Changed ATF after 80K. It shifts so well now. (2021 9sp)
Changed out the transmission fluid in my 2021 Pilot AWD. Also did the transfer case and rear differential at the same time. The car has 160K and was last "changed" by the car dealer at 80K. I put that in quotes, because my dealer's service department is horrific, and I bet they just did the "drain and replace" once if that. The fluid that I drained out was almost jet black! No wonder it was shifting so poorly.
I used a scan tool to do the full fluid temp check and level check as stated in the manual. I did the whole drain and fill procedure twice, after the second change, the fluid coming out of the side level check hole was red instead of brown.
Yes I said red. I used the new Valvoline Restore and Protect ATF instead of the insanely expensive clear stuff you are supposed to put in these. Valvoline says it can be used in place of the Honda DW-1 or Pentosin ATF9, and others say they have had no issues doing this.
Results... it's like a brand new Pilot. That burnt up ATF was making that poor transmission suffer. The shifts are almost imperceptible now. It's so smooth. There was a good amount of hesitation before, especially with a load, or going up a hill.
Now that I know I've got the right amount in, I'll be doing a simple drain and fill every 30K (when the car has cooled down overnight, as the fluid changes volume a lot with temperature)
Between this, the S-VCM and Idlestopper, it feels like a new Pilot. Hoping I can make it to 300K÷!!