Trans Fluid Change- HELP!

[CTSportX5]

Who knows if the truck should be level to the ground OR the trans pan should be level? THe truck is sitting level to the ground currently and when I took off the fill bolt first about a half quart spilled out. Now when I'm re-filling I am concerned when I follow the proper steps, I may end up under filling.

Right now with the truck level to the ground, the trans pan is not level when putting the level on the outer edge of the pan. Anyone help!?


PS- LEVEL!

[RRPhil]

The vehicle should be horizontal.

If you remove the transmission filler/level plug without the engine running then fluid should pour out as the torque converter, cooler & valve block will have drained back down into the sump pan.

Phil

[diyanich]

The only way to get a proper quantity is by heating up fluid to 50º Celsius(convert to Fº) only in that case your level is gonna be correct.
If your transmission was cold when you removed the filler bolt and you had that much spilled,that only tells that it was overfilled.
That's what I've understood from reading a lot on this board as well as bulletins.

Originally Posted by CTSportX5

Who knows if the truck should be level to the ground OR the trans pan should be level? THe truck is sitting level to the ground currently and when I took off the fill bolt first about a half quart spilled out. Now when I'm re-filling I am concerned when I follow the proper steps, I may end up under filling.

Right now with the truck level to the ground, the trans pan is not level when putting the level on the outer edge of the pan. Anyone help!?


PS- LEVEL!

[CTSportX5]

Originally Posted by RRPhil

The vehicle should be horizontal.

If you remove the transmission filler/level plug without the engine running then fluid should pour out as the torque converter, cooler & valve block will have drained back down into the sump pan.

Phil

This makes sense. When all that fluid poured out I was a bit concerned. I got about 4.5L back in before the temp was too high. I am about to go back (cooled down) to pump in about one more L. Hopefully I can be done with this soon. Thanks for the knowledge.

[X5Boise]

See attachment for the ZF factory ATF fill instructions (late model E53s with the 6 speed automatic transmission like you have). It was too big, so I shortened it for the basic, pertinent info for our BMW (as the same transmission in used in other cars like Jaguars, etc.)

Basically for a drain and refill, keep car level, drain the ATF fluid via the drain plug. Put the drain plug back in place.

Pump in ATF (original fill is ZF Lifeguard 6) until it leaks out of the fill hole. Start car and keep filling ATF until it runs out of the fill hole (you will probably use up about 4.5 quarts by now). While holding down on the brakes, shift the car manually into gears (R, 1, 2, and 3--hold it in each gear for 3 seconds), so the fluid gets a chance to recirculate in the transmission, then put the car back in park. Keep refilling the ATF until it leaks out of the drain hole again. As the car warms up, keep filling the ATF fluid as necessary (as the ATF fluid warms up, it will automatically drip out of the fill hole if you put in too much). Once the car's ATF fluid reaches 40 degrees (measure using a temp probe), you should have a slow dripping out of the fille hole (that's perfect), at this time, go ahead and put the fill hole plug back in. You're done.

Note: Facotry notes state that you should put the drain plug back in anywhere between 40 and 50 degrees Celcius. If you reach ATF temps over 50 degrees Celcius, it's too hot (expanded fluid) and you will have to let the car cool off and repeat the fill process so that the fluid slowly runs out at 40 degrees.

Total fluid needed (assuming a drain and refill) is slightly under 6 quarts from start to finish (initial fill, then the constant slow filling cycles as the car warms up).

[CTSportX5]

OK so I was able to get just over 5.1L into the sump before it hit 35C, waited a few seconds then closed. I closed it up earlier than the link above suggests because I was no where near the 5.5L to 6L mark like many have suggested. To ease my worry of the under/over fill, I poured back the old fluid into the discarded ZF6 liter bottles. That measured 4.7L. I was able to catch all of it, but some maybe still in the old filter so lets say 4.8-4.9L drained. And estimating some spillage using BAVAUTO's SHITTY transfer pump, approx 5L went in. All in all I'm satisfied. Like SlickGT1 said "it shifts likes a lexus". I agree, very smooth shifts and the "Lurch" is much less noticeable.

I also had the joy of replacing the sealing sleeve. It had the original orange rubber gaskets, hence why it was seeping through there. I would say that although it is not difficult, it was tricky because space is TIGHT. Getting that locking tab to cooperate was a PITB (pain in the balls). All in all if I could do it, you could do it. Just be wary of the $3000 mechatronics connector pins. Do not TWIST the sleeve at any point- just pull out and PUSH HARD in.

[CTSportX5]

Update: Today I ended up putting in about another half liter. I guess I had problems getting the truck level. SO in summary you should be able to get about 5.5L in there before 35C. Allow the 1 min of dribbling, close it up and done.