hi everyone... I just changed fluid on my 2015 cr v AWD exactly at 30 000 km That job was so easy. It took about 1hr. I found that factory level was way above the factory recommended level. In 2015 I learned from beginning, when I pick up my car from Honda dealership next day on my floor garage was oil from engine. Right away contacted Honda dealership about this what happened. The dipstick show around 7.5 cm above top max mark on cold engine. Dealership readjusted the level oil and on work order reported that was over fill 0,7 liter.... But short after I changed oil on my oven and I over fill like was on first day. I did found the over fill was 1.3 liter. Of course... I checked fluid on ctv transmission by special dipstick what I designed on my own and after 29999 km I found that factory level was also much higher then factory recommended. The engine oil is still leaking from the front of the engine and between engine and transmission. The basics warranty is over, left another 2 years extra warranty on engine. Contacted Honda Canada.... HELPLESS .?

 

can anyone recommend me how many quarts of cvt fluid i'd need for my 15 crv with AWD? i read the first page where someone said it was 2 quarts for a FWD but then someone suggested a 3rd quart just in case; i'm thinking maybe between 5 and 6 quarts? And for the other guys with AWD, did you replace the dual pump fluid at the same time as the CVT? i've only got like 46K+ miles but i've already changed the fluids once before like a year ago.

 

For my 2016, I was told that it's a good idea to change the transmission and rear differential fluids at the same time. The technician also said that there are mesh filters, but you have to take apart the transmission to replace those -- and it's not necessary for regular service. Some dealers may change them if they want to rip you off, but they are technically lifetime parts -- just like the fuel 'filter'. There is a magnetic catch bolt that will catch any debris, so don't worry about the internal filters.