Citroen Al4 Gb

Happen to Read this in another forum: (Do not know how true)

1. Actually the Esso ATF LT 71141 is a semi synthetic Dexron IID type (not even Dexron IIE) since its viscosity at -40�C is 40,000 mpa( much higher than the IIE max. limit of 20,000 mpa but lower than the Dexron IID limit of max 50,000 mpa at -40�C)

2. Esso LT71141 is Dexron IID. It is Semi Synthetic extended drain.

3. The Esso LT 71141 specs are similar to Adnoc's Dexron III (based on technical specifications provided by both manufacturers) and Adnoc is a fraction of the LT 71141 cost...

"Some manufacturer recommends their own oil. If follow manufacturer "blindly" then get ready to pay more." I quote.

[quote name='leeinred' post='1615260' date='Oct 13 2010, 11:10 PM']Happen to Read this in another forum: (Do not know how true)

1. Actually the Esso ATF LT 71141 is a semi synthetic Dexron IID type (not even Dexron IIE) since its viscosity at -40�C is 40,000 mpa( much higher than the IIE max. limit of 20,000 mpa but lower than the Dexron IID limit of max 50,000 mpa at -40�C)

2. Esso LT71141 is Dexron IID. It is Semi Synthetic extended drain.

3. The Esso LT 71141 specs are similar to Adnoc's Dexron III (based on technical specifications provided by both manufacturers) and Adnoc is a fraction of the LT 71141 cost...

"Some manufacturer recommends their own oil. If follow manufacturer "blindly" then get ready to pay more." I quote.[/quote
]

yes i remembered Adnoc, in Pug forum used to be 1 guy promoting it, however not long after that he was asking who can do his 4HP20 gearbox because problems still after overhaul. Could or could not be of his Adnoc that caused him to overhaul ? You can search the Pug forum, I always remember this Adnoc news few years before.

Anyway, I prefer not to take the risk, the Gbox is not cheap. When it gives problem, we may then start to wonder is it the oil or just time is up.

Dexron or not I think not important, it's the formulation of the oil I guess is the most important, just like Petrol, all Petrol/Engine oil is the same, the additives that makes the difference.

Mr LeeinRed, So the cat is out of the bag, you are here actually to sell yr product.

Brother, I don’t sell. Just happen to have some spare one imported last time. I read, used it, found it to be reliable and working as claim. So recommend. I do know mechanic don’t like me As car user, the $ fork out to repair a car is not cheap nowadays, especially to dismantle and repair a GB. Really it is up to car users to decide on cost saving method. I am just exercising “risk management� here. The choice is always there for car users to choose.

In that case I also failed to understand-lah..yes $ is important and yet you want to take the risk from using other oils instead of 71141 for your AL4 in which we do not really know whether they do really work for AL4. May be risking for expensive GB repair later. I think this topic has been discussed so many times in Pug forum, anyway I hope you are correct for your GBox sakes.

OMG, just came back from Peugeot Forum...they have 16 pages of AL4 problems I have 2 citroen cars at stake, do u think I will take doubtful and unnecessary risk without checking??? Tell me when in doubt what would u do?? Act stupid??? or follow blindly what car manufacturer told u to do then prepare to pay more as claim by some ? ..already in Peugeot forum one nearly cry when dealing with AL4 GB. I think my view on things need to be done in AL4 GB is fair and reasonable.

I was following a thread in the Pug forums at one time some months back regarding the AL4 GB.
One forummer came up with a similair solution as preventive maintenance, actually the mechanic came up with it and he was convinced of the solution and went ahead with the modding.
It was a similair setup as leeinred, larger cooling capacity for the GB and constant renewal of the GB oil.

I have heard several owners doing the same and it seems to prevent/cure the AL4 problems.

Base on my experience as a conti car owner, i can relate to the modding and how it works, as for the manufacturer 's GB oil recommendations you will have to do more research on that as what i did on my 6 speed manual GB for my bmw the last time.
Here is my experiece on it, to make it short - bmw puts in lifetime oil the the GB, no recommendations to change or renew or service the GB even the GB oil IS made difficult to obtain, eventually the oil specifications were made known, base on the specifications aftermarket GB oils were used by some users with success, but only obtained by mixing with other grades, but then this is possible with manual GB. I followed the same 'formulae' with success, now my 6 speed manual is smooth without noise or problems for 5 years now.

Moral of the story is - do your own research, ask those that has done it, experience it, filter the truth from the BS, and most importantly go out and mix around with the real owner/drivers as not everyone is internet savvy or can share similair experiences on car forums

p.s. only citroen i own is a classic with a manual box, so no comment yet on the newer autoboxes.

Let me tell you what I have done.

1st. I put in a GB cooller. By pass the manufacturer cooller.
2nd Change my ATF every 30k (expensive yes, I use LT71141) With coller more oil needed/change, cost RM400+.
3rd. Don't make the same mistake, I paid hell a lot for custom made, buy the Hayden cooler, contact in Pug Forum search for it. Good enough if you change 30k. Cost around 600-700 with labour and oil I think.

My AL4 145,000 so far so good, My 4HP20 165,000 so far so good and both filter changed around 100K. Each filter change may cost up to 1.2k.

You are lucky, my volvo ATF is changed every 15k, cost me 750 each change, my mech says i'm crazy, but i ask him if he has he driven another similair model that shifts as smooth as mine or can he feel the autobox shifting....., he just smiles back at me.

I read on the Pug forums most Pug owners use the larger C5 oil cooler, which lowers the temp quite abit......

That's even better if can afford. I also came to know one guy using Pug 405 change ATF every service, car now 450k mileage, never had a GB problem at all. C5 cooler, also a little small to our climate to my opinion, I removed it and went for a bigger one.