Here are some pictures of an automatic transmission from an early 16 year old BMW 3 series which had very low kilometers at eighty thousand in 16 years.
I would consider to be an extremely low for the age of the vehicle.
We happened to replace the transmission pan since it was externally extremely corroded and we feared it may leak soon and damage the transmission permanently.
We were very surprised of the texture and color of the transmission fluid which as you can see is rather black.
I also took the picture of the sticker on the replacement pan just to show you what is recommended in this case.
Click on the thumbnail to view bigger photos.
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We recommend to replace the transmission fluid and the filter in all the transmissions (interestingly ZF the company whom makes this transmissions for BMW also recommends to service them at hundred thousand kilometers) at a hundred thousand kilometers or 6 years is prudent have them serviced due to the transmission fluid oxidation and degradation.
You can see the fluid with your own eyes (left photos at above) being rather black instead being clear to beige in color.
We don’t intend to over service your vehicle, rather have it maintained properly to be enjoyed long term without major transmission brake down and having an unnecessary expense which could be avoided by a simple fluid and filter service.
IMPORTANT TRANSMISSION INFORMATION ZF AUTOMATIC CAR TRANSMISSIONS
The case for oil servicing and the use of approved oil and filters
The oil is supposed to be lifetime fill – why change it?
The oil in a modern automatic transmission is a highly engineered component as it serves many functions including lubrication, cooling, hydraulic application of clutches and power transmission via the torque converter.
Modern transmissions utilise overlapping application of clutch packs at gear changes (instead of freewheels) and controlled slip of the torque converter lock up clutch which puts greater stresses on the oil.
To meet these challenges partially synthetic oils have been developed for ZF 5, 6 and 8 speed transmissions which are maintenance free under normal operating conditions. However, as some degradation of the oil inevitably occurs over time and usage, ZF recommends oil and filter changes after 50,000 to 75,000 miles to ensure optimum performance.
Oil degradation can lead to complaints such as judder, noises and a deterioration in gear change quality.
Some car manufacturers already recommend oil servicing at 60,000 miles and others are starting to put greater emphasis on the technical benefits rather than ‘cost of ownership.
Why use approved oil?
There were many approved oils for the simpler 3 and 4 speed transmissions, however it is only feasible to exhaustively develop and test one oil to meet all the demands imposed on a modern transmission.
Claims are made that alternative oils are equivalent but whilst they might have the same basic characteristics such as viscosity they won’t have the same crucial additive packages which are closely guarded secrets of the oil companies.
The consequences of using unapproved oils might not be immediately apparent but there are well-documented cases of problems such as judder and noises occurring after thousands of miles in service.
Why change the transmission filter?
A correctly operating filter ensures that potentially damaging particles are taken out of circulation thereby optimizing the transmission operating conditions and extending life.
Why use approved filters?
Filtration is a science in itself. Too little can lead to significantly sized particles circulating the transmission causing wear and risking the seizure of finely toleranced parts e.g. pistons in the bores of the mechatronic unit. Too much filtration can lead to vital additives being extracted from the oil and also blockage of the filter.
An approved filter ensures correct sealing. This cannot be guaranteed with non-genuine parts allowing the possibility of unfiltered oil to circulate the transmission giving the associated risks of failure and premature wear.
Oil change kits are now available for all ZF 5, 6 and 8 speed car automatic transmissions which include all the parts required for an oil change. Below is an illustration of the 6 speed transmission kit.
However all the oils, filters, sump pans etc. can also be purchased individually. For more information and part numbers, please contact us.
We wish you safe motoring at Techmax
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