Valvoline Maxlife tranny fluid
 

Anyone with good results? They are def cheaper to get at Walmart than the OEM stuff at FCP Euro.

Thanks..

Have completed two drain/fills with Maxlife in the last month. Trans still adapting to fluid change and not very happy at times - but getting better slowly. It def. seems to shift very well with the Maxlife.

It's not a cure-all - but I'm hoping it buys me some time. I would have used LG6 but for the cost... up to $80 per litre here and I have used nearly 10 litres so far!

I did one car with the Maxlife and one with regular Dexron 3 and a can of conditioner, both many years and kilometers ago both working perfectly. The X5 was done at around 200,000 km and now has 470,000 km but I decided just to let it go.

Isn't the automatic transmission a GM-built Hydramatic 5L50? I would assume it would take any standard Dex VI fluid.

Yep, whatever the Dexron number was I don't remember, VI looks right ;)
K, just checked and it was Dexron VI, I also have some Castrol Transmax left so I must have used some of that too because I think the store didn't have quite enough of the Dexron VI at the time.

Is it really, really necessary to change the filter? could I drain and fill, run car for maybe a week and drain and fill again? I read and watched videos of tranny filter not necessary to replace. My tranny pan is not leaking at this time.

Changing the filter gives a good opportunity to get a look at what shape the trans is in and a chance to replace a crappy or even improperly installed filter and gasket if it was done before. It's not "necessary" but there are people that will say you don't need to change the oil either. Really nothing wrong with changing the oil only once either, If I remember correctly not that much stays in the torque converter (not like the old days) so the big majority of the oil will be replaced.

I've also done two drain fills with the red jug MaxLife (04 4.4i). Shifts are great. I had a leak from the mechatronic sleeve the first time, resulting in low fluid. Then, about four or five years later, the solenoids and upper seals needed replacing. I replaced the mechatronic sleeve again the second time, even though the first replacement was after about fourteen years. Seemed sensible to do it since it only added about $15 to the cost.

When did you do the last tranny oil change?