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Transmission/Rear Differential Fluid Queries

50K views 104 replies 35 participants last post by  mechatronic  
#1 ·
Greetings,

I just hit over 10,000 miles on my 2023 CR-V and the MX minder told me its time for my first MX (A16). I went to the dealership and they informed me that I would have to pay about $200 for the rear differential fluid service. I told them that it should be included with my extended MX package I bought (Honda Care) which they then confirmed I am correct. I reached out to Honda Corp VSC department and they also agreed but told me its a "bug" in their system and they will look into it. This was one day ago, and I have yet to here back from them. Based on some internet research (including this site), it seems that this is usually done at around 15k miles but even be extended to 20k.

  • Is anyone here aware or have experienced this same issue when taking their 2023 in for service?
  • For the '23s, should I get this done soon or should I in fact wait for a resolution (not sure how far long dragged out it will be)
  • If I should get it done sooner than later, should I simply pay for it and ask Honda corp to reimburse me (or will they even do that)?

Any insight and wise advise is appreciated, thanks all!

Cheers!
 
#4 ·
On my UK spec CR-V hybrid, this is listed as a service item at 12500 miles and then every 50000 miles after that. But (for some reason that I don't understand) it's not included in the 5-year service package that came with the car. So I did my own rear diff fluid change - it's an easy job, and I think it's important to keep the diff plates and dual pump system clean.
 
#5 ·
Yeah looks like we have different plans in the USA as I purchased the separate VSC with Honda for up to 60,000 miles and that item is included. As I am paying for it with the plan I purchased, I expect them to resolve this on their behalf or refund me for the plan if they changed the terms and conditions after I signed up:) but looks like I might be the first on this forum to experience this so so will stand by as more others come across this (or not! Lol)
 
#9 ·
I’ve got just under 8k miles on a 2023 purchased in December and I’m already getting sub maintenance code 6 (rear diff fluid change). I wasn’t planning on changing it this early so I’m hoping it’s covered under the 2yr maintenance plan. I drive on mainly flat roads and drive in normal mode 99% of the time so is this normal?



Edit: Above is what I just posted about this before realizing someone has already experienced this, moderator merged with this thread which makes sense. Anyways, I’ve got 8k miles on my EX and I’m getting maintenance code 6 already. About to make an appointment with my dealer, will update you on what they say.
 
#54 ·
My vehicle recently produced maintenance minder "A16" code, which is oil+filter (A), tire rotation (1) and AWD fluid (6). Service was scheduled. The dealership said that the AWD fluid was not covered under the free service plan so that service was not performed (I will take care of that).

My question is: should there still be a service code for "6" since the "A1" part was completed (sort of, that's a different story) but the AWD fluid service was not done? I see in the maintenance menu that each service section can be reset independently or there's another option to reset "all service due". Ultimately, I want to understand if the AWD fluid service was reset when it shouldn't have.

Thanks!
 
#55 ·
My vehicle recently produced maintenance minder "A16" code, which is oil+filter (A), tire rotation (1) and AWD fluid (6). Service was scheduled. The dealership said that the AWD fluid was not covered under the free service plan so that service was not performed (I will take care of that).

My question is: should there still be a service code for "6" since the "A1" part was completed (sort of, that's a different story) but the AWD fluid service was not done? I see in the maintenance menu that each service section can be reset independently or there's another option to reset "all service due". Ultimately, I want to understand if the AWD fluid service was reset when it shouldn't have.

Thanks!
Yeah the dealership definitely reset all items when they should’ve only reset the A1. Same thing happened with me so I reset odometer ‘A’ so I could keep track of how long past the oil change before I finally changed it, which ended up being around 1k miles after the trip to the dealer. I didn’t have to reset anything since the maintenance item 6 had prematurely been cleared.
 
#58 ·
#66 · (Edited)
I might assume it would be easy. There actually could be some small steps Honda wants you to do, like make sure it's at some temperature, or drive it to actuate the dog-tooth clutches first, etc., I don't know.

I've done this in the last few years on 3 hybrids and EVs, and they all had upper fill (level) plugs. One hybrid was actually under-filled a bit at the factory, so maybe there is a reason to get it done early just in case.

I want to do mine early to try to get out any metal break-in dust, maybe install a new magnetic drain plug, and get out any RTV factory sealant that gets loose in engines/trannies during factory assembly.


Anybody gained access to the service manual dealership PDF files at Service Express on this Gen 6 Hybrid transmission (and rear AWD diff while you're at it) and be willing to put out a step by step guide for us folks who want to change those fluids ourselves on 2023-2024 CR-V Hybrids? techinfo.honda.com

I tried and failed to rent access for a day to Service Express for $30. I tried that a couple of weeks ago.
Details:
It kept erroring instead of giving me access to dealership-level "Service Information System" shop service manual pdf files, and it may have had something to do with the fact I'm using Windows 11. The customer service guy on the phone had no idea what the technical problem was and just refunded my credit card. There was another warning page I saw that said their servers were having trouble that day, maybe that was the problem, so I'll try again soon to see if it works, as you can always get a credit card refund anyway.

There are a couple of youtube videos, on earlier (1-clutch) CR-V Hybrid transmission fluid drain service, and they are partially helpful. I'd like to have bolt torque tightening specs and any other info that could make this "tricky", i.e., maybe it needs to be at a certain temperature, how to make sure it's filled to the right level, etc. .... There may not be much extra steps to do, although another brand of Hybrid I did recently had a couple of slightly tricky "inside info" steps.

Summary of some info found so far:
On one youtube video on a 2021 CR-V Hybrid transmission fluid change, he just pointed out the upper accessible (under the hood) plastic pull plug to put fluid into, while another youtube video had the service guy use what looked like a Level-Fill Plug from underneath. Both the earlier version of our Hybrid. And both not entirely clear or complete. I'll look around to try and find a current-model Accord Hybrid youtube transmission fluid change, and a search so far turned up nothing, I'll try again.
 
#67 · (Edited)
I got the Service Manual (rented downloads for a day) and did the Transmission and AWD Rear Diff fluid changes.
My 2024 Hybrid only has about 3,000 miles on it, so this is to get out the break-in metal dust.
Then I guess go about 40,000 miles or so for transmission fluid changes, and 20,000 miles for AWD Rear Diff fluid changes, something like that.

Transmission:
Fluid: HEVF Type 1.0 (for 2023 and newer hybrids only, earlier Hybrids used DW-1 ATF fluid)
Capacity: Takes about 3.1 quarts fluid after a drain. Save a little of the old fluid so you only have to buy 3 quarts of this expensive fluid, and use old fluid for the small top-off level when the transmission is warm.
Torque Specs: 32 lb-ft for the Fill Plug, and 36 lb-ft Drain Plug
Check the level on the fill plug when the transmission is warm, not too hot, maybe about 20-50 degrees above room temperature, after driving it a mile or two. In fact, they want you to check the Level Plug fluid level withn 1.5 minutes of parking the vehicle (I drove mine up on 4 2x4 pieces of wood to raise the car just slightly to allow me enough room to crawl under there and quickly get to the Level Plug within the crazy 1.5 minute schedule, weird, but that is the Service Manual.)
More precisely, the Service Manual says to drive it a short bit, maybe a mile or two, over 12 mph, and then Check the Level (warm) again, top it off, and tighten everything down.

Change the crush washers. 18 mm and a 20 mm one.

Always loosen or remove the Level Plug or the fill plug that is under the hood on top (the L-Handle pull plug immortalized on youtube & this forum), just to be sure you can get new fluid in before you drain fluid out.

Other notes:

If you search on youtube for Honda Hybrid Transmission Fluid , you'll see they usually say to look for the fill-plug top-side when you open the hood, the pull-plug (not screwed-in) with the L-shaped tiny handle sticking out. It is on your right side when standing in front of the hood looking into the engine bay.
That L-Handle topside plug did come in handy for me, since it was much easier to pour the HEVF Type 1.0 fluid into there using a tube attached to the HEVF Type 1.0 fluid bottle, while I still used the Level Plug (bottom-side) to make sure I did not under or over-fill it.

Make sure you turn the vehicle off when changing the fluid or when checking it. It's a hybrid so you might forget, but it does hum a little even when the ICE is not running.

Make sure the vehicle is level when filling or checking the fluid. I put mine up on 2x4 pieces of wood, all 4 tires, centered on each piece of wood, just drove it on there, level, easy. Jack stands are good, just make sure you know how to safely and redundantly (backup supports) support the car level if you do that. Safety.

Many backyard mechanics doing this on youtube just drain it and then re-fill it with whatever the Owner's Manual says is needed. They don't check the Level ! This kinda works OK, I'll say, since mine took 3.1 quarts (supposed to take 3.0 qts), not too far off from what the Owner's Manual said. ( From a dry new transmission, you actually need 5.4 qts, so you see that a lot is trapped up in there.) Only buy 3 new quarts, and save a little of the old fluid in a clean container for what top-off you might need.

The Transmission Drain Plug is not magnetic, though the AWD Rear Differential drain plug is. The transmission probably does have an internal magnet inside, although you can never clean it.
I replaced the original plug with a neodymium magnet plug, M18x1.5 size ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BB5YVHK3/ )

Ford Hybrids (C-Max & Maverick) I've done in the past also require the Level Plug to be checked when the vehicle is slightly warm, and after you drive it just a bit, I think to get any possible air pockets out, with a final Level Check done to make sure you got it. ... Honda is similar here. Technically, the level is only "perfect" if the transmission is warm, not max-hot, checked at the Fill Plug for drips, although DIY backyard mechanics on youtube never seem to mention that.

Image


Now for the AWD Rear Differential fluid change.
It is the same for the earlier CR-V's: https://www.crvownersclub.com/threads/replacing-rear-differential-fluid-on-hybrid-cr-v.226974/
Still holds for the Gen 6 (2023 and newer Hybrid CR-V's).
I didn't use jack stands (car must be level of course). I drove up on 4 pieces of 2x4's laid flat, like I did changing tranny fluid too, to give me a bit more vertical room to work. My torque wrench is not too long, so this worked. Cramped in there. Still easy. Pump or squirt the new fluid into the Level Plug using an attachment on your plastic fluid bottle, like this one: https://www.autozone.com/shop-and-g...garage-tools/oil-spout/p/flotool-transmission-fluid-and-gear-oil-spout/2366_0_0 probably on Amazon, maybe Walmart has it, common thing, or a hand pump that fits on your bottle works well too.

Unlike the transmission fluid change, you do NOT have to warm up the rear diff before checking the Level Plug dripping. Nice. ((( I did this in a 2009 toyota Venza AWD a couple of years ago, and they want you to drive it around a bit after you change the fluid, and then check the level warmed up some. Not on our Honda's though. )))
Always loosen or remove the Level Plug, just to be sure you can get new fluid in before you drain fluid out.

There is one strange Service Manual step though, "After Replacement" of the fluid in the rear diff (I didn't bother with this, I just want clean fluid back there!):

Image


I might try that at some time in the future. The AWD system should throw diagnostic warnings/codes when it doesn't work right as you drive anyway, you'd think. Why is this necessary?
 
#104 ·
Not sure if it makes any difference. The service manual says to enter maintenance mode when replacing transmission or differential fluid. Mechatronic missed mentioning this procedure from the service manual. Honda probably making it sound more complicated than necessary.

There is one strange Service Manual step though, "After Replacement" of the fluid in the rear diff (I didn't bother with this, I just want clean fluid back there!):

Image


I might try that at some time in the future. The AWD system should throw diagnostic warnings/codes when it doesn't work right as you drive anyway, you'd think. Why is this necessary?
Image
 
#74 ·
my 2024 Touring had MM A16 at 10,020 miles. Thought it was a little early for the rear diff oil change, but I'm on extended vacation and expect I'll have more than 4K miles of fun before I get back home, so I paid the dealer to do the rear diff oil while I got the covered (free) oil change. They did not rotate my tires, claiming the tires didn't need it at this point.
Rear diff oil charge was $196. I know it is ridiculous, but I don't have access to tools or lifts so I bit the bullet.
 
#75 ·
The maintenance schedules honda incorporates is only a money grabbing scheme in my opinion. None of the scheduled maintenance periods make any sense. Rear diff oil change is normally performed between 30-60k miles. The dealer told me my wife's 2013 crv trans fluid change interval is 30, again 50 to 100k is the norm depending on driving conditions.
I've done all my own fluid changes for over 50 years, it's getting harder and harder to find non biased maintenance information these days on new cars.
My 2024 sport touring hybrid has only about 40 miles on it; the Search begins now for all necessary tidbits I'll need to perform my own maintenance on this rascal.
Maybe someone has written a book, gen 6 CR-V maintenance for Dummies.
 
#76 ·
The maintenance schedules honda incorporates is only a money grabbing scheme in my opinion. None of the scheduled maintenance periods make any sense. Rear diff oil change is normally performed between 30-60k miles. The dealer told me my wife's 2013 crv trans fluid change interval is 30, again 50 to 100k is the norm depending on driving conditions.
I've done all my own fluid changes for over 50 years, it's getting harder and harder to find non biased maintenance information these days on new cars.
My 2024 sport touring hybrid has only about 40 miles on it; the Search begins now for all necessary tidbits I'll need to perform my own maintenance on this rascal.
Maybe someone has written a book, gen 6 CR-V maintenance for Dummies.
Don't ever go by what the dealer says. You can't go wrong following the owners manual.