2008 Aisin 6 speed fluid replacement?

B

BarryC

Member
Fellow Frogger
Joined
Jun 30, 2004
Messages
267
Location
Melbourne
The dealership‘s stock answer is that the auto trans is “sealed for life”. I get a blank stare when I ask this question.

My question is about information re changing the fluid despite their responses.

my car is a year 2107. It’s done almost 100K and I was toying with the idea of changing/topping up the transmission fluid. I do intend to keep this car for quite a few years more. Is a fluid “change” actually possible? What % is changed when this is done? Any recommended/not recommended fluids to use?

cheers
 
Stuey said:
You need to read this thread: https://www.aussiefrogs.com/forum/index.php?threads/c5-aisin-warner-6-speed-automatic.107883/
Click to expand...
thank you, but I note that this was written in 2013, referring to a Citroen of about 2006 vintage. I’m sufficiently mechanically ignorant to want to find some info that will relate to my 2008, manufactured in 2017. Things may be different? Is it exactly the same transmission in my ten year younger car? Maybe someone with a car like mine may be able to throw some light in my ignorant direction. Can the fluid be changed completely, or is it like the AL4 where you can only drain about 2/3 of it, and end up just diluting the old oil?

cheers
 
fluid.png

So get fluid that complies with the spec (Penrite, Total, etc). Pugrambo, get a new advisor, you'll pay much less than $100 full retail.

You cannot fully drain the oil from the AM6. The converter will retain some. Sealed for life is just that - until the transmission dies. Previous distributor Ateco had a service manual suggesting changes.

There are several French AM6 how-tos, but AF member electroboy translated one of the better ones. It's old, so ignore the fluid spec unless your car is an oldy - see above.
 

Attachments

  • AM6 Oil Change Instructions in English copy.pdf
    854.5 KB · Views: 218
Last edited:
For those wanting the Citroen issued instructions for the C6 with this box, in French, see this--
 

Attachments

  • t3_2006_ebt_vidange_am6.pdf
    165.8 KB · Views: 67
I have gone down similar path with "sealed for life" transmission in a Laguna - Jatco, not Aisin. In discussion here consensus was that there is value in not trusting the "sealed for life " story and changing the fluid.

I have now had the fluid changed twice and think it worth while. Latest was at at 175,000KM

I had it done by Pringle Automotive in West Melbourne and was happy with their work. As I understand it, they take the pan off the transmission to drain it. Refilling with the correct fluid for your trans is important. Cost last time I had it done was $275. I regard that as well spent on a car that I plan to keep for some time and that has been otherwise problem-free.

Ian.
 
Another thread on the topic.

C5X7 auto box oil change

Hi all, Been reading threads on oil change for x7 transmission . A bit confused about what brand and type to use. Any suggestions.? Also is this a job to be done at home or should a specialist do it? I've done 120k and it runs so smooth I'm reluctant to fiddle with it? thanks
www.aussiefrogs.com
Toyota dealers sell the "original" Aisin stuff for much less than PSA dealers.

The pan doesn't have to come off. See the docs above for the two piece plug. If you want to change a greater proportion, repeat the job.
 
seasink said:
The pan doesn't have to come off. See the docs above for the two piece plug. If you want to change a greater proportion, repeat the job.
Click to expand...
Pan coming off must have been for my Aisin trans. Plug on Jatco should make it easier / cheaper.

Ian.
 
Here is the Aisin double plug. Take out the whole (ie outer) to drain. To refill to the correct level, insert the outer and fill until it overflows, then insert the inner part. You aren't draining all the oil in one pass anyway.
double plug.png
 
IWS said:
I have gone down similar path with "sealed for life" transmission in a Laguna - Jatco, not Aisin. In discussion here consensus was that there is value in not trusting the "sealed for life " story and changing the fluid.

I have now had the fluid changed twice and think it worth while. Latest was at at 175,000KM

I had it done by Pringle Automotive in West Melbourne and was happy with their work. As I understand it, they take the pan off the transmission to drain it. Refilling with the correct fluid for your trans is important. Cost last time I had it done was $275. I regard that as well spent on a car that I plan to keep for some time and that has been otherwise problem-free.

Ian.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your informative reply. My car plan is similar.
 
  • Like
Reactions: IWS
The plug needs a T55 Torx, not in every toolbox. The details are in the document I posted.
 
Same gearbox in lots of cars like post 2016 Prado, Isuzu etc. Toyota say don't change it but lots do especially those who tow. Mine was changed at 80000 km a few weeks ago and was quite dark despite not a lot of towing. Changes now super smooth. Do it. Google auto gearbox oil change Toyota Prado post 2016 for method.
 
the sealed for life tag meens the car apears cheeper to service, the life expectancy by the car manufacturer is something like 200k they want to sell you a new car ,changing the oil before majore faults apear as continued driveing when slam changes etc are hapening is going to cause mechanical damage that any number of oil changes arnt going to fix ,change the oil its cheep maintanence ,total multitrans available from on shore oils or penrite is also recomended on frogs if it dousnt have leaks measure how much comes out and put the same amount in ,check the level after you have done the 2 or 3 drops
 
A decent transmission specialist who has a transmission flushing machine can do a complete flush. At the same time the filter should be changed. Penrite have an equivalent oil that will not cost arms/legs/unborn children...
Have a look at this video, will give you an idea what is involved.

Flushing auto transmission
 
pugwash said:
... if it dousnt have leaks measure how much comes out and put the same amount in ,check the level after you have done the 2 or 3 drops
Click to expand...
This is no doubt a practical approach when you know that the fluid has never been changed, but not reliable if it has been.

The previous owner of my Xm (which has a 4HP20 transmission - also 'sealed for life') used this approach, but he had previously paid a random mechanic to do a change. Now Citroen's documentation says there will be 4.7 litres remaining after draining, and to add 3 litres (approx) - guess how much I drained out (fluid warm, vehicle level)?

PS - this transmission was rebuilt at 100,000km. Original owners (and their service centres) apparently believed the 'sealed for life' nonsense.
 
Armidillo said:
This is no doubt a practical approach when you know that the fluid has never been changed, but not reliable if it has been.

The previous owner of my Xm (which has a 4HP20 transmission - also 'sealed for life') used this approach, but he had previously paid a random mechanic to do a change. Now Citroen's documentation says there will be 4.7 litres remaining after draining, and to add 3 litres (approx) - guess how much I drained out (fluid warm, vehicle level)?

PS - this transmission was rebuilt at 100,000km. Original owners (and their service centres) apparently believed the 'sealed for life' nonsense.
Click to expand...
YOu how awesome they are to rebuild ?
Such a great gearbox and very mechanical compared to many other autos
Very simple to change fluid in as well but two elbows on each arms helps
The only issue is the transmission needs to be operating temp for fluid level and the level plug is in a hot spot, literally
 
Yes but how critical is the fluid level? The document I have specifies the fluid volume as being between 7.7 and 8.3 litres. I suppose this could represent the volume change between cold and hot, but the document doesn't make any mention of temperature in the volume specification.
 
Barry, sorry I thought you were referring to a 2008 year car, not model.

Other than the oil spec changing in circa 2011 (from JWS3309, a mineral based oil, to synthetic JWSXXXX) I think nothing else has changed. Note that some iterations of that box do not have the two piece drain plug, my wife's Mondeo being one of them.

There is a good video on Youtube where a guy changed the fluid on a Volvo using the same box, using the method where you run the engine and keep pouring the ATF in with the small drain plug removed. The fluid overflows out the 'tube level plug', thus draining at least part of the torque converter fluid. However, it DOES use a fair bit of fluid; like 20 litres.

I couldn't find the above, but this one is another that is really interesting:

Quite a few folk (some on AF) say the Penrite equivalents work well (they sell one ATF for the early mineral based fluid and one for the synthetic, searchable on the Penrite website).

The Toyota branded equivalent fluids are the best value fluids I've seen other than Penrite.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top