Changing Transmission oil 407 al4
- Thread starter Zeus
- Start date
Show me what you've lost, I have the plastic tube type spare with the matching drain plug. If just the plug is wrecked I'll go hunting to find it.
All I have is the normal plug (in other cars) without the tube, so I would need the matching drain plug and the tube that fits onto it.
Thanks
AL4 DPO oil change and other info
Thought I would just post some useful info on this all in one post. Besides manufactures recommendations, oils commonly recommended on the forums for this gearbox are Penrite multi vehicle fully synthetic ATF and Esso/Mobil LT71141. Decide for yourself what to use. Manual (pdf download) with...
www.aussiefrogs.com
2 types, which required plastic or metal alloy? See other discussions
Hi Zeus to clarify the plug types referring to the images.
The original first type has a dual plug with concentric hexagon heads. The inner plug is just a short threaded drain plug. That screws into the center of a larger hollow metal plug that has the tube fixed to it as one piece. Not able to be lost normally.
The second type has a short threaded drain plug, no tube. The tube is plastic and is screwed further up the same hole using the same thread. The plastic tube has a bottom thread and then the top is the tube, all one piece. The inside of the plastic tube is hollow and formed as a hexagon shape so you can use the long end of an allen key up inside the hole to screw it out. 8mm key I think it is. The plastic tube should live up the hole and cannot fall out because the drain plug is there. It is only removed to do a complete oil drain and then replaced to set the oil level when refilling.
If the plastic tube is lost it must have been done when the transmission was not operational as it should have been used to check the final oil level and then the drain plug was put in. The tube only needs to be lightly tightened so should not be hard to get out but it does need the long end of a normal allen key to reach up into it.
I guess the same applies to the metal tube, if it is lost as the car cannot operate without it. NOTE both types need to have the oil level checked with the engine running and warmed up. Should I say that again !!!
Jaahn
,
The original first type has a dual plug with concentric hexagon heads. The inner plug is just a short threaded drain plug. That screws into the center of a larger hollow metal plug that has the tube fixed to it as one piece. Not able to be lost normally.
The second type has a short threaded drain plug, no tube. The tube is plastic and is screwed further up the same hole using the same thread. The plastic tube has a bottom thread and then the top is the tube, all one piece. The inside of the plastic tube is hollow and formed as a hexagon shape so you can use the long end of an allen key up inside the hole to screw it out. 8mm key I think it is. The plastic tube should live up the hole and cannot fall out because the drain plug is there. It is only removed to do a complete oil drain and then replaced to set the oil level when refilling.
If the plastic tube is lost it must have been done when the transmission was not operational as it should have been used to check the final oil level and then the drain plug was put in. The tube only needs to be lightly tightened so should not be hard to get out but it does need the long end of a normal allen key to reach up into it.
I guess the same applies to the metal tube, if it is lost as the car cannot operate without it. NOTE both types need to have the oil level checked with the engine running and warmed up. Should I say that again !!!
Jaahn
,
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Are you sure it’s a al4 and not a 4hp20 what engine does it have a heat exchanger on the top
Good point. AL4 has a round-ish oil cooler down low at the front. The 4HP20 has a rectangular cooler with pointy ends on top of the gearbox - about the size of a pencil box if that can still be used as a point of reference. (It's rather like increasingly rare matchboxes and cigarette packets as size references.) 
The last time I changed the oil, the plug was just a plug, removed with an allen key, did not know that the leveling tube is supposed to be in there but I am sure it is missing. I will check oil cooler tomorrow. Engine is 2.0 HDi.Good point. AL4 has a round-ish oil cooler down low at the front. The 4HP20 has a rectangular cooler with pointy ends on top of the gearbox - about the size of a pencil box if that can still be used as a point of reference. (It's rather like increasingly rare matchboxes and cigarette packets as size references.)
Thanks for your help guys.
Best to put up your VIN, so we can tell you for certain what you've got, and how the transmission fluid should be changed. My XM has a 4HP20 - the level plug is on the side (no special level tube as for AL4), and quite separate fr4om the drain plug.
I don't recall the tube on any 4HP20 i have worked on
Depending on how fussy you are, you can live without it - having had these things actually apart and rebuilding them, ive come to realise theyre not really that fussy about the level.
I have been just putting a measured 3.5 litres in after a drain and calling it done!
I have been just putting a measured 3.5 litres in after a drain and calling it done!
AL4 cooler is on the back and is square, above the left inner CV joint.Good point. AL4 has a round-ish oil cooler down low at the front. The 4HP20 has a rectangular cooler with pointy ends on top of the gearbox - about the size of a pencil box if that can still be used as a point of reference. (It's rather like increasingly rare matchboxes and cigarette packets as size references.)
I have one of these types on a Clio case that was destined for the metal recyclers. You're for the price of postage if you want it.
Should work on the later type casing - serves the same function.
Yes 4HP20 is on top and gets in the way of just about everything you need access to lol
You'll have to fill it through the breather - it's a small hole and it's very slow to fill that way...
Here's a document on refilling the 4HP20 that I think came from David S:
Here's a document on refilling the 4HP20 that I think came from David S:
My darts fly straight and true
My 3.5 litres advice was for the AL4! I have no idea what the required amount for the ZF gearbox is...