ATF smell after transmission fluid and filter change?
I am wondering if anyone has any insight here? I finished up my auto transmission fluid and filter change about 3 weeks ago now and am periodically still getting an ATF smell through my dash vents and from under the car on shutdown, most notably after a longer highway run. I used a new OEM Filtran filter, GM gasket, new fill and drain plugs and Redline D4. I did an initial drain and refill, drove the car for a few weeks and then dropped the pan and finished the job, I did not have the ATF smell issue with the first drain and refill. I followed the procedure by the book, oil pan was level in all directions, fill cold, run through the gears, heat fluid up to 30 Celsius (verified with fancy new BMW scan tool) and topped off while running. I also didn’t spill so much that it isn’t all cleaned up, dried up, or burnt off by now.
I have been under the car twice now with a lighted mirror tool and shop light and cannot find any indication of a leak, the pan and everything else all around is completely dry. Considering I just clocked in at 108,000 miles the car shift absolutely perfect in both auto and sport mode, smother and better than it ever has before. I just did the same job this past weekend on my 09 X3 with the GM 6-speed transmission, followed the exact same procedure, and don’t seem to be having any issues with any ATF smell. The only thing I came across is that it is possibly overfilled causing fluid and or vapors to be released by the vent/purge valve on the top of the transmission housing. I’m not sure how this could have happened being that I followed the procedure, and definitely don’t see any fluid being released.
This weekend I may run it up to temp and pull the fill plug to see how much comes out, but don’t think that I could have overfilled it so much as to cause an issue. Has anyone else ever had this issue after a fluid and filter change?
Steve,
2004 330i zhp
2009 X3
2013 X1 35i M-Sport