ZF 5HP-18 auto transmission fluid flush

[skylinergtr]

well its only been about 20000kms (12000miles) since i bought the car and the transmission was serviced. the PO did the transmission service before i bought it. i'm pretty sure it takes dextron III fluid.. correct me if i'm wrong. I had the car on the hoist today and wanted to do a flush. i was a bit confused by the drain and fill bolts. i opened the big bolt which i think was the fill and fluid about 50-100ml came out. i guess it was really full. i looked at the fluid and it looked good. my mechanic told me its good for another 10000km (6000miles). i was thinking about servicing it now because i drive the car moderatly hard and i like to keep the trans service up to date. my question is... do i need to take the car to a transmission specialty shop? does the new fluid have to be presurized in? can i do this myself? if so i need a few instructions on what to do..

[russiankid]

New fluid is pumped in(siphen pump) with the engine running and fluid at proper temps. I usually fill the pan all the way until it seeps out of the fill hole. Then I start the car and let it warm up. Then I add more fluid until it seeps out of the hole again. I drive it for a good 30-45 minutes, check the fluid level again and add if needed. The drain bolt is on the bottom of the pan.

That procedure is for the GM transmission, but its pretty similar in that area. The GM transmission needs to be in neutral, not sure on yours.

[Mr Project]

Here is the ZF doc on allowable fluids:

http://www.zf.com/na/content/media/import/zf_na/startseite/sso/passenger_car___light_truck/car_driveline/lubrication_and_oil_requirements_/Oil_Reference_Guide_PC_102307.pdf

Here's another nice chart from bmwtips:

http://www.bmwtips.com/tipsntricks/Tranny/ZF1999Chart.jpg

This procedure write-up for the E36 is quite good and it's basically the same for the 5HP18: (which I believe is basically the same as the A5S 310Z)

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-Tranny_Fluid_Auto/E36-Tranny_Fluid_Auto.htm

[shogun]

see www.europeantransmissions.com
under techncial the procedure is described there

[skylinergtr]

i found these pics on google that is pretty much what my trans pan is like. i was not able to find any bolts on the side but i found these. i could not be correct but this is what i thought.


this is the fill bolt?
http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimages/58515/DSC01480.jpg


and this is the drain?
http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimages/58515/DSC01478.jpg


i opened the big one that i thought was the fill and fluid was coming out fast. i only lost about 100ml. by that i dont know if it could have been the drain bolt.

anyone pic for reference.
http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimages/58515/DSC01476.jpg

i am confused because there are only 2 bolts at the bottom of the pan of the transmission.

[russiankid]

The first pic looks like the drain bolt. Second one I am not sure. DO you have any bolts on the side of the pan?

[PorscheH6]

Use Amsoil ATF, Royal Purple ATF, or Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF.

Well worth the extra bit of $$.

[Bill R]

The recessed hole is the one you fill it through, it also has a tube that extends upward into the pan, when the pan is full at operating temp the fluid will run out of that tube if overfilled, if you let it get too warm before checking the fluid level then it will also run out, even if the level was correct.

Its imperative that you fill it when the oil temp is around 105F, or if the pan is just barely warm to the touch. i usually fill the pan until fluid comes out that filler, then start the car while its absolutely level and run it for on a couple of minutes, here in arizona thats long enough,

You can then use a infrared thermometer if you have one and measure the temp of the bottom of the pan. Around 105F and you open the fill plug again and add until it runs out. Dexron /mercon is suitable for yours, If there's any question about the fluid i would use Castrol Import atf, it meets the specs for yours if it calls out for dexron or if it calls out for specialty fluids.1
http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimages/58515/DSC01480.jpg


and this is the drain?
http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimages/58515/DSC01478.jpg


i opened the big one that i thought was the fill and fluid was coming out fast. i only lost about 100ml. by that i dont know if it could have been the drain bolt.

anyone pic for reference.
http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimages/58515/DSC01476.jpg

i am confused because there are only 2 bolts at the bottom of the pan of the transmission.[/quote]
11

[PropellerOnMyCar]

looking for opinions on this one.

heres what I did...

just finished flush/fill on my 5hp with 200k that was showing clear signs of low fluid. the fluid that came out wasn't too bad but it had a burnt smell to it.

replaced with regular ATF, started car and shifted through all gears down and up and let idle in each gear for a few min.

test drove for 15-20 min and the problem seemed better but not completely gone. ie: the symptoms were intermittent. put back on lift felt the pan, it was warm to the touch. I pulled drain plug and fluid was dripping out so I assumed it was full and replaced plug.

heres what I what I am planning to do...

my plan is to run with regular ATF for 2 weeks to help clean the tranny out. then flush, remove pan, clean or replace filter and fill with royal purple.

does this sound like good logic or unnecessary risk of running on a tranny that isn't quite fixed? i do have other means of transportation.

also, the pelican article doesn't mention this but i noticed it is a good idea to disable stability control when running through the gears on the lift. otherwise the ABS freaks out.

[skylinergtr]

thanks a lot bill R! i also talked to a bmw mech at the dealer and he told me the big one is the fill and the small one is the drain. i was advised to take my car to a tranmission specialist shop and have them pressurized new fluid into my car to get rid of the old fluid in my torque converter. i will then probably have to pay for about 20L of fluid, but its dex III so its not expensive. To propeller on my car i was told by many people, and they dont advise me to switch to another fluid/synthetic fluid unless you rebuild the transmission. no matter what your going to have some of that old fluid in it and its not good to mix fluids. myself i wanted to switch to synthetic because i drive the car a little hard but i'm just going to stick to mineral and give the car what it recommends.

[PropellerOnMyCar]

bump for more advice

[skylinergtr]

you should use what it only takes mineral dextron III atf, either drain the fluid in it, add new fluid. in a week dump the fluid and change the filter, gasket, and new fluid, or go to a shop for a pressurized fluid change so you know more or less all of the fluid has been changed.

[PropellerOnMyCar]

i am truly lucky, my good friend/certified and very talented mechanic operates his shop out of my storage business which is literally next door to where I live! so i've got my mechanic in my back yard :)

we were planning on dropping the pan and replacing the filter so its good to hear that advice. my question is do you have to drop the pan AND do a pressurized fluid change or will dropping the pan open up the system and get all the fluid out?

does anyone know what i can expect to pay for a new filter and gasket and where I should look? somehow i doubt autozone will have one...:confused

EDIT:

called autozone otw to class, they had filter and gasket for $17, i am surprised...

[shogun]

I bought my filter from Amazon, maker is Meyle, Febi also has them and others. Including the pan gasket.

The recessed hole is the one you fill it through, the stamped in German words in the pic above say

Befuelltemperatur = filling temperature
30-50 degree Celsius / 86-122 degree Fahrenheit

Unfortunately where I live we cannot get
Castrol Import Vehicle ATF, Redline, Royal Purple, so that leaves Mobil1 for me, or maybe Fuchs from Germany

[skylinergtr]

i forgot to update this thread, but last summer I had the transmission serviced.

it did not go through a pressurized machine.

They cycled about 5 dump and fills, while changing the filter and pan gasket near the end. Also making sure to keep the transmission temps near 30-50 degrees Celsuis (as Showgun mentioned)

Good news was that the transmission and old fluid was fairly clean.

The trans has been great since then, and I was advised to replace the fluid every 30,000kms (20,000miles) just for a dump and fill.