Weird problem with a partial transmission fluid change on my X5 3.0i
 

I just tried a partial fluid change on my ’04 BMW X5 3.0i E53 AT, by draining from pan drain with engine off until dripping stopped, and then refilling with fresh oil via filler plug.

Issue:
I drained a little over 4.0 liters, but I’m having trouble refilling. Car is leveled. During first refill attempt (with engine off), the oil will spill back out as I pump it in (like it’s already full). Then, with the engine running (tried while both in neutral and park), when I try to unscrew the filler plug, oil sprays out with a lot of pressure. Have you all ever seen this happen?? At this point, should I move on to dropping the pan and replacing the filter and gasket, then trying again? Or should I be worry and just tow it to a shop?

Some important background:
I bought this car about 3 months ago. It has about 110 miles on it. It drove fine and felt not hard shifting or slipping at all, but I figured it was time to do at least a partial fluid change — especially considering that I don’t know much of the car’s history with previous owners. And so, I was planning on getting this done soon anyway. Bought some Pentosin ATF (5.0 Liter bottle), but before getting to it, an issue came up and prompted me to go ahead and get this done immediately. While driving, the car went into transmission failsafe. From what I gather, old fluid could be one of the many reasons the computer would trigger this restriction mode. So, before submitting myself to expensive maintenance quotes, I figured I’d go ahead with the cheapest possibility — old oil, and hence started the partial fluid change.

Partial fluid change reference:
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...hange-diy.html

Any ideas are very much appreciated!

What you saw was completely normal. What you probably should do is, wear safety glasses, get a pressure pump and pump in from that filler plug. You need to either find a prefect fit or at least very snug fit, otherwise, you're gonna see that oil gushing out from that port again.

Once you pump the fluid back in there with the engine shut off, you can only put in around 3 qt, if I recall it correctly. The last missing qt you'll have to pump in while engine is on.

The gushing only happens for the first 5 seconds or so after you start the engine. If you have a snug fit, there won't be any oil spilling out, and you can pump that missing 1 qt back in there while shifting around.

Good Luck!

I would just start fresh since you don't know what the PO had done, drop the pan and replace the oil filter with new pan gasket and refill properly.

I would assume nothing has been done by the PO, since 1) BMW claims it lifetime fluid, which is BS. 2) it's sold at just passed 100K, which due for a major maintenance job. If I'm the PO, I'd keep it for another 2~3 yrs if throw in a major maintenance job. Just my $.02.

To be 100% safe, follow what mgbmwx5, and the shop procedure.

The link that you posted is for the ZF 5HP24 transmission used in the 4.4i & 4.6is V8 E53. Your 3.0i is fitted with the GM 5L40-E transmission. The Pentosin ATF is a replacement for the Mobil ATF LT71141 fluid used in the ZF transmission (golden colour). Your transmission uses Dexron fluid (red colour). It's essential that you don't mix up the two fluids.

How certain are you that the plug you're removing is the level/filler plug and not (say) the pressure test plug? Could you maybe take a photo of it and post it up on here?

Phil

^^^Phil is absolutely correct.

Thanks for catching that. In a way -- good thing I didn't get as far as getting the fluid through. I think the hose was slightly small for the filler hole. So, I just got a slightly larger diameter that still fits for my fluid pump. Thanks for the help!! I'll yell back out if it doesn't work, or update with what does work.

Thank you for commenting. I am ordering Dexron VI to do my a5s390r (5l50e?) in an 05 3.0 and started to once again doubt my fluid selection.


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Are you sure it's Dexron VI and not Dexron III? For some trans, Dexron VI is not backward compatible with Dexron III. The older seals sometime starts leaking when Dexron VI is introduce.

Do a google search for Dexron VI compatibility problems. Most notable trans affected by the Dexron VI compatibility issue are Allison trans. But I figure all trans makers for that period were using similar trans seals material.

I've searched quite a bit. I have found people that have used Dexron III, Redline D4,Castrol Transmax (or something like that.... Only a few cases) and Dexron VI with varied results.

I'm going with Dexron VI because it is what the dealer recommended, GM says it is OK to use where Dexron III is called for and plenty of people have reported good results using it. But, mostly because the users reporting good results did it purely as a preventative/scheduled maintenance item. My transmission is performing very well and this is preventative maintenance to me. My X has 68k miles, fwiw.

Now I'm looking in to normal operating temperature. OBD is telling me I am at 200 Fahrenheit after some Highway driving and that just seems high to me by about 20 degrees. I'm not sure, though. I think this could be even more harmful to the seals than fresh fluid......

Sorry for the slight hijack OP. I hope your issue gets sorted.

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Resolved. Now back to the primary problem. Thanks all of you for the help!
 

You also caught another mistake of mine ... it wasn't the filler hole, but the pressure test hole I was pumping fluid through. After you suggested it, I looked up the images and surely enough I went in the wrong way....no wonder. Ops!! Well, thank-you!!! I was able to complete the fluid change.

In searching for a diagram I found someone had done something similar and posted their correction. Ref:
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...r-x5-3-0i.html

Now back to the primary problem [[transmission failsafe with code P0733]], which did not go away after the fluid change (and also a battery change).

Thanks all of you for the help! I really appreciate it.
-Wellington.