Transmission fluid

Summary

Source: owner's manual / last verified 2026-10-16 (2023 CR-V Owner's Manual, CVT fluid and specifications (opens in a new tab)).

Safety

• Have a dealer check the fluid level and replace it if necessary. Do not attempt to check or change the CVT fluid yourself.
• Do not mix Honda HCF-2 with other transmission fluids.
• Using a fluid other than Honda HCF-2 may affect operation and durability and damage the transmission. Damage from a fluid that is not equivalent to Honda HCF-2 is not covered by the new-vehicle limited warranty, in the words of the notice.

Symptoms

• Maintenance Minder sub item 3, replace transmission fluid.
• Regular driving in mountainous areas at very low speeds, which is the condition in footnote *4.

Diagnosis

1. The fluid is Honda HCF-2. 2WD change capacity is 3.7 US qt (3.5 L). AWD change capacity is 4.1 US qt (3.9 L).
2. The service instruction is a dealer check and replace. No drain-plug torque or fill-plug torque is printed in the section that was read.

Specifications

Steps

1. 01Leave the level check to a dealer

   The CVT section says specified fluid Honda HCF-2, then says to have a dealer check the fluid level and replace it if necessary. The next sentence says not to attempt to check or change it yourself.

   1. Do not mix Honda HCF-2 with other transmission fluids.

2. 02Match 2WD or AWD before you quote a capacity

   The specifications table lists 3.7 US qt (3.5 L) for 2WD and 4.1 US qt (3.9 L) for AWD, both as a change capacity.

   1. Those footnotes are not the tire-pressure footnotes. Tire pressures are on the tire guide.

3. 03Use 25,000 miles only for the mountain note

   Footnote *4 says mountainous driving at very low speeds runs the transmission hotter and needs changes more often than the Maintenance Minder. If you regularly drive that way, have the fluid changed every 25,000 miles (40,000 km).

   1. Sub item 3 is still the Maintenance Minder line for everyone else.

Common mistakes

• Checking or changing the fluid at home. The section says not to.
• Using the 2WD quart on an AWD vehicle, or the reverse. The footnotes are *1 2WD and *2 AWD.
• Treating 25,000 miles as the normal interval. That line is for regular mountain driving at very low speeds. Other driving follows the Maintenance Minder.

Parts and tools

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• Part

  Honda HCF-2

  Specified CVT fluid. Change capacity is 3.7 US qt (3.5 L) for 2WD and 4.1 US qt (3.9 L) for AWD.

  2023 CR-V CVT fluid specification (opens in a new tab)Search Amazon.com (affiliate link) (opens in a new tab)As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Questions

Sources

• 2023 CR-V Owner's Manual, CVT fluid and specifications (opens in a new tab). American Honda Motor Co., Inc.. Published 2022-06-14. Read 2026-10-16.

Checklist and email notes

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Other repairs on this 2023 CR-V

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Other years of this Honda CR-V

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