Accidentally put transmission fluid in the engine

Tiny
CARMART013
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 HONDA ACCORD
  • 2.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 201,672 MILES
It’s been 5 months since then, I haven’t tried anything out to get it fixed. Should I try to “ flush method “ meaning change all the oil out and put some new ones? I heard the putting transmission oil in the engine is used to “ clean the engine “ but I never done it. What’s should I do? I need help. I have mad love for this car it’s been in my family since it came out in 2003. This video is the same day the it happened.
Thursday, April 22nd, 2021 AT 8:54 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 14,039 POSTS
In reality this won't hurt it, transmission fluids are simply a high detergent oil with a color added. No flush or anything else needed, just change the oil and filter and you will be fine.

This guide might help if you wanted to change it yourself. Just be sure to use the correct oil and amount. The oil you need is a 5W-20 rated for gas engines, about 4.5 quarts if you change the oil and filter. Changing the oil isn't a difficult job, but it does require that you have a way to get under the car.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-change-engine-oil-and-filter
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Thursday, April 22nd, 2021 AT 11:43 PM
Tiny
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Thank you SteveW.
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Friday, April 23rd, 2021 AT 6:51 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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You are welcome. Thank you for using 2CarPros.
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Friday, April 23rd, 2021 AT 8:29 AM
Tiny
CARMART013
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I don't know if this makes a difference but I turned on the car when I put the transmission oils in it. I thought I put engine oil so I turned on and the engine started to sound weird.
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Friday, April 23rd, 2021 AT 8:51 AM
Tiny
CARMART013
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This the video I took this the same day the I made the mistake.
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Friday, April 23rd, 2021 AT 8:52 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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Couldn't really hear anything in the video. Was the engine low on oil when you added the transmission fluid? How much did you add in total? That could make a difference if you added a lot.
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Friday, April 23rd, 2021 AT 9:19 AM
Tiny
CARMART013
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I didn’t add a lot of it. The engine was low on oil though.
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Friday, April 23rd, 2021 AT 9:25 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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If it was low on oil that alone may have caused a problem, I would still change the oil and filter. You could cut open the old filter to see if it has a lot of metal in it as well as look at the oil coming out. If it looks like a bottle of glitter glue then you have a problem that wasn't caused by adding oil but by lack of it. If the oil looks okay then see how it sounds with new oil in it.
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Friday, April 23rd, 2021 AT 1:21 PM

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