Honda Transmission and Power Steering Fluid

This article isn’t just about Honda vehicles. We are just using the brand as an example because Honda cars are very common these days. The takeaway should be some clarification on issues concerning transmission fluid and power steering pump/ fluid etc.

More importantly, many Honda and other car users are reportedly using transmission fluid oil in power steering. Is this is a good idea? Let’s talk about it in detail.

Power Steering Fluid Vs. Transmission Fluid:

A power steering feels very light and responsive to input. You can easily maneuver the car around in approx. 99% of the cases. By comparison, car owners like power steering vehicles because they don’t have to flay and swing their arms around as much as they used to do when vehicles’ steering system was entirely manual.

Underneath all that mechanism, there is a power steering pump which is responsible for the smooth transition of the car from one direction to another. The pump has what we call power steering fluid. It is mostly crystal clear and does not require a change as long as the container is properly sealed.

However, in some cases, the power steering fluid catches sludge and changes its color. As a result, steering control becomes a huge pain in the butt. To avoid this issue, some drivers use transmission fluid instead of regular power steering fluid.

What they don’t know is that both of these “fluids” have different viscosity and resistance to temperature. It is NOT okay to use transmission fluid as power steering fluid. You could be doing long-lasting mechanical damage to the car’s steering system.

Secondly, whenever you need to change your power steering fluid, make sure that the pump is completely flushed. That means no partial refills, underfilling or overfilling is acceptable. We have recommended Honda’s popular Genuine Fluid 08206 (*for automatic vehicles) and 08798 (*for manual transmission vehicles) to illustrate the aforementioned example in detail.

Read on…

Honda Genuine Fluid 08206-9002 Power Steering Fluid

[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”B00AVOAUN2″ locale=”US” nw=”y” src=”https://myengineneeds.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/41AQwKiHpmL.jpg” tag=”myengineneeds-20″ width=”375″]

[easyazon_cta align=”center” identifier=”B00AVOAUN2″ key=”wide-orange” locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”myengineneeds-20″]

Since its inception, Honda has come up with tons of accessories and products to support its vehicle lineup. The company itself endorses its own and other company products that are evaluated to add to the performance of Honda vehicles.

In that order, Honda Genuine Fluid 08206-9002 is a high-grade power steering fluid that hasn’t met a worthy competitor yet. The fluid is expensive as compared to your regular run-of-the-mill power steering fluid bottles available in aftermarket shops. So, buy more than 1 bottle. It’ll go a long way.

Also, do not neglect maintenance factor issues. If there’s a mechanical fault in your power steering, have it checked out. Some of the problems in the car repair on their own!!! Others have to be consulted on with a mechanic. Honda Genuine Fluid 08206-9002 is known for improving power steering and general handling performance of any range of
vehicles.

Pros:

• Genuine Honda certified power steering fluid.

• Fits a majority of Honda vehicles.

• Known for long-lasting sludge free performance.

• Requires minimal maintenance and change intervals.

Cons:

• Price is comparatively higher than other competitor products.

In conclusion, if you have an automatic Honda vehicle with power steering, this one’s a solid buy. Now let’s move on to an introductory analysis of Honda 08978-9031.

Honda 08978-9031 Genuine Manual Transmission Fluid:

[easyazon_image align=”center” height=”500″ identifier=”B00HA8HBR0″ locale=”US” nw=”y” src=”https://myengineneeds.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/41x4Tm2BJeXL.jpg” tag=”myengineneeds-20″ width=”237″]

[easyazon_cta align=”center” identifier=”B00HA8HBR0″ key=”wide-orange” locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”myengineneeds-20″]

This one is for manual Honda cars. If you are not driving an automatic tranny Honda, Honda 08978-9031 serves as a better alternative as compared to other company products. Generally, Honda vehicle owners have driven over 50,000 miles before they reportedly had to go for a transmission fluid/ gear oil change.

In one use case, a driver reportedly changed his Honda 08978-9031 genuine transmission fluid after 3, 4 years of rigorous driving. He said that he barely noticed any discoloration upon flushing the pump. Also, it seemed as if the oil was brand new due to its ability to retain viscosity after such a long time.

One of the main reasons for liking Honda 08978-9031 Genuine manual transmission fluid over other products is because of the durability factor. Since Honda endorses it, the oil follows the exact OEM specifications for maximum optimal performance.

Over the past few years, Honda has been regularly updating this fluid’s chemical composition to make it compatible with modern models of Honda vehicles.

In some context, it is safe to say that you can use Honda 08978-9031 fluid on other company cars. As long as the fluid is certified and the rating matches that of your previous brand’s, you are good to go. In the majority of cases, this fluid has been able to
maintain its performance stats in both Honda and non-Honda cars.

As compared to[easyazon_link identifier=”B006YU7G8E” locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”myengineneeds-20″]Honda 08206 transmission fluid[/easyazon_link], Honda 08978-9031 is slightly more affordable. The price falls within the affordability bracket of most drivers who are budget conscious. The oil reportedly has lower friction and even lower metal on metal damage probabilities.

Pros:

• Suitable for a long-range of Honda and non-Honda cars.

• Certified Honda product.

• Honda 08978-9031 meets OEM standards for maximum performance.

• This oil is slightly more affordable as compared to other competitor products within the same niche.

• Due to low resistance and ideal viscosity levels, Honda 08978-9031 is good from long term fuel economy perspective.

Cons:

• Honda 08978-9031 does not have any setbacks. The transmission fluid is generally accepted as a high standard product in the market.

If you have any other questions about manual vs. automatic transmission fluids, feel free to send us an email. Have you tried using Honda 08978-9031 and 08206 before? If so, how was your experience? We would love for you to share your thoughts through the comments section below. Good luck and drive safe out there.