Transmission Fluid Change DIY

[xloverofny]

Well it seems like the fluid change did not solve my problem. After few months my trany got worst and now its at the shop for a new one... $5000 . Wht kind od problem r I having ?

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by stalklee

I called my local dealer today for oil change and I also asked about transmission oil change. But the guy told me that transmission oil change is not recommend because it might cause some issues.

What are issues that he was talking about???

The issue will be that BMW will have to acknowledge that the ATF is not lifetime and should be changed according to the transmission manufacturer's (ZF or GM) recommendations.

This will increase the cost to the dealers since now all the BMW with less then the warranty mileage must have the ATF fluid replace as part of the "FREE MAINTENANCE" program offered by BMW.

Life time fluid is just deferred maintenance which BMW is banking on will break after the warranty period. Do people actually go 15,000 miles between oil changes?

So is it better to buy a one owner car in which the car was serviced by the book at the dealer, or from multiple owners in which case the "FREE MAINTENANCE" program was no longer offered?

[Court X3]

Will the VW/Audi oil work for an 2004 X3? About to change mine and will try and get a write up also

[Puddlejumper]

I dropped the pan today and went a step further to get a complete fluid swap to dex-vi. Refilled the pan then I took the lower cooler line loose (return) and fitted a clear tube to the cooler nipple and ran the other end to a gallon milk jug. Started the eng and when the jug filled to my quart line stopped eng and added a new quart to the pan. And so forth until I saw clean fluid in the tube. Reconnect the cooler line and did a final top off with eng running.

[Ghost-Flame]

Originally Posted by Puddlejumper

I dropped the pan today and went a step further to get a complete fluid swap to dex-vi. Refilled the pan then I took the lower cooler line loose (return) and fitted a clear tube to the cooler nipple and ran the other end to a gallon milk jug. Started the eng and when the jug filled to my quart line stopped eng and added a new quart to the pan. And so forth until I saw clean fluid in the tube. Reconnect the cooler line and did a final top off with eng running.

This is a good idea, but it require 2 people. one to monitor and fill the trans oil and one to shut the car off and on. or maybe the jug fills slower than I am thinking.

[Ghost-Flame]

Bump

[yem1]

Never though I could get such a headache on ATF.

So, John u reckon Redline D4ATF is the way to go?

I'm relying on you guys in the blog.

Just spent over $2K buying the transmission (58K miles) & wont want to mess it up.

Car is abroad so I need to get all the necessary parts in the USA b4 I ship them over

[John Galt]

Originally Posted by yem1

So, John u reckon Redline D4ATF is the way to go?

Both GM and BMW no longer reccommend the Texaco ATF for this transmission. They both reccommend Dexron VI.

Dexron VI specs are very tightly controlled by GM so that there is not much variation between brands. I believe that Valvoline is the only Dexron VI provider that claims to have a full synthetic Dexron VI, so if I was going Dexron VI, I would use Valvoline’s full synthetic.

The only reason that I did not use Dexron VI when I made my change was that I had not seen many reports of people going with Dexron VI in their A5S390R. At this point, I've seen many more reports of people using it without trouble.

Although it is not Dexron III or VI certified, I went with RedLine D4ATF because I've seen many reports of people using it in their A5S390R without trouble. Like Amsoil, RedLine claims it is suitable for use in that transmission even though it is not certified to the spec.

Amsoil, RedLine or any Dexron VI are likely to work very well.

Let us know what you choose.

[yem1]

Thanks John.

Will keep you guys posted on my choice.

Happy Thanksgiving.

[fmugur]

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