Transmission Problems after Flush & Service

[BigBody]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

You should not level with the running boards. Should use a level on the pan. But maybe most importantly, which fluid did you use?

Hopefully you were just a little low on fluid and have now corrected it. I always cap when a stream is coming out, not a dribble, or worse just a drip.

Why not level with the running boards? If the car is to be lifted on a standard automotive lift, the car must be level with the running boards (as the jack points are). Regardless, does a degree or so really have such a major impact on gearbox filling?

The challenge for me, is that the gearbox is beginning to spew out liquid right below the 40 degree Celsius mark which is where the official ZF documentation says to cap it off. It seems now the consensus across forums is to just keep filling until it begins spewing out and so long as temp is between 30-50 degree it should be ok. I don’t know but I opened the fill plug again, pumped in more oil, waited until it hit 40, gave it another pump or so and capped it.

I don’t want to discuss the fluid I used. I’m not proud of myself but I purchased the right stuff, quickly ran out and had to make a run to the parts store. I reached out to Castrol and they told me the concoction I bought meets Shell M1375.4.

For now the car is running ok. I think the car has bad adaptions after running low on fluid, but this is also unconfirmed. I will continue driving the car and see how she runs. I have been taking it quite easy on her and only slowly beginning to push her harder and harder. Will keep you guys updated, thank you.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by BigBody

Why not level with the running boards? If the car is to be lifted on a standard automotive lift, the car must be level with the running boards (as the jack points are). Regardless, does a degree or so really have such a major impact on gearbox filling?

I mean, you're right, no shop is going to take the time to level the trans pan vs just using the tires or lift points on a lift. But if the engine mounts or transfer case mount are worn it could make a small difference. I only mention leveling the pan because I think I read it in TIS to level the pan... Either that, or it just gives me the "good feels" to know the trans is level. I know on our E70 (and F15) using the running boards yielded a non-level trans pan. The E70 has new mounts all over and the F15 doesn't.

Originally Posted by BigBody

I don’t want to discuss the fluid I used. I’m not proud of myself but I purchased the right stuff, quickly ran out and had to make a run to the parts store. I reached out to Castrol and they told me the concoction I bought meets Shell M1375.4.

For now the car is running ok. I think the car has bad adaptions after running low on fluid, but this is also unconfirmed. I will continue driving the car and see how she runs. I have been taking it quite easy on her and only slowly beginning to push her harder and harder. Will keep you guys updated, thank you.

Good plan, keep driving it and see how it goes. If you still have issues after a few hundred miles... I'd drain what you have in there and put in Valvoline Maxlife Multi-vehicle. Others can poo-poo it all the want but I have multiple first hand experiences where trans behavior was improved using it. The 6hp26 in the 4.8is used to have hard shifting and exhibited the 2-1 rolling stop SLAM badly. Felt like being rear ended. After the Valvoline, tube seals, mechatronic sleeve, and adaptation reset... it feels like a brand new transmission.

[haigha]

Originally Posted by BigBody

Why not level with the running boards? If the car is to be lifted on a standard automotive lift, the car must be level with the running boards (as the jack points are). Regardless, does a degree or so really have such a major impact on gearbox filling? ...

Lots of opinions.

I did my drain and fills with my friend Robert. He's a retired BMW Master Tech. He was fine with leveling like you and I did.

On my 04 4.4i, there's a side fill port. When I asked about it here, I got strong opinions that it wasn't a good idea to use it. When I told Robert, he laughed heartily. They use the side port at the dealer. We used the side port. Out of curiosity, I measured as best I could and it appears the bottom of the side port is within a mm or two of the top of the vertical port.

It's similar with opinions on fluids. I used MaxLife as have several others here. No reports of problems that I've seen.

There's lots of great knowledge on this forum shared by Crystalworks, Andrew, wpoll and others. I appreciate reading their posts and have visited this site regularly since 2005

[Rockit]

I'm not sure I read all the posts so if this is a repeat sorry.

When I did mine I had a factory tech do it off duty. I only use BMW parts, filters and gaskets but I used a Valvoline trans fluid, if you search on the inter net the right Valvoline oil will keep coming up to use.

Anyway you don't have to put it through the gears. You MUST fill the trans while the engine is running, then as it drips out, stop. It will take another quart or more when you start the engine and fill it.

Also while your there take off the neutral safety switch plug or any electrical connectors you find and clean and spray them down with WD-40 or eqiviliant. Many issues I've found are poor connections.

I just put my car on a lift, I'm not clear leveling the floor boards?

[haigha]

Originally Posted by Rockit

... Anyway you don't have to put it through the gears. You MUST fill the trans while the engine is running, then as it drips out, stop. It will take another quart or more when you start the engine and fill it.

... I just put my car on a lift, I'm not clear leveling the floor boards?

It may depend on what type of transmission you have. For ZF 6HP, shifting through the gears is required. See around 5:30 in this official video:

https://youtu.be/ZRrgmfM8VlQ


Earlier in the video, they mention using the side fill port to put the new fluid in

Regarding leveling, we did mine on jack stands. Since my garage floor is tilted, simply putting the four jack stands at the same notch doesn't make it level.