--- title: "Honda CR-V Transmission Fluid & Coolant" description: "How the Honda CR-V fluids specification changed from 2012 to 2025, compared generation by generation. Which transmission fluid, coolant, and brake fluid the Honda CR-V takes, with capacities and the specifications each one has to meet. Transmission: 1.5T CVT: Honda HCF-2 CVT fluid ONLY. Do not substitute ATF or universal CVT fluid; drain-and-fill ~4 qt, Maintenance Minder code 3. Hybrid: no CVT, the two-motor e-CVT transaxle uses Honda ATF Type 3.1 (dealer service item).. Coolant: Honda Long Life Type 2 coolant (blue, pre-mixed); hybrids have separate engine and power-unit (PCU) cooling loops. First change per Maintenance Minder code 5, then ~60k.." url: "https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/fluids" updated: "2026-08-20" --- # Honda CR-V Fluid Types and Capacities The specification is not the same across every year we cover, the table below shows exactly where it changes. ## Has the Honda CR-V fluids specification changed by year? | Model years | Transmission | Coolant | Brake | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [2023-2025](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/2023-2025/fluids) | 1.5T CVT: Honda HCF-2 CVT fluid ONLY. Do not substitute ATF or universal CVT fluid; drain-and-fill ~4 qt, Maintenance Minder code 3. Hybrid: no CVT, the two-motor e-CVT transaxle uses Honda ATF Type 3.1 (dealer service item). | Honda Long Life Type 2 coolant (blue, pre-mixed); hybrids have separate engine and power-unit (PCU) cooling loops. First change per Maintenance Minder code 5, then ~60k. | DOT 3 brake fluid (every 3 years) | | [2017-2022](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/2017-2022/fluids) | CVT (all gas models): Honda HCF-2 CVT fluid ONLY. Do NOT substitute ATF, HCF (original), or 'multi-vehicle' CVT fluid; drain-and-fill takes ~3.9 qt (2WD) / ~4.5 qt (AWD), change at Maintenance Minder code 3 (many owners: every 25k-30k). Hybrid e-CVT: no belt CVT, uses Honda ATF Type 3.1 for the transaxle, dealer-serviced. | Honda Long Life Type 2 coolant (blue, pre-mixed). First change per Maintenance Minder code 5 (~10 yr/100k), then ~5 yr/60k. | DOT 3 brake fluid (Honda recommends every 3 years) | | [2012-2016](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/2012-2016/fluids) | 2012-2014 5-speed automatic: Honda ATF DW-1 (drain-and-fill takes ~2.5-3 qt; do 2-3 sequential drain/fills for a fuller exchange). 2015-2016 CVT: Honda HCF-2 CVT fluid ONLY. Do not substitute ATF or 'universal' CVT fluid; drain-and-fill ~3.9 qt (2WD) / ~4.5 qt (AWD), Maintenance Minder code 3. | Honda Long Life Type 2 coolant (blue, pre-mixed). First change ~10 years/100k mi per Maintenance Minder code 5, then ~5 years/60k. | DOT 3 brake fluid (Honda recommends replacement every 3 years) | ## Full specifications by generation The fluids on a Honda CR-V is set by its generation, not its model year, so each generation has one page carrying the complete figures, part numbers and fitment notes for every year it covers. - [2023-2025 Honda CR-V Fluids](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/2023-2025/fluids) - [2017-2022 Honda CR-V Fluids](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/2017-2022/fluids) - [2012-2016 Honda CR-V Fluids](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/2012-2016/fluids) ## Honda CR-V fluids: common questions ### What transmission fluid does a Honda CR-V take? 1.5T CVT: Honda HCF-2 CVT fluid ONLY. Do not substitute ATF or universal CVT fluid; drain-and-fill ~4 qt, Maintenance Minder code 3. Hybrid: no CVT, the two-motor e-CVT transaxle uses Honda ATF Type 3.1 (dealer service item).. Transmission fluid specifications are not interchangeable. Friction modifiers differ between them, and the wrong fluid causes shudder long before it causes failure. ### What coolant does a Honda CR-V use? Honda Long Life Type 2 coolant (blue, pre-mixed); hybrids have separate engine and power-unit (PCU) cooling loops. First change per Maintenance Minder code 5, then ~60k.. ### What brake fluid does a Honda CR-V take? DOT 3 brake fluid (every 3 years). ### What differential fluid does a Honda CR-V take? AWD rear differential: Honda Dual Pump Fluid II, Maintenance Minder code 6. ## Sources - [NHTSA Part 573 report, 24V-744 steering gearbox ('sticky steering') recall](https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V744-4093.PDF) - [NHTSA Part 573 report, 24V-763 high-pressure fuel pump recall](https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V763-9335.PDF) - [Honda News, American Honda recalls ~1.7M vehicles to repair steering gearboxes](https://hondanews.com/en-US/releases/american-honda-recalls-approximately-17-million-vehicles-to-repair-steering-gearboxes) - [Car and Driver, Honda recalls 720K Accord/Civic/CR-V over fuel pump](https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a62693114/honda-accord-civic-crv-fuel-pump-recall/) - [College Hills Honda, 2023-2027 CR-V maintenance parts (80291-TF3-E01, 17220-64A-A00)](https://www.collegehillshonda.com/category/6thgen-honda-crv-maintenance.html) - [Honda OEM Parts Online, 17220-6MA-J01 hybrid air filter (2023-2026)](https://honda.oempartsonline.com/oem-parts/honda-air-filter-172206maj01) - [AMSOIL lookup, 2023 CR-V 2.0L LFC3 oil capacity 4.2 qt](https://www.amsoil.com/lookup/auto-and-light-truck/2023/honda/cr-v/2-0l-4-cyl-engine-code-lfc3-8/) - [TireSize.com, 2023 CR-V OE fitments by trim](https://tiresize.com/tires/Honda/CR-V/2023/) - [AutoZone, 2024 CR-V battery (Group 47/H5)](https://www.autozone.com/batteries-starting-and-charging/battery/honda/cr-v/2024) - [HondaPartsNow, 2024 CR-V Hybrid OEM 12V battery (Group 51, 500 CCA)](https://www.hondapartsnow.com/oem-2024-honda-cr_v_hybrid-car_batteries.html) - [fueleconomy.gov, 2024 CR-V / CR-V Hybrid EPA ratings](https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymodel/2024_Honda_CR-V.shtml) - [WiperSizeChart, 2023/2024 CR-V wiper sizes 24/19/10](https://www.wipersizechart.com/make/honda/cr-v/2023) ## Find your exact CR-V - [2025](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/2025) - [2024](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/2024) - [2023](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/2023) - [2022](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/2022) - [2021](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/2021) - [2020](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/2020) - [2019](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/2019) - [2018](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/2018) - [2017](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/2017) - [2016](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/2016) - [2015](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/2015) - [2014](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/2014) - [2013](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/2013) - [2012](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/2012) More Honda CR-V guides: - [Oil & filter](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/oil) - [Battery](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/battery) - [Tires & wheels](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/tires) - [Wiper blades](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/wipers) - [Air & cabin filters](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/filters) - [Bulbs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/bulbs) - [Brakes](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/brakes) - [Service schedule](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/service-schedule) - [Problems & reliability](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/common-problems) - [Oil light reset](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/oil-reset) - [Key fob battery](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/key-fob-battery) - [Specs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/honda/cr-v/specs) Specifications vary with engine option, production date, and market.