Transmission Experts Weigh In
 

So I have decided to finally service my GM A5S390R (GM 5L40-E) transmission. I had a small leak from the selector shaft but now I can't help but wonder how much it has leaked before I noticed it. I am thinking it must be low so it is time to drop the pan, replace the filter and pump in some fresh ATF.

I want to do a filter and fluid change and then a simple drain and change the next day once cooled back off so my decision on preferred ATF will be depending on my budget.

What I am asking everyone is what is the preferred ATF for my GM transmission and also if this thread gets any traction, what is the preferred replacement ATF for the ZF boxes as well. (My E46 has the ZF 5HP19)

There is a list over on E46Fanatics from member Balidawg and I have copied it here for reference. Feel free to add any missing fluids or any suggestions you might have.

I would love to hear from others and especially RRPhil as he is the one man I know really knows his stuff on automatic transmissions.

GM - Dexron VI
AC Delco Dexron-VI: http://www.acdelco.com/auto-parts/ve...dexron-vi.html
Amsoil Signature Series Fuel-Efficient Synthetic: https://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produ...mission-fluid/
Castrol Dexron-VI: https://www.castrol.com/en_au/austra...ax-dexron.html
Havoline Global Multi-Vehicle: https://cglapps.chevron.com/sdspds/P...&docFormat=PDF
Mobil Dexron-VI: https://mobiloil.com/en/automatic-tr.../dexron-vi-atf
Pennzoil Platinum LV Multi-Vehicle: http://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/produc...NhbGU9ZW5fdXM=
Redline D6: https://www.redlineoil.com/d6-atf
Super Tech Multi-Vehicle Low Visosity: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Super-Tec...1-gal/54310244
Valvoline Dexron-VI: https://www.valvoline.com/our-produc.../dexron-vi-atf
Valvoline Maxlife Multi-Vehicle: https://www.valvoline.com/our-produc...ti-vehicle-atf

ZF - LT71141
Castrol Transmax Import Multi-Vehicle:https://www.castrol.com/en_cr/ccsa/h...-multi-vehicle
Febi No. 14738: https://partsfinder.bilsteingroup.co...cle/febi/14738
Fuchs Titan 5005: https://www.fuchs.com/de/en/special/...itan-atf-5005/
Havoline Global Multi-Vehicle: https://cglapps.chevron.com/sdspds/P...&docFormat=PDF
Liqui Moly Top Tec 1200: https://products.liqui-moly.us/top-tec-atf-1200-1.html
Mobil ATF LT71141: https://www.mobil.com/English-GB/Pas...L-ATF-LT-71141
Pentosin ATF1: http://www.pentosin.net/specsheets/Pentosin_ATF1.pdf
Ravenol 5/4HP: https://www.ravenol.de/en/products/u...-hp-fluid.html
Redline D4: https://www.redlineoil.com/d4-atf
Royal Purple Max ATF: http://www.royalpurpleconsumer.com/p...mission-fluid/
Super Tech Multi-Vehicle Low Visosity: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Super-Tec...1-gal/54310244
Valvoline Import Multi-Vehicle: https://www.valvoline.com/our-produc...smission-fluid
Valvoline Maxlife Multi-Vehicle: https://www.valvoline.com/our-produc...ti-vehicle-atf
ZF Lifeguard5: https://aftermarket.zf.com/us/en/aft...l-change-kits/

I've heard better to drain swap filter and put original fluid back in and top off so there isn't too much shock to the parts that are used to the amount of wear.

How many miles ?

180,000 pampered miles.

Similar to mine. I'm a little closer to 190 actually but the first 128 were much more pampered than the 50,000 I put on I'm a bit of a lead foot.

If the box is still working normally with those miles I would be considering dropping the gearbox and renewing/refurbishing the torque converter. TC is the known weak link in this gearbox and when the locking clutch surface wears off metal debris will very soon destroy the rest of the box.

If you are going to change the oil why not flush change the whole content. You can do this by disconnecting the line going to oil heat exchanger. Guiding the fluid from there to a a drain reservoir and filling the oilpan with drill pump or similar while engine running. Dexron III -H is the specs. I've used Petro Canada ATF D3M.

Here are some pictures from 2007 when I did this first time to my E39 530d with the same gearbox. It had a new TC at about 300t km (preventative) and now running 400t km without a problem.

https://photos.google.com/album/AF1Q...5o-PwXajFVf-pc

In all my research, I have found most transmission services were done after 100,000 miles. Yes, there may be a small percentage that did it religiously at 60,000 miles but I can only guess less than 1 or 2 percent of the owners followed that service interval.

I guess maybe the best route is maybe doing the filter and fluid change as this is still leaving 40% of the original fluid and see if it causes any problems for a week or 2. One look in the pan magnets should give some kind of indication that there was a problem that would have been inevitable.

I have avoided the transmission fluid changes exactly because of the issues you pointed out but I feel the pampered mileage along with zero transmission issues allows me the confidence this will only be a benefit. :dunno:

Hopefully RRPhil posts some of his knowledge for all of us.

I had thought that the super high mileage srmmm did the filter swap but it wasn't him. He's at like 360,000 miles on original filter and fluid!!!

Yeah, Steve is a really nice guy. He actually came out and watched us race at COTA last year and I saw his X close up. That kind of mileage on his nice X5 gives me hope I can make it to 300,000 miles in my X5 :thumbup:

Thanks Clavurion, but that might be a little difficult for me to replace the TC in my garage on my back and certainly no money to have it done. I will just pray to the BMW Gods to have mercy on me and not destroy my transmission because of a clutch surface.

I have seen the Dexron III-H, I think AC Delco offers one. I wonder if I should stay with the non synthetic or move to the synthetic Dexron VI

https://www.acdelco.com/content/dam/...pg?imwidth=420

I would still do the oil change by flushing the whole content especially if you are going to Dexron VI which is also compatible and has better wear abilities. This can be done if you have the vehicle on stands. Personally I think these myths about dangerous oil changes are mainly based on cases where someone has tried to rectify an already faulty gearbox with an oil change or the oil change was done wrong and there was too little oil in the sump (not filled while engine running).

I agree. My N62 was leaking at 16 years, with only 40k miles, at the mechatronic sleeve. I was experiencing some harsh shifts out of first gear.

I replaced the sleeve with my mechanic friend and we did three drain and fills with Valvoline MaxLife. It shifts great now and I hope I caught it before the low ATF due to the leak caused serious damage. The original fluid looked good. We decided to drain and fill it anyway. ZF recommends a maximum of six or eight years on the life of the fluid, I forget which. BMW says lifetime which has worked for some too.

I like the idea of using the transmission line for a complete exchange it going that route. I'll be making that call in the next half year.

Valvoline Max Life is on my short list right now. Claims compatibility for ZF LT71141 and GM ETL 8072B :dunno:

But not certified, as others have pointed out in previous threads. For me, the savings over the ZF fluid was worth the risk. Something like a sixth or eighth of the cost. I bought mine at Walmart. I had read other posts where people had success with MaxLife before choosing it.

I would say replace the selector shaft seal if you haven't done that already I think there is some really good info posted. Make sure you get a reasonably good quality filter so neck fits properly and doesn't break off, make sure you don't leave the old seal ring sticking up there, try to get the metal clad pan gasket, refill with Valvoline maxlife or dex VI with maybe 1/2 can of conditioner and don't worry about not getting all of the oil changed or putting the old oil back in. That's my 2 cents and what I did on both of mine at about 200,000K.

I replaced the selector shaft seal this past week and bought the Genuine BMW GM 5L40-E transmission service kit that includes the gasket, filter and bolts. I am just trying to make a decision on the best fluid to use.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...it-24117557069

https://www.fcpeuro.com/public/asset...hf.?1496438238

Awesome, you're way ahead! :) I used the Valvoline Maxlife on mine and the dexron VI with a 1/2 can of conditioner on my wife's and both have been good. I seem to remember there is/was either a change with the maxlife and/or there are 2 different types which put my OCD into overdrive for a bit but I don't think it should be an issue.

I think it was a packaging change and is called Valvoline MaxLife Multi-Vehicle ATF.

Yes, I think they changed the spec as well but not the oil for that part, but I also seem to remember the first maxlife was a blend and not fully synthetic. Either way you should be good! :) Don't give yourself a headache like I did! haha ;)

Decided on the Valvoline MaxLife Multi-Vehicle ATF and took advice from Andrew on saving the original fluid just in case it is loaded with friction material. I bought a fresh drain pan/container and will hold onto it for a few weeks just in case.

I also got a decent fluid transfer pump that should move a couple of gallons easily. Just waiting on my FCP Euro order of Genuine BMW filter and pan gasket as it is showing delivery tomorrow. Might be busy tomorrow, :thumbup:

Mine has 170k on it; I've changed the filter and fluid twice, once at about 95k and again at about 165k. Be 100% sure you remove the filter neck seal from the transmission. It sometimes stays behind when you pull the filter down.

I've been using Valvoline Maxlife multi-vehicle, with zero issues. Still shifts like the day I bought it (I bought it new in 01). First fluid change, I got about 4 quarts out. After a week or so, I drained that and refilled again. Same thing on the second change.

I also replaced the trans cooler/heat exchanger at 165k, along with the trans thermostat/expansion tank/radiator/cap.

Thanks Scott, great feedback. You are the 3rd member to mention using MaxLife with no issues so I am happy I made that choice. At $17.49/gallon it is a easy call to do multiple drains and fills. How did your fluid look at 165,000 after 70,000 miles from the original multiple drain and fill at 95,000 miles?

Fluid at 2nd drain looked and smelled fine, and the pan magnets had less fine sludge around them. My shaft seal is leaking a bit, so I'll probably change again in the fall.

There's a guy named Richard Crich who owns a shop called Precision Transmission in Amarillo, TX. His videos of GM transmissions are worth watching, either FB or YouTube.

I own a transmission shop.I would be hesitant to change fluids at 180k miles of it hasn't been done before, but that's mostly because of i do it for a customer, I am on the hook.

I would drain the fluid / drop the pan and inspect before changing. If the fluid is clean and clear, but dark, change it. If the fluid is burnt, or thick, or you find metal in the pan, changing the fluid is not a good move.

By the way, Dexron is backwards compatible - so Dex VI covers Dex III. The Valvoline and Castrol multi ATF fluids are good choices.

I am taking this advice on saving the original fluid in a new drain container just in case it is evident there is any issues of severe wear inside the transmission.

At this point, the transmission runs and shifts perfectly and is right at that point of no return on mileage for fluid change for sure but if I don't do it now, I will never know. There is not a lot of HP on the business end of the box and I never lean on it so I am assuming it will be fine.

No shipment yesterday but it all showed up this morning. I pulled a little oil out from the fill plug to look at the condition of the fluid. Looks very clean with no hint of any metallic material. Even smells fine, no burnt smell. Time to pull the pan. :thumbup:

Pan off. Amazing inside. There is some magnet cleanup but normal and doing its job. Really can't believe there is 180,000 miles on this transmission.

And complete :thumbup:

Cleaned up the pan, put on the new filter and buttoned it all back up. Torque on the pan bolts at 10nM. It took exactly 1 gallon cold and then fired up INPA to watch the temperature. Started the engine, went through P-R-N-D and then sport mode 1-2-3 (4-5 not available with brake on) and then back to auto mode and through D-N-R-P and back through it again watching the temperature. Pumped in another 3 quarts running at 38C (100F) and it just started dribbling out.

Took it out for a couple of errands and actually feels better although it never shifted hard or gave me any issues but it definitely feels smoother. :dunno:

Disregard the dirty claw marks from my oily hands on the exhaust pipes. Still a rookie. :bustingup

That's about what mine looked like at 95k:

Great write-up, OB :thumbup:

My fluid was clean too. I think my problem was the leak at the mechatronic sleeve which lead to low ATF.That was likely the cause of the harsh shifts in the lower gears, which have gone away since I did the MaxLife drain/fill three times. Shifts as good as new now.

I plan on doing another drain and fill after some time has passed to let everything blend. I might wait a few weeks or into next month. I guess I should get on my E46 now. :dunno:

I would say you're good. I don't understand the logic of multiple changes at the best of times let alone when there is concern about changing it in the first place.

The multiple changes is because a good% of the fluid won't drain out because it's not in the transmission

Draining and filling the oil pan will change about half of the total fluid amount. Majority of it still lurking in the torque converter. This is why I flush change so the whole oil quantity is renewed at the same time.

Heck OB, if yours is that clean at 180,000 miles, mine can't be all that bad at 377,000 miles. Probably leaning a bit more towards caramel as opposed to your designer bronze color.


2002 X5 3.0 377,100 miles
2014 428i 67,000 miles


2004 325i sold at 123,600 miles
2001 325i sold at 66,000 miles


1970 Firebird Under restoration

That’s the best place to grab to pull yourself around if the pipe is cool. It’s self-cleaning just like an oven.

:rofl::rofl::rofl: Now if I can just get everything else to do that!

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...92a7658b19.jpg

Preaching to the choir

Should be perfectly fine with the valvoline multi vehicle.