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Why Change the Fluid?
Transmission fluid is the lifeblood of your Honda Pilot. It keeps all the gears spinning smoothly and prevents them from grinding and sticking. Without regular fluid changes, your transmission can get really gummed up and it can even break down completely. So if you want to keep your Honda Pilot running like a dream, then you’ll need to change the transmission fluid. It’s not as complicated as it sounds. And if you follow these simple steps, you can do it all by yourself!
What You’ll Need
To get started, you’ll need to gather the things you’ll need for the job. The most important is a new bottle of transmission fluid. Most Honda Pilots take ATF-Z1 type fluid, so be sure to get the right kind. You’ll also need a pan or container to catch the old fluid, a funnel, and a wrench to loosen the drain plug. It’s also a good idea to have some rags on hand in case there’s any spillage.
Drain the Old Fluid
Once you’ve gathered all your supplies, it’s time to get to work. Start by lifting the hood and locating the transmission fluid pan. It’s usually located near the back of the engine, right in front of the firewall. Once you’ve found it, use the wrench to loosen the drain plug at the bottom of the pan. When it’s loose, let the old fluid drain into the pan. Once the pan is almost empty, you can tighten the drain plug back up.
Fill it Up
Now it’s time to fill the transmission up with fresh fluid. Put the funnel into the dipstick tube and slowly pour in the new fluid. Be sure to check the dipstick to make sure you’re putting in the right amount. When it’s full, close the lid and put the hood back down.
Good as New!
Now your Honda Pilot is ready to go! You just changed the transmission fluid all by yourself. You see, it wasn’t so hard after all! So if you ever need to change the fluid again, now you know how. Just remember: Honda Pilots run on ATF-Z1, so be sure to get the right kind.
And with that, you can hit the road. Just don’t forget to start singing as you go: “Oh, I changed my transmission fluid, it was easy breezy! Now I’m free to roam the highways and byways!”