Any opinions on Honda HFC-2 CVT fluid vs Castrol Asian CVT fluid? Obviously I could play it safe with the expensive Honda product, but is there really a difference, beside price?

$15/qt vs $6.00/qt. That's $60 vs $24.

 

No one really knows the answer to that question. For peace of mind I stayed with the Honda. When it comes to the CVT I won't risk third party.

 

Looking online, I found some answers. "Yes, it's okay to use Castrol CVT fluid." "No, you should use only the Honda fluid." I'm glad that's settled. 😉

I ordered the Honda fluid for both cars.

 

Recently, I replaced the CVT fluid with Valvoline CVT Trans Fluid $34.99 + tax from Auto Zone. This fluid is very smelly. I have not confronted with any issues.

 

Well, I ordered $60 worth of Honda fluid, rather than the Castrol for $23. I doubt I'll be safer with the Honda, and I'll use Castrol the next time.

It's the same with coolant. $18 for Zerex or $34 for Honda.

 

My guess is that the non-Honda fluids are *probably* fine. But, when the difference between definitely fine and probably fine could be very expensive, and considering you only replace the coolant or transmission fluid every couple years, I'm okay with paying a premium for the Honda fluids (DW-1 in my case).

 

Sad, but true.

 

It is a personal built in psychology that if it doesn't say Honda, it is probably not as good. Get over it. Over the year I have used OEM replacement products without issues. Even if thre is a slight difference, it is probably there for advertisements.

 

While we're on the subject -- and I apologize if this has been discussed to death, chastise as needed -- but what's the group consensus on how often to change the CVT fluid? I don't drive much anymore, so my 2019 LX has just under 30K miles on it. Should I have my mechanic change the CVT fluid at my next oil change, or is that not needed? In addition to not driving a lot of miles, I'm pretty easy on my cars -- always have been, probably an outgrowth of having learned to drive in '79, right in the middle of the second oil price shock, so light-on-the-throttle was a lesson learned early. When should I need new fluid?

 

I've often heard recommendations to change it every 30,000 miles.

 

Fair enough -- I'll have him do it at the next oil change, regardless of what the Maintenance Minder says or doesn't say. Thanks!

 

I'd agree with that although I actually did my first change at about 20,000 miles because the age was about 6 years at that point,