Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Unwell 1999 Honda Civic

my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

»	Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE » Community » Film-Yak » Unwell 1999 Honda Civic - thoughts appreciated (Page 3)

This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3

Author

Topic: Unwell 1999 Honda Civic - thoughts appreciated

Sean McKinnon
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1712
From: Peabody Massachusetts
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 07-30-2013 12:59 PM

Yeah it's odd there are places that flat out refuse to change or flush certain fluids such as transmission fluid unless you can prove you've done it regularly they say similar to what Sam said that unless it was done regularly changing automatic transmission fluid can junk the transmission. It seems counter intuitive but I suppose all the goop might be holding everything together! [Smile]

| IP: Logged

Leo Enticknap
Film God

Posts: 7474
From: Loma Linda, CA
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 07-30-2013 06:35 PM

The transmission fluid I'm not worried about: from the file of service receipts it looks like it's been replaced three times during the time Olivia has owned the car, which is about the recommended interval; except that according to the Haynes manual, that interval should be halved, to every 15k miles, if the car is used regularly in outside temperatures above 90 degrees fahrenheit, which in the Inland Empire it certainly is. That having been said, the British Haynes manuals are notorious for recommending shorter intervals and generally more intense maintenance than is really necessary: as a general rule, the manufacturer's recommendation is overly optimistic, Haynes's is overly pessimistic and the ideal is usually about midway between the two! For example, on my Fiesta back home, Ford tell you to replace the timing belt every 80k, Haynes every 40k, but the guy who runs the independent garage next door to me would recommend 60. I'm guessing that something similar applies to the US Haynes manuals, too.

But there is no record of the power steering liquid ever having been replaced in this Honda. I'm guessing that this is because it's never supposed to be - the factory fill is intended to last for the life of the car (or at least, of the power steering pump), or it's designed to be gradually and continuously replaced as the reservoir is topped off as the result of evaporation, or minute losses through seals etc.

Still, given that power steering fluid essentially does the same job as brake fluid (it's the liquid in a hydraulic system), and brake fluid is supposed to be flushed and replaced every 10-30k miles (ish) depending on the type of vehicle, I'm a bit surprised at this. Maybe it's beacuse the brake system is safety-critical, but power steering isn't. Presumably if the power steering pump predeceases the entire car, the fluid will be changed in the process of replacing it.

As an interim compromise, I turkey-bastered out the contents of the reservoir (about half a quart) and replaced that this morning, so at least the hydraulic function of the overall mix should have been boosted a little, without removing all the suspended crud that might be holding the seals together.

Thanks everyone for the heads-up.

| IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 3 pages: 1 2 3

Printer-friendly view of this topic

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.