A Good Source of LT71141...

[Ben82]

Hi Jim, so something like aquarium tubing? (~6mm diameter)

[CitroJim]

Hi Jim, so something like aquarium tubing? (~6mm diameter)

Yes, that's it Ben...

The maximum OD for those without a dipstick is 9mm (to fit in the breather) but for those with a dispstick and fill through the dipstick hole then you can go out to 11mm OD tube...

Whatever, it's a slow old job...

When I've rebuilt them I pre-fill via the speedo drive hole before putting the engine and 'box back in the car but that's not very (at all) practical in-situ on the XM and Xantia but I don't know if that offers an opportunity on the C5?

If it does, the bulk of the new ATF can be got in nice and quickly and only final topping-up is needed to be done via the breather hole.

[Ben82]

Would 4 axle stands be recommended for the job? I have 2 along with 2 ramps, but get the feeling that mixing both means that you lack jocks to help prevent the car from rolling off the ramps? Lidl have axle stands again from tomorrow here, so thinking of picking up another pair.

[Mandrake]

If you're wanting to drain the oil from the gearbox just drive the front of the car up onto the ramps, chock the rear wheels with blocks of wood in addition to park mode and handbrake, that's all you need.

Since you need to check the level of the oil with the car on level ground I drain the oil while its up on the ramps, put the filler plug back in and push the car back off the ramps onto the ground without starting the engine before commencing topping up the oil level...

[Ben82]

Since you need to check the level of the oil with the car on level ground I drain the oil while its up on the ramps, put the filler plug back in and push the car back off the ramps onto the ground without starting the engine before commencing topping up the oil level...

Not sure I'm comfortable with the car rolling off in the garage uncontrollably (which is the most likeliest place I'll do it, since it's the securest place if anything goes wrong, and by far the easiest "level ground" place to be available for the job).

[xantia_v6]

last time I did this, I just kept the wheels on the ground with the suspension high (and a block under the sill just in case) .

[Ben82]

last time I did this, I just kept the wheels on the ground with the suspension high (and a block under the sill just in case) .

Interesting idea, will have to check if this give me enough clearance (i'm not exactly small!), but means I can use the axle stands that I have at the front for security.

[Ben82]

Hmm, hard to describe really, its more like a metallic shudder. Imagine a welded steel table with bare steel legs dragged across smooth concrete.

Mine did it worst in 3rd gear at around 1500 rpm with the torque converter lockup clutch locked and wide throttle. Particularly between 20-25mph in around town traffic up a hill. At first it only did it with wide open throttle but it got progressively worse to the point where I couldn't accelerate up a hill at 25mph without it shuddering almost constantly...I was having to manually change down a gear to keep the revs above the "danger zone"...

Well whilst clearing off my phone I found an old(ish) video (one to track the clicking actually) that captured my noise, that I've now edited down:



You can hear the "growl" at about 11seconds and last for about 5s. Similar driving around 40s doesn't give the same noise.

Is it similar to the noise your Gearbox made Simon?

[Mandrake]

Hard to tell due to the poor sound quality of the recording, but no, it doesn't sound the same as the noise I was getting. My noise would tend to appear in short bursts and would stop as soon as you eased off the throttle a bit.

I have no idea what your noise might be... does it still do it sometimes ?

[Ben82]

Yup, it's not as frequent as the clicking, but has done it for at least 6 months. Only happens with accelerating, and mostly is in the range of 2nd gear (but I believe I've had it in 4th too).
Easing off would stop it too (and generally wouldn't return again), it would also disappear if I changed up a gear in sequential mode.

Happened most recently last night..

Might have to see if it disappears after change of LT71141.
I'm wondering whether I should get 1l to bring back from the UK with me this time round, and use that to do a bit of a "spot" check on the colour of the oil (considering the level check it should "drip" out), i can collect a small sample, and then compare it to the fresh stuff. Seems like AceParts do it for £9.86 delivered.

If it turns out I need a single change then, I can buy the other 4l when I get the oil + filters etc for the service. But if it's dirty then I may have up to about 5l spare, instead of about 9l spare, and saved about £40 in the process.

You guys have done the changes, so are more well informed than I, does this seem like a good trade-off?

[Ben82]

Well found opie were good on their price beater so shall order a litre from them.

Hopefully I can do a check on the oil mid to late April with that and be able to make a decision on whether to go for another 4l or a 20l barrel.

Be nice to get this "unknown" out of the way.

[Sam KS]

Would 4 axle stands be recommended for the job? I have 2 along with 2 ramps, but get the feeling that mixing both means that you lack jocks to help prevent the car from rolling off the ramps? Lidl have axle stands again from tomorrow here, so thinking of picking up another pair.

I did mine a while back and used axle stands at the front and ramps on the rear. But got the car level and all was good. I also used An oil that meet the LT71141 spec but is not approved. I have done 2 changes so far because when you do a change you can only change about half the oil and I wanted to get rid of all the muck. As the ATF is so cheap I'll just do a fluid change every service.

[CitroJim]

Changed the ATF in my XM yesterday and did as I always do with a Hydraulic Citroen, just put the car on high on a level surface. No stands, no jacks, no hassle...

I checked the level on the dipstick before commencing and it was perfect. I drained out the old, saw it was nice and clean and measured 4.3 litres out. I measured 4.3 litres of new back in...

I was pleased to note the Mobil 20l drum has an easy-pour spout in the lid so even though the drum is big and heavy it's easy and clean to dispense a litre at a time into a graduated jug...

[Ben82]

Had the suspension up on my car today to change the tyres so was able to have a nose around for the drain plug...Is this it?

If so is an allan key type job with undoing it from the centre rather than something going on the outside?

[Mandrake]

A bit hard to be 100% certain since your picture is zoomed in too far to see the context of where it is but if its on the bottom of the gearbox and has an allen key drive in the middle then yes that will be it. From memory its 5mm or 6mm. To undo it you'll need an alley key bit for a normal 3/8" drive ratchet.