Should genuine Honda transmission oil be use for change or is a good quality alternative just as good or 'better'?
That's an interesting question, and one that deserves a bit of discussion.
On a CVT - the correct Honda CVT-F fluid
only at about £10/litre.
On a manual they recommend Honda MTF-3 also about £10/litre.
These are usually only available from Honda outlets.
But, there is a possibility of using other transmission oils in a manual. An independent garage might use the correct general grade 'from the big drum' of 75W-80 GL4/5, manufacturer designated oil closely aligns with oil producer's grades although the additive contents might vary slightly. The interesting diy alternative (popular in Civic / Accord forums) is the Rover / Land Rover / MINI grade oil MTF-94. This is available widely and is supposedly 'the same'; it is basically a 75W-80 GL4/5 product, you can get 5 litres for the price of 2 litres of Honda stuff, but considering the time between changes it might take many years to capitalise on this saving. It is probably of similar quality and attributes seeing as they have a shared heritage back to the Civic / Rover 400 days where the same parts had different manufacturer designations.
1.6 litres x 3 changes = 4.8 litres (from 5 litres) >> 3 changes from a £20 container of MTF-94 (or 75W-80)
1.6 lires x 1 change = 1.6 litres (from 2 x 1 litre) >> 1 change from £20 of Honda MTF-3
It's like nearly everything with a Honda label on it - someone else made it for them....
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TG
