# Acura Auto Tranny Maintenance **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** integra, acura\ **Created:** [September 28, 2011, 4:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/acura-auto-tranny-maintenance/68266 "2011-09-28T16:28:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sciconf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sciconf](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sciconf)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2011, 4:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/acura-auto-tranny-maintenance/68266/1 "2011-09-28T16:28:55Z")
87 Integra with 152k About 4 yrs ago, at 140k, I had to replace the tranny (after servicing it with Honda fluid and Redbottle mix). It turned out, it already had a replacement tranny from junk yard. I bought this car in 1999 with 88k miles. Original tranny done 88k. Second one did 52k but after 20-30k it started issues. The one installed 4 yrs ago was bought in used part shop - m/c advised me that it is a bit sticky at certain gear, 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to 4th (from memory). I have been changing the tranny fluid every 2 yrs. Seafoam has an additive. There is this Redbottle. People had advised that trying to improve tranny performance with different fluids can accelerate the issues to complete failure (might have happened 4 yrs ago). Is anything inexpensive I can do so that the tranny performs better? Means gas saver (won’t run on low gear)? ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2011, 4:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/acura-auto-tranny-maintenance/68266/2 "2011-09-28T16:40:16Z")
The only thing you should do is basic fluid/filter service about every 30K miles. Anything else, like additives, may very well do more harm than good. Always make sure it is exactly the correct Honda-spec fluid. ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2011, 4:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/acura-auto-tranny-maintenance/68266/3 "2011-09-28T16:49:00Z")
I think I remember reading somewhere, that transman ( a user in this forum @transman618 ) recommended using an additive for particular situations. Hopefully, he will see that I mentioned him in this discussion and chime in. ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2011, 4:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/acura-auto-tranny-maintenance/68266/4 "2011-09-28T16:53:24Z")
He always says a bottle of LubeGuard Red is a good thing. But I believe that is a maintainer thing rather than a “fix” or make anything “better” kind of thing. Its bottle professes to basically protect/prolong the life of the fluid & help keep the fluid cooler. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/acura-auto-tranny-maintenance/68266/5 "2011-09-28T17:22:17Z")
Frankly, were I in your shoes, I’d drive it till the tranny died and get another one. Integras are a dime a dozen. They made a zillion of them and I still see a lot of them on the road every time I drive. Integras are usually not that problematic in the transmission department - sounds like you’re having bad luck because you keep getting crappy used ones instead of good rebuilt ones. ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 12:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/acura-auto-tranny-maintenance/68266/6 "2011-09-30T00:09:45Z")
Cross your fingers and pray to your deity of choice. An 1987 Integra is not worth putting a replacement transmission in unless you do it extreme low labor rate or yourself. Good luck with it all.