Xsara Automatic transmission oil change

Micha · Post by **Micha** » 06 Jan 2005, 10:53

[blue]Pls help: Should I change oil in my AL4 automatic gear box? The garage explained to me that according to Citroen's instructions, this box should stay closed unless something went wrong or the indicator tells us that the oil is tired… But I think, way waiting for something to go wrong? If oil change (& filter) can prevent rapid wear – way not do it initiated? The car has now 59000 km on the clock and gives no problem with the box. A friend explained to me why not change the oil: "If you will change oil & filter now, the box which is used to run with the dirty used oil will start to give trouble, slip and maybe even burn the inside entireties because it has build up tolerances and spaces on the pads which were compensated with the old oil that was thicker then the fresh one, adsorbed with the wears parts".
So it’s a conflict: Or changing oil now, taking the risk that the box
will go nuts, or change in a few years, and then it will not help either and the box will need a rebuild.
What should I do? Any reply will be appreciated.

NiSk · Post by **NiSk** » 06 Jan 2005, 12:29

1) What does it say in your service book?
2) Who makes the autobox (i.e. Borg Warner, ZF, etc?) find out and contact them.
Experience shows that unfortunately, a lot of Citroën (especially) garages don't have a clue regarding autoboxes.
You could also contact an autobox specialist.
//NiSk

Micha · Post by **Micha** » 07 Jan 2005, 10:03

Thanks for your reply; well, the box is an AL4, produced by Siemens and PSA. Tried to contact Siemens via the net but could not fint the right site regarding automobiles gear box. Any clue? Regards, Micha.

NiSk · Post by **NiSk** » 07 Jan 2005, 13:40

Well, this sounds like a turn in the right direction! - PSA using a competent electronic control system supplier instead of cobbling it together themselves!
OUR - Is it Siemens who have developed the mechanics? not-so-good maybe (anyone fancy an autobox made from washing machine, freezer and vacuum cleaner parts?)
//NiSk

dan.2cv · Post by **dan.2cv** » 07 Jan 2005, 22:40

Well, I was just going to do the same with my AL4 (see recent thread) and as you can see the oil is only available from Citroen at lots of money (in the UK anyway). All the advice have been not to try and use anything else, so proceed with caution.

Micha · Post by **Micha** » 09 Jan 2005, 09:57

Thanks for all you repliers, But my main question is now should I change the oil or wait for that light? All ideas (from the manual and from the friends...) are making sense… Thanks again.[:)]

alan s · Post by **alan s** » 09 Jan 2005, 12:53

This any help?
http://www.autointell-news.com/european ... a/psa3.htm
As Total have supplied lubricants and fluids for generations to Citroen, they also may be worth a call.
Alan S

arry_b · Post by **arry_b** » 09 Jan 2005, 16:35

Have a Google for Mazda/Ford autobox problems. They also don't specify a regular fluid change.
I would change it.

NiSk · Post by **NiSk** » 09 Jan 2005, 17:20

I see someone else is about to change the oil in a similar autobox fitted to a Xantia:
http://www.andyspares.com/discussionfor ... C_ID=11201
I rather imagine that the same conditions apply for that autobox as well.
//NiSk

PowerLee · Post by **PowerLee** » 09 Jan 2005, 17:39

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by NiSk

Well, this sounds like a turn in the right direction! - PSA using a competent electronic control system supplier instead of cobbling it together themselves!
OUR - Is it Siemens who have developed the mechanics? not-so-good maybe (anyone fancy an autobox made from washing machine, freezer and vacuum cleaner parts?)
//NiSk
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Siemens are part of the Bosch group.
Its very rare for either Siemens or Bosch to make a shoddy product.

Stuart McB · Post by **Stuart McB** » 09 Jan 2005, 23:17

Siemens also have a very large engineering base aswell as electronics. They make some cracking machine shop gear aswell. Lathes, millers you know the kind of stuff.