Automatic Transmission Shifting?

ecogenieecogenie Band Wagon
in Engine & Drivetrain
My 89 Civic Wagon I put Amsoil into the tranny thinking I would extend its life. Can anyone tell me how these cars shift and at what speeds up and down. I get a jerking motion when it shifts. Is this normal? Should I go back to the regular fluid or keep the Amsoil in? What other things can cause a shifting problem. Someone said it could be a solinoid. Is it best to check the fluid hot or cold? What do you think? Thanks! Any and all help would be appreciated.

Comments

  • skinnyskinny Senior Wagonist
    Well did you put ATF or just oil in? just oil will work on manuals. I think its 10-40 you put in but dont quote me on that. As for autos you should only use HONDA ATF. I have had one auto that had i think it was royal purple in the tranny and it ran better with the honda ATF.
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    i would change the fluid out to Genuine Honda ATF. same goes for Manuals, use only Honda MTF.

    see if that helps.
  • Eagle BeagleEagle Beagle familEE
    milage?
    2.5 quarts(about 2.4 litres)?
    viewtopic.php?f=7&t=4949
    if that is a fact, you can look further into solving this "problem"
  • White&NerdyWhite&Nerdy Senior Wagonist
    Is this a FWD or RT4WD car? I have a RT4WD auto. Simply changing the fluid is the most important thing you can do to extend the life of the transmission. Most people just... well, don't. Part of what killed the transmission in one of my first cars was hard driving and never changing the fluid. :oops:

    The speed (vehicle and engine) at which it shifts is entirely dependant on your driving. At full throttle, it'll run all the way up to redline before shifting. Part throttle, somewhere in between. And on my RT4WD automatic, it also depends whether I'm running in D or S/S4 (a setting FWD cars don't have).

    I'm not sure what you mean by a jerking motion. This isn't the smoothest shifting automatic I've ever driven, and it's a bit more harsh in S (intentionally). When my trans was leaking fluid out one of the axle seals, it would start jerking rather than upshifting when it was low on fluid - a condition that went away as soon as I refilled it.

    I've heard that Honda ATF is the way to go. Me, I've been using a generic Dexron III. I didn't want to drop the money on the expensive stuff while it was still leaking out. :) The tranny was originally made for Dexron II. Dexron III has superceded it, meeting and surpassing the same specifications.
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