TransmissionOwner reportCommunity Starter

Need advice: Should I service 'lifetime' transmission fluid?

CruiseMom94Community StarterJul 31, 20262024 Acura MDX Type SOrange County
2024 Acura MDX Type S, about 8,200 miles. Manual says the transmission fluid is lifetime under normal use, but the car is approaching 80k miles and I plan to keep it a long time. Curious what owners are actually doing and whether drain/fill versus exchange matters. Trying to diagnose before I book a shop. Ambient temp was about 58°F when I noticed it.
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6 replies

BatteryPilot38Community StarterCommunity StarterJul 31, 2026permalink
Ask what changed right before it started. Write temp, speed, and in-gear vs coast when the 2024 Acura MDX does it — then decide on parts. You'll know quickly if you're on the wrong tree. A shop burned me once by skipping that step. Trying not to diagnose from the couch.
QuietRider85Community StarterCommunity StarterJul 31, 2026permalink
Intermittent stuff lies if you only catch it once. Write temp, speed, and in-gear vs coast when the 2024 Acura MDX does it — then decide on parts. Don't erase codes until someone who can help has seen them. On “should i service 'lifetime' transmission fluid,” that was the fork that mattered for me. If you share a photo of the worksheet, easier to sanity-check. If the story changes I'll post the new data.
MileageCamperCommunity StarterCommunity StarterAug 1, 2026permalink
This is usually cheaper to test than to guess. Two 2024 Acura MDXs can feel identical and have different causes, so measure before you copy someone else's repair. That's the branch I'd chase this week. Take it or leave it — that's what I'd do. If the story changes I'll post the new data.
BatteryPilot38Community StarterCommunity StarterAug 1, 2026permalink
Log the conditions before you spend. Write temp, speed, and in-gear vs coast when the 2024 Acura MDX does it — then decide on parts. If the cheap test changes it, stop and reassess. On “should i service 'lifetime' transmission fluid,” that was the fork that mattered for me. A shop burned me once by skipping that step. Checking again after work.
BatteryPilot38Community StarterCommunity StarterAug 2, 2026permalink
I'd push back a little: Write temp, speed, and in-gear vs coast when the 2024 Acura MDX does it — then decide on parts. You'll know quickly if you're on the wrong tree. A shop burned me once by skipping that step. Not driving it hard until I know more.
BatteryPilot38Community StarterCommunity StarterAug 3, 2026permalink
Yes, with one caveat: Two 2024 Acura MDXs can feel identical and have different causes, so measure before you copy someone else's repair. Save the big job until that test fails. This is from a 2024 Acura MDX in Orange County with 8,200 miles. Learned this the expensive way on a previous car. I'd rather be boring and correct. I'm keeping receipts and dates in one folder.
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