C5 V6 auto box fluid

Post by **CitroJim** » 15 Mar 2011, 05:53

Unlike the AL4, there's no oil counter on the 4HP20 so nothing to reset.

The only thing that can be done is to re-initialise the auto-adaptives and this is done from the spare parts area of the Lexia. I can't now recall exactly what the menu is called but something like replacement parts or similar. If the 'box changers smoothly don't even bother to do this...

They do say that a car that's led a quiet motorway existence may have a longer life gearbox due to the fewer gear changes and less clutch slip...

Allanxantia · Post by **Allanxantia** » 15 Mar 2011, 09:29

I am starting to warm to the idea of a couple of partial changes. How much fluid do I need and what other parts do I need to buy in advance?

lexi · Post by **lexi** » 15 Mar 2011, 10:11

Allan : you will get around 2 ltres out at a time. Even 2 changes will do it the world of good. I got my fluid from Arnold Clark in Paisley. They were the cheapest per litre for trade price . I searched EVERYWHERE else.

They do it n 2 litre cans.

jgra1 · Post by **jgra1** » 15 Mar 2011, 10:34

hmm I have this Dilemma too...

My 406 has done about 110K miles and the autobox - whilst having a few jerky downshifts in the past - seems to have stopped doing those now.. its running fine as far as I can tell...

I did have the box out once, and could have done a full fluid change then, but at the time, I didn't even know about 'sealed for life' not meaning sealed for life.. so didnt do it..

I also have a 50K box in the shed, so I am loathe to spend money changing the gearbox oil at that cost, when it would be better off going in the young box.. in fact, my mind is made up as I write

keep the present box and wait until it destroys itself (if it does!) and then change boxes one day in the future

sorry not much help

John

Allanxantia · Post by **Allanxantia** » 15 Mar 2011, 10:35

I'll call them today and get a price, they are not for from me, do I need a filter/ gaskets etc as well?

Allanxantia · Post by **Allanxantia** » 15 Mar 2011, 11:46

My local motor factor stocks carlube and they pointed me in the direction of ATF-U at £25 for 5 litres. It is what they supply all their trade customers for BMW and Audi "lifetime" transmissions. It is less than a quarter of the price.

Carlube ATF-U Automatic Transmission Fluid is a fully synthetic fluid offering advanced lubrication protection for automatic transmissions which meets the following requirements.

Specifications: GM Dexron VI, Ford Mercon V, MB236.6, BMW 7045E, Toyota T-IV, Mitsubishi/Hyundai SPII , SPIII, Chrysler ATF, ATF3+, ATF4+, Honda Z1, Nissan Matic D, J, LT 71141, JWS3309, Volvo1161540 & VW/Audi G-055-025-AZ

Chris570 · Post by **Chris570** » 15 Mar 2011, 13:14

I'm almost certain Jim will be along soon to shout Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo to that.

Its very important to use exactly the oil specified and nothing else

Post by **DHallworth** » 15 Mar 2011, 13:38

The only oil to use in the 4HP20 box is the stuff that comes in 1 litre tubs from the main agent.

It's labelled AL4 4HP20.

I bought a couple from Citroen Glasgow for our Xantia V6 the other week.

David.

Sid_the_Squid · Post by **Sid_the_Squid** » 15 Mar 2011, 14:02

As echoing everyones comments so far only use the Genuine stuff, saving £10~20 now will cost you £1000+ down the line, not worth it.

My last box oil change was July 2010, at the time the main Citroen dealer only sold in 2 liter tubs, you need 4 liters.

For a 4HP20 you will get out about 3.8 liters of oil, so put in about 3.8 liters of oil.

The oil used to look like this.. it may have changed box as its now being sold under another brand Mobil?? But its defiantly golden, and stinks..

You can see the part number on the bottle, best to use this, as some dealers really talk sh*t, Citroen Hatfield understood straight away what I wanted, but Citroen Hemel tried to sell me Dexron 3 twice... grrr.

Allanxantia · Post by **Allanxantia** » 15 Mar 2011, 18:18

I get the point, but I am alarmed at how an 'average Joe' would not be told this anywhwere except on here. I'll get some ordered from Citroen, is there a filter to order at the same time? Going out tonight to have a look at it.

addo · Post by **addo** » 15 Mar 2011, 19:20

I would disagree with the suggestion that LT71141's the only oil suitable.

It's the most clearly compatible. There are a bunch of ATFs which would probably work as well based on similar kV values and breakdown temperatures, and similar amounts of anti-foaming. The Esso fluid - besides having viscosities somewhat different to most Dex variants - also has greater tolerance of high (flash) temperatures and (I believe) resists foaming slightly more than older tech fluids.

Some Japanese designed/built autos are incredibly fussy (more so than the AL4) and these ones I would not be game to use a non-OEM fluid.

With ZF boxes, (I may yet eat my words

) but after quite some digging and crossing of the specs used by other manufacturers with ZF front drive autos of the same era, I am happy with a locally sold full synth. In a nutshell, quite possibly the technology to produce this oil affordably now, may not have been where the cost balance lay fifteen-twenty years ago...

Cheers, Adam.

Allanxantia · Post by **Allanxantia** » 16 Mar 2011, 13:56

well, done the ground work and the options on fluid are

Carlube ATF-U states on the bottle it is equiv to ESSO LT71441 £32 for 5l
citroen fluid LT17740 £11.78+vat per litre
Comma Multivehicle ATF, states on the bottle equiv to LT71441 £31 for 5l

Assuming it will take 4 litres there is a big difference. Surely the ONLY citroen/ESSO fluid may well have been the case before other oil mfrs started developing fully synth ATF. The comma and carlube products are apparently fairly new and are supplied for BMW/VW and Pug/Cit "lifetime"

lexi · Post by **lexi** » 16 Mar 2011, 14:47

Yes BMW have the same box in some models. So have Landrover etc etc.

If some companies are saying their oil is now suitable for those trannys then maybe so

You should get 3.8litres out but on my first change I only got 2.5 lites from the TC.

It will depend on where the box level is ATM and how hot when you drain.

You will not need a filter as you wont ever accsess it . A new alloy crush washer should be fitted.

You can only gather info and then make an informed choice on oil type.

A year ago that oil from mainstealer was 16.99 all up for 2 litres.......all risen then and probably same stock

Post by **CitroJim** » 16 Mar 2011, 16:47

Allanxantia wrote: Carlube ATF-U states on the bottle it is equiv to ESSO LT71441 £32 for 5l
Citroën fluid LT17740 £11.78+vat per litre
Comma Multivehicle ATF, states on the bottle equiv to LT71441 £31 for 5l

I'm not convinced. Show me proof positive it's not Dexron-based and I'll believe.. Unitl then... No.

We've been here before in this thread. Look at the Valvoline stuff. It says it's compatible with LT71141 but it's actually Dexron based...

I've said it many times and I'll say it again. Use nothing but LT71141.

Don't pay Citroen prices for it, buy 20L drums from an oil factor...

Knowing what a ball-ache it is to rebuild an HP20 I'll continue to use the genuine stuff..

Sid_the_Squid · Post by **Sid_the_Squid** » 16 Mar 2011, 19:36

A new alloy crush washer should be fitted.

Lexi you must have a slightly different gearbox setup to mine, is yours a mk1? my mk2 Xantia 4HP20 had a rubber recessed washer in the drain plug, which I did not change, never leaked even after 5 oil changes.