I used to never change transmission fluid because of old mechanics telling me not to touch it

For like 15 years I listened to the old school guys who said if you change the fluid on a high mileage car you'll kill the transmission. Then my 2003 Honda Accord hit 180k miles and the shifting got rough. A guy at a shop in Nashville told me that myth is for garbage. Did a drain and fill instead of a flush and it shifted smooth again within 20 miles. I feel stupid for ignoring maintenance all those years. Anyone here run into that same advice from older mechanics?

1 comments

1 Comment

pipera501mo ago

You're kinda right but the "don't touch it" rule was more about high pressure flushes on old transmissions, not drain and fills like you did. A lot of those old guys meant well but they were thinking of the power flushes that could blow out seals on a 200k mile trans. Sounds like you found the right approach for that Honda.