V6 Auto Box oil change

[momag46]

Hi everyone - 1st post

Just bought a 1999 (T) V6 Xantia and the auto box is slow to change up when cold.

I want to check the gearbox oil and either top up or change the oil.

How is this done?
What oil should I/we be using?

The gearbox is the autoadaptive (or active) - is this the 4HP20 version?

This must have been covered before - if so can someone point me in the right direction.

Thanks Maurice

[Ben82]

It should be the 4HP20, but to make sure, if you provide the last 8 digits of your vin, one of us can do a quick check.

Assuming that checks comes back that it is, you'll need some LT71141 and make sure you get the proper stuff made by Mobil and not a substitute.

As you'll see from that thread Simon (Mandrake) would (if he were in your shoes) do a number of oil cycles of the gear box spread over a couple of months. I haven't done one yet (plan to this summer), but it doesn't seem too difficult to do. I link to a guide there done on a 406, which is quite handy, and if you want the official citroen procedure doc, feel free to send me a private message.

[CitroJim]

Maurice, welcome...

It is entirely normal for the 'box to be slow to change up when cold and is in fact deliberate as it holds on to 1st gear for the first 180 seconds or until the revs exceed 3,000 rpm.

It is not caused by the oil needing changing.

Officially this is to get the cat warmed up as fast as possible to reduce pollution..

I can be avoided entiorely by starting off from cold in snow mode..

yes, all Xantia V6s have the HP20.

It is a good idea to do an oil change as the car is bnew to you.

You MUST USE ONLY Mobile LT71141 and ABSOLUTELY nothing else..

I can supply the proper oil change procedure on receipt of a PM and an email address able to receive big PDF attachments.

[Ben82]

yes, all Xantia V6s have the HP20.

I wasn't sure as the citroen service docs gave the AL4 and another as automatic gearboxes for the Xantia V6, didn't know if it varied from market to market. Kinda similar to over here, we're able to get C5 V6's with a manual gearbox, whereas from what I've seen from the UK info, over there the V6 only comes with an autobox.

[CitroJim]

yes, all Xantia V6s have the HP20.

I wasn't sure as the citroen service docs gave the AL4 and another as automatic gearboxes for the Xantia V6, didn't know if it varied from market to market.

Certainly the 2.0 XU auto Xantia and the 1.9TD auto Xantia had the AL4 but it was never specified for the V6 as the AL4 cannot take the torque of the ES9 engine Ben...

The HP20 is also used on the 2.2 HDi Automatics for the same reason.

[Ben82]

yes, all Xantia V6s have the HP20.

I wasn't sure as the citroen service docs gave the AL4 and another as automatic gearboxes for the Xantia V6, didn't know if it varied from market to market.

Certainly the 2.0 XU auto Xantia and the 1.9TD auto Xantia had the AL4 but it was never specified for the V6 as the AL4 cannot take the torque of the ES9 engine Ben...

The HP20 is also used on the 2.2 HDi Automatics for the same reason.

Learn something new everyday, thanks I guess it stands to reason that the citroen service site isn't programmed in with every incompatibility like this (as it would probably be hell to maintain).

[momag46]

I know it's been a while but..

Not done a lot of miles yet BUT the gearbox now seems to be working perfectly so I assume the problem was that the car had been standing for some time (probably 10 months).

Hopefully it will stay okay.

Thanks for the info fellows.


Maurice

[Mandrake]

Glad it seems to be working ok but its more likely that its just the warmer weather causing it not to run the "depolution" program anymore, as holding the revs higher in 1st gear for the first couple of minutes after a cold start in cold weather is normal...

[CitroJim]

You should still change the ATF though, if only for a bit of peace of mind...

[Moss]

Maurice, welcome...

It is entirely normal for the 'box to be slow to change up when cold and is in fact deliberate as it holds on to 1st gear for the first 180 seconds or until the revs exceed 3,000 rpm.

It is not caused by the oil needing changing.

Officially this is to get the cat warmed up as fast as possible to reduce pollution..

I can be avoided entiorely by starting off from cold in snow mode..

yes, all Xantia V6s have the HP20.

It is a good idea to do an oil change as the car is bnew to you.

You MUST USE ONLY Mobile LT71141 and ABSOLUTELY nothing else..

I can supply the proper oil change procedure on receipt of a PM and an email address able to receive big PDF attachments.

I'm new here but am very keen to get hold of your PDF on box procedure; just purchased a 2001 V6 automatic and am working through all lubricants replacement. She's done 120k.

[CitroJim]

I'm new here but am very keen to get hold of your PDF on box procedure; just purchased a 2001 V6 automatic and am working through all lubricants replacement. She's done 120k.

Excellent Welcome Moss! Anything you need to know about the V6, this is the place

If you PM me an email address that can take a fairly big PDF I'll send you the procedure...

[momag46]

Just a quick (but very late) update

I had the gearbox oil changed but it was discovered that there was a small leak from the casing joint so this was sorted, it was also found that the box had been over-filled (so much for main dealer service).

Since then it has performed as it should including a reluctance to change up when cold. I now move the car out of the garage and leave it running while I open the gates and move the Picasso off the drive, by then the Xantia is warm enough to change gear perfectly.

Maurice

[CitroJim]

Excellent Maurice

Overfilling is all too easy if they don't follow the procedure exactly... Most don't, can't or won't

[Moss]

Seems to be a Universal problem; put the car in the Auto trans specialist workshop for a transmission check and briefed them with all I learn here. Went in Friday - Monday morning there's RED all over the ground and it's coming out of the BOX. They came and got the car so we wait to see ...

[Nikola]

Hi guys So how can i chek oil lever in my car there is no oil dipstick???
Can some one help me whit procedure