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The 10th-gen Accord dropped the transmission dipstick, so this job is a plug-out, plug-in exercise: drain from the bottom of the case, refill through a side port with a hand pump until fluid just weeps back out. Mechanically it is easy — the awkward parts are getting the splash shield off, reaching the fill port with a hose, and not overtightening plugs that thread into aluminum.
What changes by engine is the fluid and the level check. The 1.5T's CVT takes Honda HCF-2 and only HCF-2. The 2.0T's 10-speed and the hybrid's e-CVT take Honda ATF Type 2.0, and the 10-speed's level is verified in a specific fluid temperature window, which really wants a scan tool reading live data. The mistake people make most often is draining before checking that the fill plug will actually come out — do that step first, every time.
| Item | Type | Product search |
|---|---|---|
| Floor jack 2 ton minimum, low profile Lifts the car level at the front subframe jack points. | Required | search retailer |
| Jack stands 2 or 3 ton, pair Supports the car; the vehicle must be level for an accurate fluid level check. | Safety | search retailer |
| Wheel chocks Rubber pair Blocks the rear wheels while the front is raised. | Safety | search retailer |
| Socket set 10 mm socket, 3/8 in drive Removes the lower engine splash shield bolts for access. | Required | search retailer |
| Trim clip pliers Plastic push-pin removal tool Pops the plastic fasteners in the splash shield without breaking them. | Recommended | search retailer |
| Ratchet 3/8 in drive, standard length The drain plug on these transmissions uses a 3/8 in square recess on many units — the bare ratchet head drives it. | Required | search retailer |
| Socket 17 mm 6-point, 3/8 in drive Fits hex-head drain plugs and the fill/level check plug on the case. | Required | search retailer |
| Breaker bar or short extension 3/8 in drive, 6 in extension Gives leverage and clearance on a tight, torqued-down fill plug. | Recommended | search retailer |
| Drain pan 6 quart minimum, wide Catches the old fluid; use a graduated pan to measure exactly what came out. | Required | search retailer |
| Fluid transfer pump Hand pump with 2-3 ft flexible hose, quart/gallon adapter Pushes new fluid uphill into the side fill port; there is no dipstick tube to pour through. | Required | search retailer |
| Torque wrench 3/8 in drive, 10-60 ft-lb range Drain and fill plugs thread into aluminum and strip easily if overtightened. | Required | search retailer |
| Drain plug crush washer Honda sealing washer for ATF/CVT drain plug One-time-use aluminum washer; reusing it invites a slow leak. | Parts | search retailer |
| Honda HCF-2 CVT fluid 1.5T CVT only — approx 3.2-3.5 US qt for a drain and fill The only fluid approved for the Accord CVT; generic 'CVT' fluid causes shudder and belt wear. | Parts | search retailer |
| Honda ATF Type 2.0 2.0T 10-speed and hybrid e-CVT — approx 3.5-4.5 US qt (10AT), approx 2.5-3 qt (hybrid) Required spec for the 10AT and the i-MMD hybrid transaxle; DW-1 is not a substitute. | Parts | search retailer |
| OBD2 scan tool with live data Reads transmission fluid temperature PID The 10AT level check is done in a specific fluid temperature window. | Recommended | search retailer |
| Nitrile gloves and shop rags ATF runs down your arm off the side fill port. | Consumables | search retailer |
| Brake parts cleaner Aerosol Cleans the case and plug area so you can spot a new leak later. | Consumables | search retailer |
| Safety glasses Protects from hot fluid dripping while working under the car. | Safety | search retailer |
1.5T: CVT, Honda HCF-2 fluid, roughly 3.2-3.5 quarts per drain and fill. 2.0T: 10-speed automatic, Honda ATF Type 2.0, roughly 3.5-4.5 quarts, with a temperature-dependent level check at the side plug. Hybrid: i-MMD e-CVT, Honda ATF Type 2.0, smaller capacity around 2.5-3 quarts — verify capacity in the service manual. Socket sizes are the same across all three: 10 mm for the shield, 17 mm or a bare 3/8 in drive for the plugs.
| Transmission drain plug (CVT and 10AT) | approx 36 ft-lb (49 Nm) — verify in the service manual |
| Transmission fill / level check plug | verify in the service manual |
| Splash shield bolts | approx 7 ft-lb (9 Nm) |
No. All three drivetrains — 1.5T CVT, 2.0T 10-speed and hybrid e-CVT — check fluid level at a side plug on the transmission case with the vehicle level, not with a dipstick.
No. The 1.5T CVT requires Honda HCF-2 and the 2.0T 10-speed and hybrid require Honda ATF Type 2.0. DW-1 has the wrong friction characteristics and will cause shudder and accelerated wear.
Honda's maintenance minder will call for it, but many owners on the CVT do a drain and fill every 25,000-30,000 miles and the 10AT every 30,000-50,000 miles, sooner for towing, heavy traffic or hot climates.
Typically about 3.2-3.5 quarts from the 1.5T CVT, 3.5-4.5 from the 2.0T 10-speed and around 2.5-3 from the hybrid. Measure what drains out and put back the same amount, then confirm with the fill-port level check.