How to Pick the Right Honda Fit Rear Differential Fluid
Never replaced the differential fluid on your Honda Fit? That’s because it doesn’t use it. Here’s what to keep an eye on instead.
Written by Melanie Krieps Mergen
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
Never replaced the differential fluid on your Honda Fit? That’s because it doesn’t use it. Instead, keep an eye on your transmission fluid.
Rear-wheel drive vehicles require differential fluid to lubricate their rear differential, which helps with smooth steering and handling. However, since the Honda Fit’s a front-wheel-drive vehicle, rear differential fluid isn’t something you need to worry about. Instead, your front interaxle is part of your transmission, so you’ll want to monitor your transmission fluid instead.
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.The best Honda Fit differential fluid
When it comes to the Honda Fit, asking what kind of rear differential fluid you need is somewhat of a trick question (more on that below).
Instead of paying attention to rear differential fluid, on a Honda Fit, you’ll need to monitor your transmission fluid.
The transmission fluid you’ll need for your Honda Fit can vary depending on your model year and whether you have an automatic or variable transmission.
For example, on a 2020 Honda Fit with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), Honda recommends using the Honda HCF-2 transmission fluid, cautioning that it shouldn’t be mixed with any other kind of transmission fluid.
On a 2020 Honda Fit with a manual transmission, the owner’s manual recommends using Honda MTF transmission fluid. In absence of that, it’s recommended to use “API
certificated SAE 0 W-20 or 5 W-20 viscosity motor oil as a temporary measure,” but to replace it with MTF as soon as possible to avoid serious transmission damage.
Here are some additional transmission fluids you could consider if they match your Honda Fit’s required specifications:
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What is rear differential fluid—and why does your Honda need it?
If you’re trying to figure out whether you need to change your rear differential fluid, it helps to understand what it does and why it’s important—and, in the case of a Honda fit, whether you need it at all.
Differential fluid—also known as gear oil—lubricates the various components of your Honda Fit’s differential and keeps them cool to protect them from overheating.
Your vehicle’s differential and its inner components are essential for smooth steering and navigating uneven terrain, and gear oil is essential for the differential to do its job properly. A vehicle with rear-wheel drive would have a rear differential.
However, since Honda Fits are front-wheel drive vehicles, they don’t have rear differentials, and therefore, they don’t need rear differential fluid. Instead, they have a front transaxle, which is part of the vehicle’s transmission. In this case, it’s your vehicle's transmission fluid that will help lubricate your transaxle.
How often to change Honda Fit transmission fluid
It’s generally recommended that you change your vehicle’s differential fluid somewhere between every 30,000 and 120,000 miles. That’s a pretty large window—where you’ll call on that spectrum will largely depend on the type of vehicle you drive and what kinds of driving conditions are typical for you.
Your owner’s manual should specify how often you’ll generally need to change your transmission fluid. If you’re frequently driving in rougher conditions, you might end up needing to replace your transmission fluid sooner than you’d otherwise have to. But if your car’s exposed to gentler driving conditions, you’ll probably be able to go longer before needing to replace your transmission fluid.
A 2008 Honda Fit owner’s manual recommends replacing your transmission fluid at 60,000 miles, and then every 2 years or every 30,000 miles after that if you frequently drive in mountainous areas.
If you can’t tell what kind of condition your transmission fluid is in, you can always ask your
mechanic
to take a look and go from there.How to change your Honda Fit’s transmission fluid
The 2020 Honda Fit’s owner’s manual actually cautions against checking or changing transmission fluid yourself. However, the 2008 Honda Fit owner’s manual outlines steps to check your transmission fluid level and add more fluid if needed.
So, a good first step to determining how you should go about checking your Honda Fit’s transmission is to refer to your owner’s manual.
If you’re unsure what kind of condition your transmission fluid is in, a good second step would be to get your mechanic’s opinion. They’ll be able to add more of the proper transmission fluid or drain it completely and replace it with fresh transmission fluid for you, if necessary.
How to find affordable Honda insurance
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