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The "formal" recommended fluid is the ESSO fluid. Valvoline MaxLife (what I used), Amsoil Universal ATF, and others are substitutes for the ESSO fluid.

This is the sample I took a 1000 miles after the first service - just 2/3 of the old fluid was changed. Note how the older high amounts of Al and insolubles are now much smaller. And note that this was after I changed just 2/3 of the old fluid. Since then I have done the second service and now...

This is the sample I took a 1000 miles after the first service - just 2/3 of the old fluid was changed. Note how the older high amounts of Al and insolubles are now much smaller. And note that this was after I changed just 2/3 of the old fluid. Since then I have done the second service and now...

I do have one of those, but the exact temp is not super critical (they give you a range of 30-50C). I first wait for the tranny to be "cool" to ambient temp, and then use the digital temp gauge in the garage to find out the temp in the garage. When I changed the fluid this last time, the temp...

From my research on the subject, the tranny will take the "right" amount of fluid in the temperature range of 30-50C, and the documentation also states that it is best around 30C (86F) so that it can take the optimum amount. I did mine at about 88-90F this last time, and it was a little bit...

To me, even if temp were the same before/after a quality synthetic such as Amsoil, I would still do the change just for the longer fluid life, higher operating temp range, and less wear on the internal parts. That alone would be reason enough to change. In my own case, now that I got my own...

What a small world. My wife and I had a 1995 525i Auto (White) with 150K miles, which I sold to get into my current used 2000 540i Auto. Although the 525i had a few problems (two related to the water pump and plastic radiator that left my wife stranded each time), everything else was fairly...

Here is the official procedure: link Basically you have to check with the engine running and the fill port which is next to the exhaust which is getting hotter and hotter by the minute. Assuming you are performing the fluid check within the designated operating temperature range, you keep...

This is a continuation of my initial thread on performing an ATF fluid service on a 2000 BMW 540i as posted here: link to initial post The original plan was to do the initial fluid drain, install a new filter, and fill with Valvoline MaxLife; then wait 1000 miles or so, and do it all over...

Thanks for the advice In my "normal" weekly commute, I seem to average between 17-18 MPG, but of course it varies somewhat depending how much highway is mixed in with the in-city traffic. On the HWY, at a leisure 60-65 MPH, I get about 27-28 if I drive trying to get best mileage. I will...

Since my engine uses nearly 8 Qt of oil, instead of one bottle of Auto-RX I am using one and 1/2 bottles. For the "cleaning" oil I am using Coastal 5W30 oil (AutoZone) and a new oil filter as per the instructions. Do I need to drive it any "differently" than normal during this application period?

The Critic, Given your responses, I think I need to apologize as I think you have misunderstood the intention of my reply. Yes, to me, I did extensive research since I bought this used car (Feb), though about end of July. I not only asked for information and feedback, read about every single...

I just did my own ATF service, and used Valvoline Maxlife. I have a little over 600 miles so far - everything still perfect. Here is the link to my post: link ...

How can "you" be certain? All of my extensive research on this clearly points to marketing folks here in the USA as the ones that came up with the "lifetime" bull-s#$%. It was clearly "not" the ZF engineers. I for one, given the high amount of Al and insolubles, have the strong believe that the...

My car (which I bought used) had 87911 miles in the original ESSO LT71141 fluid. From the records I got form the prior onwer, the auto tranny has never been serviced until I did recently, but it might had a top-off a few years back. Here if the ATF fluid analysis on the sample that I got while I...

They way I am reading it, specially their comments, it would appear that there is in fact benefit from changing fluid sooner than later. Once I do my second pan drop, filter/fluid change, I will get another sample and sent it out for comparison.

2000 BMW 540i 5-spd auto tranny made by ZF (model 5HP24) By the way, I now have almost 400 miles since the change and everything is still perfect Will

Thank you guys! Yes, I am sending the ATF sample to Blackstone for analysis. I will report what they find. Amen to that! Correct - no machine or cooler line flush, although I am considering that for the next fluid change in about a month or so. Worst case I will likely keep doing a 15K...

If you really beleive in BMW's claim of lifetime ATF fluid, might as well believe in ghosts, fairies, the boogie man, etc.. This is the so call lifetime ATF fluid after 87911 miles: This is how the pan looked like: That black stuff in the pan is not rust - it is more of the magnetic...

Thank you sir