Partial ATF replacement
Posted: Sat May 20, 2023 1:03 pm
Thought I would add a note on ATF replacement in case someone else has the same issue.
Bought my 2008 Gen 4 Pajero second hand back in 2016. First thing I did was to have all the lubricants drained and replaced. At that time the mitsu dealership replaced 4.5L of ATF into the gearbox (@ 235,000 Km).
Lately I noticed that the gearbox was sluggish to move up a gear when one had finished descending a steep hill and that the engine needed a bit of 'juice' to start the vehicle moving even on a flat surface (i.e. none of the usual 'creep' experienced when in drive or reverse).
So I checked the ATF fluid and it was more grey than pink and had a bit of a 'smoky' smell to it (@ 270,000 Km).
Reading up on the online service manuals, the correct way of changing the ATF fluid is to discharge 3.5L from the ATF cooler with the engine running and then 2L from the ATF sump. However, the discharge from the cooler requires the engine running and a third person to shut it off when the last of the ATF has been discharged from the cooler, and I was doing the service alone. Hence I decided just to discharge the 2L from the sump, then refill and after a few Km repeat with another 2L of new ATF - hence replacing 4L of the 9.7L ATF the auto box contains.
Armed with 5L of the recommended Dia Queen III ATF (around R1,000 incl. VAT), and having run the engine until on temperature, I began to discharge the ATF from the sump into an old 5L ice cream container that I had previously calibrated in 500 ml increments. Low and behold the amount that actually came out was not 2L but 4L
- thank goodness for the 5L container! So I measured out 4L (actually 4.25L eventually after checking the level when the gearbox was properly warmed up) of new ATF and refilled the transmission via the ATF dipstick tube. It's essential to have the engine running, the gearbox in neutral and to be on a flat surface when measuring the ATF level. Whether measuring to the 'cold mark' or the 'hot marks' on the ATF dipstick. If one doesn't do this, the ATF pump is not running and the amount of ATF in the sump is thus higher than when the vehicle is running and the ATF mark on the dipstick will be well above the cold and hot markings on the dipstick.
Frankly the change in responsiveness to gear changes and acceleration is very noticeable and the vehicle now 'creeps', on flat surfaces when the drive is engaged, and the acceleration has improved markedly
. I assume the old ATF had it's viscosity degraded over time and the 'coupling' between the engine and gearbox was improved.
I wondered why Mitsu sold the Dia Queen in 4L and 5L bottles and now I know why. Just emptying the Auto sump itself one can expect that 4L of new ATF is the correct amount required. But at least I have ± 750ml of new ATF as a reserve/top up.
A few other points:
http://faq.out-club.ru/download/pajero_ ... dex_M1.htm
Bought my 2008 Gen 4 Pajero second hand back in 2016. First thing I did was to have all the lubricants drained and replaced. At that time the mitsu dealership replaced 4.5L of ATF into the gearbox (@ 235,000 Km).
Lately I noticed that the gearbox was sluggish to move up a gear when one had finished descending a steep hill and that the engine needed a bit of 'juice' to start the vehicle moving even on a flat surface (i.e. none of the usual 'creep' experienced when in drive or reverse).
So I checked the ATF fluid and it was more grey than pink and had a bit of a 'smoky' smell to it (@ 270,000 Km).
Reading up on the online service manuals, the correct way of changing the ATF fluid is to discharge 3.5L from the ATF cooler with the engine running and then 2L from the ATF sump. However, the discharge from the cooler requires the engine running and a third person to shut it off when the last of the ATF has been discharged from the cooler, and I was doing the service alone. Hence I decided just to discharge the 2L from the sump, then refill and after a few Km repeat with another 2L of new ATF - hence replacing 4L of the 9.7L ATF the auto box contains.
Armed with 5L of the recommended Dia Queen III ATF (around R1,000 incl. VAT), and having run the engine until on temperature, I began to discharge the ATF from the sump into an old 5L ice cream container that I had previously calibrated in 500 ml increments. Low and behold the amount that actually came out was not 2L but 4L
- thank goodness for the 5L container! So I measured out 4L (actually 4.25L eventually after checking the level when the gearbox was properly warmed up) of new ATF and refilled the transmission via the ATF dipstick tube. It's essential to have the engine running, the gearbox in neutral and to be on a flat surface when measuring the ATF level. Whether measuring to the 'cold mark' or the 'hot marks' on the ATF dipstick. If one doesn't do this, the ATF pump is not running and the amount of ATF in the sump is thus higher than when the vehicle is running and the ATF mark on the dipstick will be well above the cold and hot markings on the dipstick.Frankly the change in responsiveness to gear changes and acceleration is very noticeable and the vehicle now 'creeps', on flat surfaces when the drive is engaged, and the acceleration has improved markedly
. I assume the old ATF had it's viscosity degraded over time and the 'coupling' between the engine and gearbox was improved.I wondered why Mitsu sold the Dia Queen in 4L and 5L bottles and now I know why. Just emptying the Auto sump itself one can expect that 4L of new ATF is the correct amount required. But at least I have ± 750ml of new ATF as a reserve/top up.
A few other points:
- I don't tow so I don't know why the original ATF (even with the part ATF change when purchased) was so bad. I doubt it is normal to have to replace the ATF this often. Perhaps the previous owner had used a different brand of ATF?
I don't travel that far in the Pajero so I do oil change on an annual basis. Next Engine Oil change I will again replace 4L of the ATF and then 'as necessary' - after all, what I did seems like what Mitsu themselves do - just drain the sump and replace).
http://faq.out-club.ru/download/pajero_ ... dex_M1.htm