[Dorset Dave]

I have owned my 94 Honda engined 216 cabriolet for a couple of months. It has full service history and 87k miles on it. I am used to Vauxhall autos from the 80s and 90s and the gear changes are always smooth. The change on the 216 is very pronounced. Fluid is clean and at the correct level. Apart from just taking it in to the local autobox shop has anyone any ideas or comments?

[itcaptainslow]

The fluid might look clean but when was it last changed?

[Plodder]

My oil looked clean until I drained it and then it looked rather black.
The change up from 2nd to 3rd before changing the oil felt quiet aggressive particularly if the car had been standing for a few weeks and if you were being less than gentle on the throttle . Ok in all the other gears.
I changed the oil and it certainly improved the gear changes but its still not always good all the time
However an oil change only changes a portion of the oil in the box if you just drain it.
About to do another change this month , six months after the first, so hoping there will be a another improvement.
So you probably need to start with an oil change first and see what that does.

[Dorset Dave]

Although I have the full service history it doesn't show if the fluid has been changed. For the last 15 years or so it was serviced by a local garage which I don't think was a Rover specialist. Is is possible to remove the bottom of the gearbox for a full fluid change? Has anyone any experience of these autobox additives?

[Plodder]

Sounds like mine.Oil had only done 40k in mileage but was 20+ years old,
I believe there are ways to do a full oil change by disconnecting the radiator cooler hose but I don’t lnow how you do it.
There may be someone else on the forum that can explain how you do it.
An auto specialist should have kit that flushs the system and then fills it up. I was quoted £250 to do this by a company in Torquay
https://www.torquaytransmissions.co.uk/ ... lacements/

I believe it takes 3 or 4 drain oil changes to completely change the oil so this can set you back £120.
Im going to see what a second oil change does and if there is no improvement take it to a specialist and see if a full drain and clean would be beneficial