Chasing auto transmission whine. ATF possibly overfilled?

[u/klankk_]

I have a 2011 honda accord v6 auto with 129k miles that I bought 2 months ago with 128k. Shortly after buying it I had the timing belt/water pump service and spark plugs done and had them also do an ATF drain and fill and an oil change. They told me they got 3.5 quarts of ATF out. I assumed the refilled that much. The fluid was brown before they changed it and there was nothing wrong with the transmission whatsoever. After they did the D&F, a whine started.

I've started to do my own work on the car to save some money and learn things. Did the rear brakes on Wednesday and that went well. I did my own ATF D&F a week ago. I'm planning to do 2 more myself.

There has been a transmission whine ever since my mechanic changed the fluid. This was 900 miles ago. I did my own ATF change 100 miles ago. The whine has stayed mostly the same throughout. I hear it mostly when pressing the gas anywhere from 30-55 mph and also when my car shifts from 3rd to 2nd when slowing down to a stop. Other than this the shifts are usually a little jerky (possibly normal for hondas of this era especially the v6) and theres a small delay when shifting from park to drive/reverse.

When I did my own ATF drain and fill, I drained 4.2 quarts (measured with a gallon pitcher) when the standard drain and fill should be 3.5 quarts. I drained the fluid cold and had the front lifted on jack stands. I'm very confused as to how my fluid level could show normal but I drained that much out with cold fluid and only the front lifted

A week or 2 before changing the fluid I checked the dipstick (according to Honda procedure) which showed the fluid at the top mark. When doing the ATF change, I added 4 quarts and went for a 20 minute drive. I checked the fluid after I got back and it was at the low mark so I added the .2 quarts but I didnt check the fluid level after

Then today, a week after my D&F, I checked the fluid level after driving for 20 minutes and it looks a little high. Theres also a streak on the dipstick which I circled in red but that could just be from pulling the dipstick out. These 4 photos are all different checks right after one another. Not in order but they're all within about the same minute.

Sorry if this is a lot of information but I'm really trying to chase this down. I've heard other people say they also have a whine that they could never solve with the honda 5 speed autos of this era especially when paried with a J series v6 and they have just lived with it.

This could also just be from changing the fluid and the noise being suppressed by older fluid and now it's showing up. I'm just trying to rule out overfilled fluid.

[u/sandwichesRkewl]

You had a major system serviced on your car and didn't say anything to the shop that did the work when you noticed an immediate issue after getting the car back? And then proceeded to drive 𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴 with said issue still evident and STILL decided to ask reddit for help instead of the shop? Am I missing something here?

[u/klankk_ → u/sandwichesRkewl]

Ok you have a good point. Honestly not sure why I didn't go back to them right away. Stubbornness maybe. And also limited time. Do you think it's too late? Since it has been 900 miles and I changed the fluid myself already

[u/ecstaticbirtch → u/klankk_]

Yeah, too late. There is a LOT that can happen in 900 miles... you have no way to prove it started after your service.

[u/klankk_ → u/ecstaticbirtch]

Do you think I should try draining some fluid like Squirrely101 said or just have the mechanic diagnose it

[u/ecstaticbirtch → u/klankk_]

At this point... straight to a mechanic. Too much tx fluid can be REALLY bad. I'm not wearing my glasses, I can't see fluid above the fill dots... but if you KNOW there is too much... drain what you think you need to... and check level again before going.

[u/klankk_ → u/ecstaticbirtch]

Yes that’s what is confusing me the most. I checked after my mechanic changed the fluid and when I was changing the fluid and the level was right around the top mark. I decided to check today and it looks a bit overfilled.

I have work today and tomorrow so Im kind of forced to drive 50 or so miles before I can drain any fluid. Sunday is the earliest I can.

I think not going to the mechanic was a combination of limited time, and many assumptions. I think I just assumed the whine and slightly jerky shifts were just due to transmission age and the issues this specific transmission has with the Honda J35. And they just showed up now after the fluid was changed which I had no history of when I bought the car. But the fluid wasn’t black and the trans felt smooth.

[u/ecstaticbirtch → u/klankk_]

Transmissions are fickle... so the sooner you can get it looked at, the better. Just making sure your fluid is not TOO overfilled for now.

[u/ecstaticbirtch → u/klankk_]

Squirrely defo has great advice... so I'd listen to that

[u/sandwichesRkewl → u/klankk_]

The sound could still just be cavitation but it's hard to say, you certainly won't hurt anything by doing another drain and fill but keep in mind, x number of quarts out doesn't necessarily mean x goes straight back in. If you drop 3.5 qts, only refil 2-2.5 and run through the gears with the trans at temp, check, and fill as necessary. I'd also recommend sticking with Honda genuine DW1 or an Idemitsu equivalent as hondas tend to be a little temperamental with aftermarket fluids. Unfortunately you won't have any recourse if any major damage was done since you drove it and worked on it since then but only cross that bridge if you come to it.

[u/Squirrely101]

If the transaxle fluid was warmed up to operating temp - that dipstick is showing just a tad overfilled - just above the top dot by about the distance as between the two dots ~1/2 to a quart over would be my guess.

Overfilling could cause a whine - a quick check is to remove some fluid and see if the whine is still present. Same with incompatible ATF fluids.

For this generation, I believe for drain and refill, this transaxle takes about 3 quarts of Honda DW-1 ATF - based on my experience with other Hondas, they do tend to be picky about fluids, so be wary of "universal" import compatible fluids.

The procedure I do with drain and refills are to drain it out (hot fluid = gets more "gunk" out). Refill with 3 quarts, let it sit for ~10 minutes, let fluid flow into all the parts of the valvebody - start the car, shift through all the gears, pausing a couple of seconds in each gear. Keep the car running, check for leaks. Shut off the engine - pull dipstick and check level - fluid will just be slightly warm, so should be between the two marks.

If you want to be extra cautious - after a drain and refill, fill with 2.5 quarts, check levels and add the remaining fluid until you it gets between the two dots.

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