How to Drain and Fill Transmission Fluid in a 2012 Honda Civic (2006-2015 Years) Transmission Flush 

Eric, thank you so much for taking the time to make this video. You were very thorough and informative and I now feel like I can perform this service with confidence. I’d love to see more videos for maintenance/ troubleshooting on this vehicle.

great instructional video, easy to follow and will save me $150.

Thanks so much for the video! I just change my transmission fluid following the instructions and it went perfect. I had to use a pipe on the ratchet to get the plug off which was the hardest part. Thank you!

thanks for this vid Eric. Our cars are twins, i own a 2012 coupe exactly like yours. i am doing a trans drain and refill very soon. your vid will be very helpful. i like the way your vids are presented in a no nonsense way. thank you sir, great job.

Just picked up a clean 2013 LX with 80K for my grand niece who joined the Marine Corps right outta high school. Gonna service the fluids, check the brakes, etc and drive it to her. She is stationed at Camp Pendleton, about 6.5 hours away. Thanks for the vid. 2.5 quarts; will probably do it twice. By the way, the Idemitsu Honda DW-1 equivalent is really good fluid.

Awesome video! Such great and clear explanations. Be sure to make some more on newer Honda Civics; I have a 2013 and would benefit from your knowledge and experience... thank you!

Thank you . Used your video along with another an yours gave me the extra techniques to get the job done. Much appreciated.

Great Vid Awesome !!!!! keep doing 9th gen. maintenance videos

A great and very detailed video. Thank you :)

Thanks very much for the video. Yes. The plus is very hard to get off the first time. I used a breaker bar and was able to get it off. Pull the breaker bar towrads the front of the car in order to loosen. The transmission fluid is synthetic and the transmission is closed, so it won't get dirty like oil will get. The fluid will get very hot though as honda allows the transmission to spin at 6,000 rpm before it shifts some times. I change my transmission fluid with 1 drain and fill every oil change. I change my oil at 16,000 km/10,000 miles, so I do a full 4 transmission fluid changes every 40,000 miles. It is fine. You don't need to overdo it. I don't use Honda specific transmission fluid as many stores and brands make transmission fluid that meets Honda specs. Valvoline makes a good alternative and so do auto store brands. I doubt Honda manufacturers their own brand and they probably pay a fluid company to make it for them.

Great job !! I think I can do this. Great easy clear instructions.

I want to give this video 10 thumbs up, but I can only give one lol. Great job!!

Thanks, very clear, very helpful, as are your directions for jacking up a Civic.

That was very helpful. Thank you for posting.

Very nice work, sir!

Thanks. The 10 cent crush washer cost me $5 at my dealership. The fluid isnt cheap either! But, keeping your Civic well maintained is important. I am doing my fluid every 50k miles.

thank you for all the information great video

Very good videos, easily followed.

Bro! Great videos!!

That Minnesota accent is on point!!! hell yea!

Excellent video and explanation

Great video!! I just did mine!! Thank you!! I wonder how much you helped me save?!

Thanks for the Video, my wife's honda needs the B13 service and the 3 is the transmission fluid change.

Thanks for the video. Do I need to change the filter. If so is it under the air filter like the older models?

great video. very helpful. thanks!

Thanks for the video! Can I loosen the bolt with my impact wrench or is that not recommendable?

stellar explanation!

Great Video Eric ! What is the size or diameter of the crush washer you replaced? thanks!

Wow. By far the best Honda maintenance video 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

Thanks bud I lived in Toronto in 1990 and thumbs up

Chris, Great video! Is it okay to go through all the gears or just down to D like you showed us on the video?

Nice video and great job done, so i have a question my car is the same like this car with 216000km, so do I need to drain the transmission fluid??? As some ppl say it is a risk to do at this milage coz it gonna slip after???

thank you great video eric!

can you do a similar video for a fluid change?

My sons car will start shifting harsh and a flush and fill helps. But what really made a HUGE difference is Lucas Transmission fix. I had about 1/4 to 1/2 a bottle and its helps it shift

Thank you very much is very helpful the video.

Other than the suggestions you made to loosen that screw at the bottom of the transmission well, what are other ways to loosen it? WD40?

Fantastic thanks, very helpful..

Very nice work. Can you make a video on changing brake fluid in a 2012 honda civic?

So no need to pull the Trans fluid hose and drain any remaining fluid? Or do you suggest just to do the trans flush twice after a few miles driving to get it as clean as possible.

i have the honda civic 2015 LX sedan, and it really the same thing are yours, but my dip stick is really short and dose not have that metal piece to indicate Hot cold or the level. Also my dipstick falls off the socket. ALL THE TIME. have 50k miles on it you think i should change it?

Hey Eric great video and kudos for stressing the importance of using the factory fluid! Was that drain plug on the front of the transmission? I couldn't tell for sure. I would just be using ramps and checking the fluid level after filling and going back to level ground but if that was on the front I suppose I'll have to buy more jack stands or it wont drain as well. Also just a side note, last year I was in the market for a new civic but opted for a nice used 2013 because I found out that all 2014 and up automatics were now the CVT transmission and I wanted the traditional auto.

I used Pennzoil synthetic atf.it says on the back it compatible with honda DW-1 and had no issues It actually shifts smoother now

If i refill 3 or 4 times, it has to be in that moment?? Or maybe can i road the car for once week or two or three days before each oil change??

my check transmission info displayed on my dashboard. is this maintenance needed to drain/refill is required?

How often should this be done? The 2012 Civic LX owners manual doesn't even mention fluid changing intervals.

After filling and going to all the R,Nand D like you did. When checking the fluid correct level. Does it need to pass the x x x range? Like does it need to be on hot area of the dip stick?

Hi,Eric, I have a stupid question. How you do dispose of the old transmission fluid or engine oil?

Many thanks Can I use amsoil ATF signature series In stead of Honda OEM ATF DW1 ??

Do I let the fluid drain completely until there is nothing dripping at all? And where can I get a OEM washer? Thanks

I have this exact car, so I was wondering does car have a transmission filter?

I Love this Little Civic its so underrated But its an excellent tool from honda in terms of reliability. Honda reability at its best

Not only is there fluid in the torque converter that doesn’t get drained, there is transmission fluid in lines that connect to the radiator and transmission fluid within passages of the radiator (which cools the fluid during vehicle operation).

Thanks for the great video! May I use my impact wrench to loosen the bolt, or is that not recommendable?

+Eric Smith Thanks for the Video. Worked for my 2012 Honda Civic Sedan 5 Speed Automatic LX 1.8L. Drained and refilled with about a 1/4 quart more fluid than recommended, as I was already about a 1/4 quart low when I started the process.

Please help me if there is a filter filter for the conveyor

+Eric Smith Brilliant video, very detailed and professional. Do you have a shop? If yes, where? If local I would like to have my Civic's transmission oil changed.

Will the atf-z1 work it says there relatively the same or no?

Thanks. Show how to change the ATF filter too.

Hey eric, my dealer just did a drain and fill, should the colour be bright red because it isnt.. On my honda :'-(

I'm kind of confused with the information about a Civic Si 2012-2015 MTF change. I understand the drain seems the same as in this video, on the bottom of the car with a square on the nut. Where do you fill it up? Is it in the same spot as in this video? I know on Civic Si's it's under the Stock Air Filter. People are suggesting its next to where it is drained but you need a hose/pump to fill it. Can you not just fill it through the engine bay like this video? Thanks in advance!

Can you please tell me how to see which transmission I have

dose ur car still run perfect after change it ur self

does the civic 12' need a coolant flush??

good job.

What if the the drain hole is crack, would it cost so much money to repair?

Thanks for the video. When I checked the fluid after changing it was barely touching the bottom of the dipstick (I had added 2.5 qts like the video said). I added the last 1/2 quart to make a total of 3 qts and it still is barely touching the dipstick. Am I missing something? I'm hesitant to add any more.

I did the same and disconnected the hose coming for. The converter , I turned on the engine in intervals of 3-4 seconds and making sure to keep adding so it doesn’t run dry

Great video. Any tips on removing the skid plate screws (x4)? They seem standard but are either on super tight or seized up. Thanks.

Is there a filter that need to be changed?

Can you upload coolant and brake fluid change too? Thanks.

Once again an excellent review but anyway it is not a $0.10 washer, it is $3.65 now in the dealership.

does it have a filter to change too or what

Thank you

When does it need it ? I have 2013 honda civic. It has 54, 000 miles .

Does that car have a filter in the transmission?

Has anyone else had to add more than 2.5 quarts? I just did my fluid change today and 2.5 barely touched the bottom of the dip stick. I ended up adding an extra 1/4 of a bottle (I came down to the 200 ml on the 3rd bottle) till the line was just under the full mark.

Hey Eric so I am barely going to change my transmission oil and my civic is at 75,000. You mentioned that you have to fill and drained 3 to 4 times does that mean I have to buy 12 qts or do I just drain and reuse the same 2.5 qts? I would appreciate the help. Thank you

Aside from the different type of fluid, is there any other difference in the process for manual transmission? Great video, thx

My 2 cents, I changed my transmission fluid by doing what you just did plus undoing the line going to the radiator cooler so the transmission fluid from the torque converter will get pump out with the engine running of course until the drainage slows. The transmission will not be damage because its not shifting. A master mechanic from Kia/Mazda/Suzuki and now Audi told me that's how they do it in the shop. I did it with my 99 Sienna with 75000 miles on it first time since I got it and to this day it didn't miss a beat no damage. BTW, Sienna now has 90000 miles on it. What do you think? No more drain and fill 3X. Also a buddy of my mine did it with his 93 BMW 3 series no problem.

When you check this fluid level, do you seat the dipstick all the way in the transmission or just set it down loose? Being a hot check, I'm not sure of the correct procedure. Thanks.

For a 3x3 drain and fill procedure, are you supposed to drive the car around for a few hundred miles in between each drain and fill? Or should you try and do it all in a single day?

Hey Eric would it be OK if I use ramps instead of Jacks... would I have to use jacks for the rear of the car ? also does the car have to be level .?

Went to the dealer to purchase atf fluid for my 2012 civic 1.8 auto. Parts guy gave me 4liters in total and said i needed to put 4. After draining i put all 4 bottles (4L) and when i put the old fluid out i only ended up around 3 bottles filled with old fluid. Should i drain the rest out or what? Theres no leak at all and tranny shifts good.

I got a 2014 civic automatic, do I do the same process or is it totally different

Dude do a video on the brakes change

Do you recommend doing drain and fill 3 times after some driving so your overall fluid is new?

I put all 3, when a drain it drain 3 quarts so that's what I put back in you think that was a right move?

So transmission takes 2 1/2 Quarts?

he's right, that drain is put on by Lou Ferrigno!! Holy Christ!! (VERY tight!)

is there such a thing as a hybrid AT-CVT transmission? that's what's on the sticker under my hood. i've had a couple mechanics tell me it's automatic, but it feels like CVT. the shifting is smooth and you don't hear any obvious changing in sound. the sticker doesn't say hybrid, just says AT-CVT

What transmission plug gasket does it use? How many mms?

Hey Eric, When you say it requires you to repeat this 3-4 times does this mean to use new fluid each time?

DH, removing a rubber hose off and clamp shouldn't be hard, and the only trick is there's only two hoses that connects to the radiator cooler one is slow to pump out and the other is fast use that one.

is there not a transmission fluid filter under the car or just a bolt?

Hi Eric, I noticed you didn't change the ATF Filter, which is Honda P/N: 25430-PLR-003. I couldn't find out how long this filter lasts. Should this be changed along with flushing the Transmission Fluid?

So if your doing this procedure you need to buy 12 bottles ? & basically drain the new fluid which basically your loosing your money which is why is called 3x3 ?

Would this be the correct video to follow for my 2012 Civic LX 1.8L engine?

what's about the fliter?

What happens if you don't use the Honda atf and use a different one?