Thread: L322 td6 GM transmission oil & filter

Just synthetic oil.Why did they say not to use TransmaxZ?. Pat

Penrite do a fully synthetic suitable oil.Have 20lt in the shed.
It mentions Range Rover in the listings.
Can get the spec if you cant get it from Penrites website.
Andrew

Good to see you guys are onto this as i know someone who had one of these auto's changed by the dealer & it was VERY expensive.
He doesn't know what oil they have been using.

What isn't expensive at the dealers.I'll run mine for the next 18 months and see how it goes. Pat

Originally Posted by LandyAndy

Penrite do a fully synthetic suitable oil.Have 20lt in the shed.
It mentions Range Rover in the listings.
Can get the spec if you cant get it from Penrites website.
Andrew

Thanks for that Andrew.
But what model RR is listed?

The petrol L322 tranny (ZF 6 speed) has completely different ATF spec requirements to the diesel L322 tranny (GM 5 speed)

I got my local Penrite dealer to attempt a cross reference to the specified Texaco texamatic ETL-7045E and he came back and said "can't do".
All the lubricant manufacturers that I contacted were very wary about supplying any ATF that was not authorised by the tranny manufacturer.

Originally Posted by PAT303

Just synthetic oil.Why did they say not to use TransmaxZ?. Pat

The Castrol guy was very wary about his synthetic ATF - TransmaxZ.
Although he admitted that his TransmaxZ was a direct conversion to the Esso conversion to the ATF specified for the zf 6 speed fitted to the L322 petrol RRs, he then went on to say that sometimes synthetic AFT is no better off than non synthetic ATF - it all depends on the tranny manufacturer's ATF specs. He then stated that vehicle manufacturers had even gone to the extent of having ATF tested for correct brand-specs when warranty claims were lodged and rejected if found to be using incorrect AFT. He strongly recommended that I find the Texaco ATF.

Once again, searching other forums came up with the startling news that this GM tranny is well known to give expensive problems with valve body wear when the the specified ATF is not used. There is also a strong recommendation out there that the ATF and filter should be replaced to help minimise normal wear to the valve body - contrary to the "sealed for life" sticker on the tranny.

Therefore, I continue to search for the Texaco ATF. I may have to import some from USA myself.

OK - I've just about used up my research time allocation for this year.

The L322 td6 transmission is the European (Straussbourg France) GM manufactured 5L40E otherwise known as a Hydramatic and also fitted to a vast array of other vehicles including BMW in Europe and GM in USA.

GM pre 2006 specified Dexron III and post 2006 GM specifies Dexron VI.
Various lube manufacturers produce equivalent spec ATF although GM only authourises certain approved ATF for their transmissions and warn that any ATF that carry specs other than D6 are not approved and could prove harmful. Apparently about 2006 GM realised that the 5L40E produces more waste particles than they envisaged and to ensure a better longevity Dexron III was upgraded to Dexron VI. This tranny is known for clogged filters due to the waste particle issue hence the importance of renewing filters at every ATF change.
Most lube manufacturers still list D3 specs and are therefore not approved by GM for any of their transmissions.

Many of the more commonly available lubes are only to the D3 specs and therefore not suitable (and probably harmful) to any modern GM transmission.

Many fully synthetic ATFs including all of Castrol's (aka BP) and Mobil's (aka Esso) ATF products are not to D6 specs and are therefore unsuitable for use in the td6 GM transmission.

It appears that Penrite ATFDX6 (semisynthetic) is suitable. Penrite's ATF synthetic is not suitable.

Valvoline ATF Dexron VI (product code 1242) synthetc is suitable.
My local retailer stocks this under product code 1272.20 RRP of $310 for 20 litres.

My research indicates that power flushing as used by tranny service centres is not recommended due to the 100% chance of cross contamination with other fluids.
Apparently the only proper way to flush is to change the filter and ATF, run the truck for 20 kms renew the ATF, and then run for another 20 kms and then replace both filter and ATF. So minimum cost of AFT & filter change is cost of 2 filters and about 15-20 litres ATF. In Europe the recommendation is for ATF and filter change every 60k - 80k kms.

I'd be interested to hear from other researchers.

Wouldn't Holden dealers have the correct fluid seeing this trannie is fitted to High performance VE V6?????

5 speed automatic (Alloytec 195 V6 only): 5L40E

Regards Philip A