VE 2009 SV6 M82 Trans 5-speed (5L40E) changing filter and oil (@ 52000km)

[bjf66]

approx. 12 months ago purchased one owner low KM VE for missus to use as 2nd car, doenst see a lot of milage
I think she has put up 4000km in 12 months, paid a little bit more than I would have but as it was one owner, low KM, I figured they not making these sedans adn figured less head aches

At the time, of purchase didn't really go into the hole gearbox thing, but now have done a little reading and figured I would replace the trans fluid and filter on 5L40E (M82) early at 52K
The car is performing flawlessly with NO issues, other than there was Bank 2, #1 (pre-CAT) O2 sensor need replacing, which had done by taking out the CAT to replace, however didn't notice any difference in car performance other than fuel consumption was up a little

anyways got the Ryco filter (RTK65) and Castrol Dexron VI ATF ready to go. Will be replacing the Holden VF 6L80E trans filter and ATF as well in next few days
There are NO dipsticks on VE/VF to measure the fluid ...WTF
This is most probably first time the ATF will be changed since new
However I get under car crack the fill plug, which is all good
Looking for drain plug...no drain plug ....now that a bugger ....what were the ZF company thinking, I'm thinking this is going to be a c...t of a job and very messy. I have only stands and ramps, no lift so she is a little tight under there grovelling around

Then decide I'm going to weld bung into trans pan for future ease of changing ATF...although I'm planning not to be changing it every other week

Then googling and see these M82 pans can come with bung as well
So hit the wreckers, manage to find M82 pan with bung, now will change over when I dump the fluid

Had a read up on the changing the trans fluid ....hopefully it will go alright
I changed BMW E39 V8 which had a ZF 4 speed sealed trans a few years back so was going to tackle it same way
post some pic latter

 

[bjf66]

This is follow up, filter and oil changed today
Car: 2009 VE SV6,
Trans: 5L40E
messy with no drain bung, however that wont be an issue now moving forward

car had 52000KM so unsure whether the trans filter and oil had ever been changed, however colour was still redish, picture of comparison of new and old oil down further

This is first time changing the holden V6 (doing VF V8 in next few days with 6L80E)

made some notes against picture
made up jerry rigged gravity tube to fill trans, done this myself no help, no need for pump etc.

gravity is your friend
will cut open trans filter tomorrow to see how mnuch gunk inside

this may help someone

To get the car level, checked riding height from flat section of road to a point on body panel, front and rear
Front: 180mm off road
rear: 240mm off road

Did not have hoist
Only used car ramps, and jack stands
got the front of car up on jack stands and then measure the height difference from being on road, added this to rear to get the measurement for jack stand height

 

[bjf66]

Next serious of pics

 

[bjf66]

Next serious of pics
Have taken car for run
seems to run better and quieter through the gears
I removed 4 litres of ATF and approx. 0.2-0.3 litre on floor and everywhere else
I managed to get in at least another 0.5 making + 5 litres, plus what ever was in Torque converter and galleries
so happy with that
Job finished

 

[bjf66]

Update taken car for 15min drive this morning trans got up to 65c
Seems to be shifting extremely smoothly
I’m thinking it may have previously been a little down on ATF

 

[bjf66]

Cut open trans filter looks to be original German filter
Clean 1-2 small shavings
But seems filter done its job
Pre and post wash
This is pan side of filter

 

[Immortality]

I remember doing this job on the boys BMW (same 5L40e trans). First time we did it because it just lost gears like it was low on fluid. 2nd time was when his thermofan failed and took out the radiator and trans cooler. On the BMW the fill plug has the exhaust right next to it, not much fun.

 

[losh1971]

Not sure if you know much about the five speed trans but they are a problematic one. I read on JC that the TC is the major cause of the issue. I wonder with a bloke of your skill who is also happy to get his hands dirty, might pay at some point to replace the TC before it goes. Suss it out first though as I might be giving you the wrong info and it could be something else that causes these to lunch themselves with relatively low km's. But if it is a TC then that should be a job you could get done in a day.

 

[bjf66]

Actually I was over at TCE converters on Friday getting the T700/R4 converter tweaked as decided to play safe and get clutch added so can have the option of locked TCC seeing as the V8 auto has the option then no issues with heating/cooling the trans in freeway use although I’m still not convinced it would
Anyways, was discussing trans build for VN and touched on the 5L40
The view is regular filter and oil changes should fix the issue
This is shopping basket so knowone is standing on the trans at the lights

Although I did see a 6L50 the other day and wondered how easier it is to change from 5 to 6 speed for the V6 seeing as Bellhousing etc are the same


Anyways this VE has only 52k on clock and the way missus gets around you would be lucky to put up 300km / month

But I take you’re point as I also read about this when I was digging, which sort of triggered me into action on changing the filter and ATF as I know now it’s been done

 

[Immortality]

Stop start driving has to be hard on transmissions, converter is working hard (big rpm changes) and lots of gear changes/clutches slipping into the next gear all which creates heat. Heat is the enemy of transmission fluid and it doesn't help that GM/Holden set all these auto transmissions up to change gear real smooth which is great for occupant comfort but bad for your clutches. I like to feel gear changes, when my converter locks you know it's locked. Now highway cruising is a different story, once that converter is locked you're putting much less heat into that tranny!

Then manufacturers specify long transmissions service intervals (longer than the warranty period/distance) with synthetic fluids because that means it's cheaper to own (less servicing costs) which the marketing guys love.

One thing I'll say about the BMW is the gear changes happen NOW. you know it's changed gear, much more sporty transmission tune than in Commodores.