Honda B13 service: what’s included
A Honda B13 service is the B service plus items 1 and 3: change the engine oil and oil filter, inspect the car, rotate the tires, and replace the transmission fluid. Item 3 is the big one. On some all-wheel-drive models, Honda also lists the transfer case fluid under item 3. Use only the transmission fluid your owner’s manual names.
On this page (6 sections)
What a B13 service includes
| Part of the code | Job |
|---|---|
| B | New engine oil and oil filter |
| B | Inspection of the brakes, steering, suspension, boots, brake lines, exhaust, fuel lines, and all fluids |
| 1 | Tire rotation |
| 3 | New transmission fluid |
| 3 (some all-wheel-drive models) | New transfer case fluid |
From Honda and Acura owner’s manuals (2025, 2007, and 2006 models). Your manual has the list for your car.
The transmission fluid change
Item 3 appears when the Maintenance Minder decides the transmission fluid has worn out, based on how the car has been driven. There is no fixed mileage that fits every Honda.
Honda does give a fixed interval for hard use. The 2025 Civic Hatchback Hybrid manual says that driving in the mountains at very low speeds heats the transmission more, and if you drive like that regularly, the fluid should be changed every 47,500 miles or 3 years. Honda Canada notes that the system does not account for heavy trailer towing. If either fits your driving, ask your dealer whether to change the fluid sooner than the code.
Three things to get right:
- The fluid. Honda transmissions, including the CVTs (continuously variable transmissions) in many recent models, need the specific fluid named in the owner’s manual. A “universal” fluid is not the same thing. Ask the shop which fluid it will use, and check the invoice.
- Drain and fill. A typical change drains the fluid from the pan and refills to the correct level. Ask how the shop does it and how much fluid goes in.
- The level check. The level has to be set the way the manual or service information says, often with the fluid at a set temperature.
More background: transmission fluid change.
How much a B13 service costs
There is no set price for a Honda B13 service. It costs about what a B1 costs at the same shop, plus the transmission fluid and the labor to change it. As a rough guide, the B1 part comes to about $109 to $193 at typical published prices: an oil and filter change at about $64 to $118 (AAA survey, scaled to late 2026) and a tire rotation at about $45 to $75 (Consumer Reports). We couldn’t verify a national price for the transmission fluid change, so get that line quoted on its own. The fluid amount and price depend on the transmission, so a CVT car, a conventional automatic, and an all-wheel-drive model with transfer fluid can all differ.
Get a written estimate that names the transmission fluid, the number of quarts, and the labor. If a shop quotes a “transmission flush” with a machine, ask what fluid goes in and whether that method follows Honda’s service information. For the oil part of the visit, see our guide to oil change cost.
What to write down
- Date, odometer, and the code (B13)
- Transmission fluid name and amount, and the method (drain and fill or other)
- Transfer fluid, if your model has it
- Oil grade, amount, and filter part number
- Tire rotation done, inspection findings, and the price
The transmission fluid is changed far less often than oil, so the date and mileage of the last change are easy to forget. Write them in your car maintenance log. All codes are on the Honda maintenance codes chart.
FAQ
What does B13 mean on a Honda?
The B service (new oil and oil filter, plus an inspection), a tire rotation (1), and a transmission fluid change (3). On some all-wheel-drive models, item 3 also includes the transfer fluid.
How much does a Honda B13 service cost?
About the price of a B1 at the same shop (roughly $109 to $193 at typical published prices) plus the transmission fluid and labor. The amount and type of fluid depend on the transmission. Ask for a written estimate that names the fluid.
Is a transmission fluid change the same as a flush?
Not always. A drain and fill replaces the fluid that drains from the pan; a flush uses a machine to push more fluid through. Ask which method the shop uses and whether it follows Honda’s service information.
Milealot is an independent site, not affiliated with or endorsed by American Honda Motor Co. Honda and Maintenance Minder are trademarks of their owner and are used here only to name the system.
Sources
- Honda, 2025 Civic Hatchback Hybrid owner’s manual, “To Use Maintenance Minder” (B list, sub items 1 and 3, 47,500 miles or 3 years for mountain driving; archived copy, checked November 12, 2026): techinfo.honda.com (archived)
- Acura (Honda’s luxury brand, same system), 2006 all-wheel-drive owner’s manual, Maintenance Minder pages (transmission and transfer fluid under item 3; archived copy): techinfo.honda.com (archived)
- Honda Canada, Keeping maintenance on schedule (towing and dust not monitored) (checked November 12, 2026): honda.ca
- AAA, Synthetic vs. conventional engine oil, research report, 2017 (shop survey: typical oil change $38 conventional, $70 synthetic): ace.aaa.com
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI for all urban consumers, motor vehicle maintenance and servicing (series CUUR0000SETD; June 2017 to October 2026, about +69%) (checked November 12, 2026): data.bls.gov
- Consumer Reports, Your car maintenance checklist (tire rotation about $45–$75; updated May 6, 2026; checked November 12, 2026): consumerreports.org