I'm a little dismayed and concerned that they have not been very forthcoming with providing you with ALL the information when asked the first time. It's almost like they are trying to cover their tracks. If you have any doubt what-so-ever, change it.

 

I had my oil changed at the local Honda dealer today and I brought along a quart of Redline 75W-90 and asked them to put it into the differential. The service writer tells me that any oil other than the stuff they sell will ruin my LSD and refused to put it into my car. I tell him OK- use your stuff and I'll just take the Redline back to Summit and get my money back. After I picked up my car I took a look at the receipt and it says they filled the diff. with VTM-4!
Should I take the car back and make them put the right stuff in or just keep the Redline and change it myself- possibly causing warranty problems in the future if something goes wrong with the LSD? Or should I pretend that I don't know anything and drive like normal until their mistake manifests itself via a fried differential?

They also refused to put in the Redline MT-90 that I had brought for the transmission oil change.

If I hadn't bought the extended warranty I would never get my car serviced there.

 

Guntersmurf, please check out those threads that I and Gloffer linked in our replies above. You will find them most interesting.
Since you have the extended warranty, you may as well go with what they put in. I suggest that you copy some of the info you read on this forum and send them a letter. In this letter, inform the dealer that you consider what they have put into your car will be of detriment to it and they will be held responsible to make complete and total repairs when those components fail. Also "cc" a copy to Honda. We have had Honda techs on this board "hint" that Honda does NOT have the proper fluid for this diff. If you think that they will not use the "owner abuse" excuse on you later, just keep the fluid and call them on it later.

 

Thanks, I have read them-- in fact, I wouldn't have known about the VTM-4 otherwise.

I will call the service manager on Monday and ask him to make sure that they used the proper oil and if I get the runaround I will make it "official" with a letter.

What is the part number for the proper Honda-brand transmission fluid? My receipt says they used three units (quarts?) of "492827 08798-9016 Fluid, Manual Trans." I thought the tranny only held 1.5 quarts.

I appreciate your time & help, xviper. You are a great asset to this site!

 

my reciept for the rear diff oil says they used part 20H0Z using 3 liters

 

There seems to be a bit of discrepancy here.
First, the Honda MTF is indeed the -9016. This is the correct fluid for the "transmission". There is no way they needed to use 3 qts. Like you said, it take only about 1.5 qts.

As for the "differential", it only take about 0.8 qts, so 3 qts (or liters) is WRONG. Since I only use Mobil 1 gear lube, I don't know what that "20H0Z" is all about. That VTM-4, as Gloffer has indicated, does NOT have a "GL" rating. Our diffs MUST have GL-5 or GL-6 HYPOID GEAR OIL. I do not believe VTM-4 is a hypoid gear oil. Use at your own risk (or at the dealer's risk). Our diffs get quite a bit of thrashing. I think it is a bit "under engineered" for what it does and what it is sometimes asked to do. The fluid in it is ESSENTIAL.

 

you see, i'm in the same boat as Guntersmurf, because i too have the extended warranty. so i guess i'm just going to have to take good notes and have a formal letter ready for honda when something breaks. this is a huge pain, why cant they just get it right?

 

I elected to put Royal Purple synthetic in my diff. I don't know whether it's doing anything special but that's what I chose. I use Royal Purple oil in the motor also, but I did notice an increase in fuel mileage using that so it must be doing something right.