Life of a Shogun?

If you change the lifetime fluid each time you change the engine oil you've probably paid about the same amount - if Cit charge the same for the fluid as BMW. But there might be a suitable normal life fluid you could substitute and change more frequently.

I'm also not convinced these stories ain't just coincidence. You'd need proper scientific testing to be sure regular changes actually extend box life. Or have the fluid tested by a lab for deterioration.

Dave Plowman (News) ( snipped-for-privacy@davenoise.co.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

The same amount as...?

Don't quote me, but I think it's just normal ATF.

It's *well* known in the XM community that the boxes die at 120k, regular as clockwork - unless the changes are done. The box in mine was as healthy when I sold it at 145k as when it was new, because it'd been changed (through the drain, so only a partial) every 9k since I bought the car at

60k.

A replacement box. ;-)

BMW long life (Esso) for their ZF auto costs 19 quid a litre.

If it was 'lifetime' fluid it obviously was fine until 60k so changing it every 9k seems overkill?

For the price of regular DII (or III ) bought in 25litre cans, it's largely peanuts to change it every engine oil change.

Tim..

Dave Plowman (News) ( snipped-for-privacy@davenoise.co.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

Mmmm. I'm sure BMW DO charge that much for it...

Mine wasn't the lifetime - Cit's interval was 36k.

Yes, spot on. It doesn't matter that only a proportion is changed because that is factored into the interval. The reason for changing is indeed to top up the additive that gives the total fluid its various qualities. And yes heat kills the linings which are mostly a thin cardboard laminated onto steel backing. Wet brakes can be killed almost within a minute or so if starved of cooling oil.

Huw

In fact the synthetic ATF has a design life, the life where it stays within specification, of 100,000 miles of average driving. I would change it every

75,000 miles or so to give the transmission the best chance of a long life. Fact is, a ZF filled for life and never having its fluid changed is likely to last 150,000 miles or so which is long enough for the owner to be satisfied and short enough for the owner to either buy a replacement 'box or change the whole car for the latest model.

Huw

I have quite good knowledge of an 'N' reg [1995] diesel machine which has pulled ridiculous loads and worked hard in its time. Recently at 160,000 miles it has started to cost. Well the chassis needed plateing due to rust about two years ago but it was mechanically fine. Now though the clutch just wore out for the first time, the brakes failed yesterday, the starter failed a few weeks ago, the exhaust has started rattling and basically it is tired. Just one expensive repair would send it to the scrap heap. In fact it should not have had that clutch work done as it looks like everything else is now giving up.

Huw

In article , Huw Fri, 24 Aug 2007 00:08:29 writes

Thanks. Based on that it may well be time to hand it over to a low mileage user.