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[Webby the Bear]

Hi guys,

I posted in the Gen. Help section a litle while ago (sorry can't remember who for) but it was about if you haven't changed your ATF in a long time why it may POTENTIALLY cause a breakdown of the gearbox...

Well I came across this video from ETCG which kind of explains what was meant....6mins 30s....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qf6O0oAs7U

Ps, before I get shouted at this is not me saying ''dont change your oil''. you should.

but its just an explanation as to if you change your ATF after a lot of miles and then it breaks this is probably why

ps, part 1 here....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGbsgpp2YJQ&feature=youtu.be

[TheBoy]

I left my silver bullet until around 160k (I've owned since 88k, and nothing in history that it had been done) 

Apart from a catasphoric leak, as seen at Newent, and a failed thrust washer (noticed whilst sorting said leak at Newent), its still the smoothest autobox of any Omega I have driven

[Webby the Bear]

I left my silver bullet until around 160k (I've owned since 88k, and nothing in history that it had been done) 

Apart from a catasphoric leak, as seen at Newent, and a failed thrust washer (noticed whilst sorting said leak at Newent), its still the smoothest autobox of any Omega I have driven

Was the leak the fluid change at all, TB? Known cause for it happening?

Obviously not saying it will happen but if it does it could be this 

[omega3000]

Never changed any gearbox oil in all 3 omega's and never had any problem , thats why they dont have a drain plug , sealed for life 

[TheBoy]

I left my silver bullet until around 160k (I've owned since 88k, and nothing in history that it had been done) 

Apart from a catasphoric leak, as seen at Newent, and a failed thrust washer (noticed whilst sorting said leak at Newent), its still the smoothest autobox of any Omega I have driven

Was the leak the fluid change at all, TB? Known cause for it happening?

Obviously not saying it will happen but if it does it could be this 

The gasket failed.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Yep, he's talking crap as usual 

So what he's saying is that the tiny metal particles suspended in the oil is good because it makes the oil thicker.

Hence this goosed oil where the lube properties due to sheer have been destroyed and which contains tiny abrasive metal particles is better than fresh oil on an old box.

Unbeleavable.

[2boxerdogs]

Queried this at my local dealer when I bought the 2.2 auto, never change the oil unless you have any problems with the auto box was their advice , according to all the service history that came with the car it has never been changed, now on 87,000 miles and as smooth as silk.

[TheBoy]

Queried this at my local dealer when I bought the 2.2 auto, never change the oil unless you have any problems with the auto box was their advice , according to all the service history that came with the car it has never been changed, now on 87,000 miles and as smooth as silk.

I bet the same dealer said change the engine oil every 20k.

Ignore dealers, they are full of bovine waste.

[feeutfo]

Love the video, good stuff.

But he did say, the cause of a failure after a long period without an oil change was the gear box being worn.
So if you follow that theory, with new fluid, the fluid is to spec. It's the gear box that its out of spec/worn.

I don't claim to be a gear box expert in any way, but I don't buy the theory at all. A normal corse of events might be, that fluid goes unchanged or the box just reaches the end of its life. Possibly the life ends early due to no fluid change but either way the box is wearing out. The driver senses a problem, first port of call, change the fluid. Might fix it if parts are sticking due to old fluid, might be a slight improvement followed by a complete failure because....the box is worn out.

Even to his own theory, its the wear that's the problem, not the new fluid.


That's a front wheel drive box, btw. Much less reliable due the lack of space and the need to offset the drive line due to fit it all between the front wheels.

Motorbike clutches look almost exactly the same as the ones shown, and suffer the same faults. Burnt out or warn plates, but also pitted marks/grooves on the clutch drum where the splines are under pressure. The plates dig in to the grooves and stick, holding the clutch plates apart slightly, then the clutch slips under load and that accelerates the wear rate.

[2boxerdogs]

Exactly , the technician I spoke with re my auto box is also a resident down my road, engine oil is a different matter altogether & we all know regular changes prolong /protect the engine.I would sooner take his advice as he has had several autos since I have known him & as he says weekend "tinkerers" create more problems for themselves .I  have probably had 8 autos over the years & never changed gearbox oil & never had problems .

[feeutfo]

Exactly , the technician I spoke with re my auto box is also a resident down my road, engine oil is a different matter altogether & we all know regular changes prolong /protect the engine.I would sooner take his advice as he has had several autos since I have known him & as he says weekend "tinkerers" create more problems for themselves .I  have probably had 8 autos over the years & never changed gearbox oil & never had problems .

Consider yourself lucky then. All of my cars have benefitted from an ATF change, and noticeably so. Shift quality improves, especially when engaging drive in forward and reverse. My 2.5cdx was thumping badly when engaging gears. ATF change revived it perfectly. It's like the ATF had gone sticky.

[TheBoy]

The autobox fluid, as well as degrading like any oil, also picks up the metalic filings and debris that the box generates.

Anyone who has changed the fluid on a seal autobox will know quite how much of this actually exists in the box after a few 10s of thousands of miles.

Now I'm just the stupid kid from the local comprehensive, but I'd bet my left gonad that a seriously degraded oil, laden with metal filings, is doing the box no favours whatsoever.

As for the "technician" saying, in not so many words, leave it to the professionals, that smacks of one of 2 possibilities; protecting his own business, or lack of knowledge/ability.


But happily, on OOF, we know better

[2boxerdogs]

Perhaps I have been lucky with the cars I have had, only ever buy new or 1 owner cars just my way rightly or wrongly in the hope that they will provide good regular service, any problems that do arise I get sorted out asap. In the late seventies & up until 1989 I was in the London ambulance service, we had Bedford cf autos & believe me they were really abused ,never had any problems with gearboxes wheel bearings were another story though!

[ffcgary1]

Dont VX recommend a fluid change every 70,000 miles, i seem to remember seeing this somewhere.

[TheBoy]

Dont VX recommend a fluid change every 70,000 miles, i seem to remember seeing this somewhere.

Its wishy washy.

Remember, the service intervals are to please fleet managers, so GM like to say the car needs no servicing.

So GM actually leave it open, along the lines of "70k miles on cars that have had a hard life"

Going on GM's engine oil lasts 20k 'dangle berries', I take it to mean the ATF should be changed at 70k. Its not a hard job. Its messy. Very messy. But not hard. And if you feel the difference, you clearly have left it too long