OK I did transmission fluid flush on my 02 4.4i

[JCL]

Originally Posted by e30cabrio

I have been using Castrol for 30 years and am very comfortable continuing to do so.

I have been using Castrol at least that long as well, and am very comfortable with it. When I didn't use the BMW OE engine oil, I used Castrol Syntec.

The only comment was that their multi-purpose transmission fluid doesn't meet the ZF spec. It is a Dexron fluid that they say is OK to use anyway. Some have had no issues, others have reported issues.

ZF and ZF repair centres know about the problems of putting Dexron fluid in a ZF transmission and specifically warn against it. Yet Castrol imply they have overcome that problem, and also meet just about every other transmission fluid spec at the same time. Amazing accomplishment.

ZF don't make fluid. They just designed the transmission to work with a certain spec of fluid. They control that spec. Lots of companies make fluid to that spec. Castrol doesn't.

I don't think it is a bad fluid. I just think that there are enough variables already with these transmissions and that introducing a non-spec fluid is adding another layer of risk.

[JCL]

I wondered how many ATF recipes Castrol is currently selling.

Transmax MultiVehicle - certified to Dexron VI and Mercon LV
Transmax Dexron VI - certified to Dexron VI
Transmax Dexron/Mercon - not certified, suitable for the older Dex III standard
Transmax ATF+4 - certified for Chrysler specs
Transmax Type F - certified for Ford specs.
Transmax Import Multi Vehicle - certified for Mercon V. Recommended for Dexron III and transmissions in 17 other marques, as well as vehicles using Aisin transmissions, "and various European vehicles that call for Dexron III" No mention of BMW. Hmmm.

Product Data Sheet here:

http://"http://msdspds.castrol.com/b...20_03521_.pdf"

The product data sheet is two years old, and may be out of date. I am not clear whether the bottle label was more influenced by the marketing department at Castrol, or the engineering department.

[TiAgX5]

Originally Posted by JCL

I have been using Castrol at least that long as well, and am very comfortable with it. When I didn't use the BMW OE engine oil, I used Castrol Syntec.

The only comment was that their multi-purpose transmission fluid doesn't meet the ZF spec. It is a Dexron fluid that they say is OK to use anyway. Some have had no issues, others have reported issues.

ZF and ZF repair centres know about the problems of putting Dexron fluid in a ZF transmission and specifically warn against it. Yet Castrol imply they have overcome that problem, and also meet just about every other transmission fluid spec at the same time. Amazing accomplishment.

ZF don't make fluid. They just designed the transmission to work with a certain spec of fluid. They control that spec. Lots of companies make fluid to that spec. Castrol doesn't.

I don't think it is a bad fluid. I just think that there are enough variables already with these transmissions and that introducing a non-spec fluid is adding another layer of risk.

I agree with this entirely.

Always trusted Castrol and the Bentley manual directed me to the Esso LT 71141 fluid spec for the 5HP24 trans, when I saw the LT 71141 on the Castrol MultiCar formula, I no doubt rolled the dice . With 170k miles total (70k with the Castrol (double drain/refill with filter on 2nd drain/fill), and approx 10k of it towing in high temps I have nothing but for the Castrol fluid.
I've seen posts on here where owners have drained/refilled with ZF/filter changed every 60k miles and haven't gotten 170k miles B4 trans issues, even without the towing stress added to the equation.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by TiAgX5

I've seen posts on here where owners have drained/refilled with ZF/filter changed every 60k miles and haven't gotten 170k miles B4 trans issues, even without the towing stress added to the equation.

This raises the question of whether changing the fluid extends the life of the transmission or not, apart from the issue of which fluid to use.