Gearbox Oil? Which Type And Which Brand?

[chriswong11]

I own a Citroen new C5 (2009) automatic, and wonder why I can't find any information about the gearbox oil...
Do you have any clues? Which brand of gearbox oil I should choose?

 

many many thanks

[YOG]

I had a similar problem with my Mk1 C5, Citroen say "filled for life" and various Dealers didn't seem to have a clue.

 

Mine has the ZF 4 speed auto-box (4HP20), so I emailed the manufacturer (ZF), and their reply was:

"Your 4HP20 transmission takes ZF takes Lifeguradfluid5. Although the gearbox is "filled for life", we recommend an oil change at 60,000 miles."

 

If you can establish what the transmission model number is and manufacturer (I got mine by visiting a Citroen dealer with the VIN number), then we could probably help further.

Edited November 8, 2014 by YOG

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

 

If it is the 6 speed AM6 gearbox then Citroen's procedures give this:

Type of oil :

EURO 5 engine : AW-1 oil

EURO 4 engine : JWS 3309 ESSO oil

Oil capacity :

Dry gearbox oil capacity : Approximately 7 litres

Volume of oil remaining after draining (converter, receivers, etc.) : Approximately 4 litres

Quantity of oil to fill after draining : Approximately 3 litres

 

If it is the AT6 gearbox the oil type is not given but capacities are the same.

 

If it is the AL4 gearbox they give this but not the type of oil:

CAUTION : Special semi-synthetic based oil that does not mix with another oil. The gearbox is lubricated for life.

Total oil capacity : 5,85 litres.

Capacity after draining : 3 litres.

 

If it is a piloted gearbox they give this:

Oil capacity : 1,8 litre.

Oil quality : 75 W 80.

Check the oil level : No check of oil level(*).

Lubrication interval : Lubricated for life.

[coastline taxis]

its not a diy job to change the oil as the level is based on oil temperature. town center citroen does ours less than £100 supplied and filled. and a cuppa while u wait

[chriswong11]

many many thanks

[YOG]

The problem with only one oil drain, is there is a lot of old oil still left in the box. For example, in the case of the 6 speed AM6 gearbox (see above), 3 litres drains out and 4 litres of dirty oil are left in. So less than 50% changed.

Someone on the 406 Coupe club website calculated how many times you need to drain/top-up, before you approach a 100% change.

When I did the change on my C5 2.2 auto (4HP20), I did 3 changes:

1st drain 4 litres approx. (including engine cranking).

2nd drain 3.75 litres approx. (no engine cranking).

3rd drain 3.75 litres approx. (no engine cranking).

Each drain was into a measuring jug and left to cool to ambient temperature (same as new bottle of oil) before marking level on jug. Old oil emptied and jug wiped clean, then new oil poured into jug to marked level, prior to filling gearbox. This saves having the gearbox oil at a specific temperature to measure the oil level.

Then driven for around 300 miles before 2nd change.

Above repeated for 2nd and 3rd changes.

Edited November 15, 2014 by YOG