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Transmission fluid change on a '00 9-5

26K views 31 replies 15 participants last post by  unclemiltie  
#1 ·
I am looking to do a transmission fluid change on my 2000 9-5 and i had a few questions.

One i plan on doing the drain, fill, repeat method, where the fluid is drained, fillled, driven some, and repeated 2 more times. It is my understanding that it will take 3 changes at ~4q. each to do this change? is this correct?

Secondly when it comes to fluid, what is the preferred fluid? I am thinking about using Castrol Automatic Transmission Fluid Dexron-VI for the first 2 changes due to the lower cost (i can get it right now for about $2.50 a qt right now) and do the 3rd drain and fill with Mobil1 Dexron/Mercon Automatic Transmission Fluid as it is a bit more expensive. are there any benefits of doing it this way, or any issues with mixing these 2 fluids.

I want to start draining and filling the transmission fluid every other oil change or so (currently 5,000 miles) and would be using the Mobile 1 for those changes going forward. any feedback on this approach would be appreciated.

The reason i want to do this is i just purchased this 9-5 and it has 150,000 miles on it. The fluid seems to have been changed fairly regularly in the past but i want to be safe than sorry. I also posted a simmular thread on the 9-3 forums as i am doing the same with the 9-3 i just picked up as well.
 
#2 ·
is it an automatic or manual trans? it seems like you have a automatic trans so i will base off of this.

first off use ONLY the SAAB ATF. when you buy it from the dealer, tell them the year of your car, and they will get you the correct ATF. Flush ONLY with the SAAB ATF. the auto trans on your 9-5 cant take just any kind of ATF. do not use cheaper fluid for flushing. use SAAB ATF for your final fill as well.

second. in reference to you using mobil 1 atf. do not. USE the SAAB ATF.

Third, you do not need to change your fluid every 5k. this will get expensive very quick. and at 5k your fluid is still very fresh. Change at every 20k-30k instead.

lastly you will need to follow the same ATF rules with the 9-3. USE only the SAAB ATF.
 
#4 · (Edited)
is it an automatic or manual trans? it seems like you have a automatic trans so i will base off of this.

first off use ONLY the SAAB ATF. when you buy it from the dealer, tell them the year of your car, and they will get you the correct ATF. Flush ONLY with the SAAB ATF. the auto trans on your 9-5 cant take just any kind of ATF. do not use cheaper fluid for flushing. use SAAB ATF for your final fill as well.

second. in reference to you using mobil 1 atf. do not. USE the SAAB ATF.

Third, you do not need to change your fluid every 5k. this will get expensive very quick. and at 5k your fluid is still very fresh. Change at every 20k-30k instead.

lastly you will need to follow the same ATF rules with the 9-3. USE only the SAAB ATF.

My understanding is with the 2000 that the ATF fluid (and yes sorry, this is an auto) is Dex III. So would there really be a difference between using the Saab dex III fluid and a name brand Dex VI fluid which from my understanding meets or exceeds and is backwards compatable with Dex III?

As for my intervals i was talking about changing the fluid every 10,000 miles (every other oil change) which from my understanding would mean close to a 100% fluid change every 30,000 miles which seems on par with the service intervals.

As for cost right now i can get the castrol dex VI on sale from $7.50 / qt for about $2.50/qt at autozone due to the way their sales and coupons work. I am planning on really stocking up for this reason. I figure that 12qt costs about $30 on this sale, or i can get mobile1 full synth for $6/qt right now which comes out to about $70 for 12qt which is still cheaper than bringing it to a flush and fill place or doing it myself with the SAAB fluid which is from what i can tell a standard Dex III fluid that goes for about $10/qt plus shipping.

Also is there an advantage to using the full synth M1 over the Castrol Dex VI? if there isnt an advantage to this i will stick to the Castrol due to the cost. I know for the oil that the M1 full synth seems to be the favored, but if the ATF isnt as picky i'll stick to the castrol and save the $$$.

Also if i am incorrect at any of the above logic please feel free to correct me.

Thanks
 
#5 ·
OK, here's the deal:

9-5 4 speed auto from '99-'01 uses any Dexron III compatible fluid. There is nothing special about it, it's the same fluid GM has used for the past 40 years. Go buy a brand name case of something Dex III compatible and be happy. The original fill was Texaco Havoline and that's what I used. DO NOT buy from Saab as you will pay big bucks for exactly the same fluid as you can buy from the farm supply store!

9-5 5 speed auto from '02-'09 is the Aisin Warner 5 speed similar to Lexus, Toyota, etc. and uses any JWS 3309 compatible fluid. There's nothing special about it, it's the same fluid Toyota has used for the past 10 years. You can get Toyota Type IV at the Toyota dealer for a good price. DO NOT buy from Saab as you will pay big bucks for exactly the same fluid as you can buy from the Toyota dealer!

Saab specifically does NOT recommend synthetic fluid.

Use the same fluid for all three changes. You are only changing half the fluid in the trans at each change, so if you use a different one for the third change you end up with half of one fluid and half of another in the trans...
 
#6 ·
OK, here's the deal:

9-5 4 speed auto from '99-'01 uses any Dexron III compatible fluid. There is nothing special about it, it's the same fluid GM has used for the past 40 years. Go buy a brand name case of something Dex III compatible and be happy. The original fill was Texaco Havoline and that's what I used. DO NOT buy from Saab as you will pay big bucks for exactly the same fluid as you can buy from the farm supply store!

9-5 5 speed auto from '02-'09 is the Aisin Warner 5 speed similar to Lexus, Toyota, etc. and uses any JWS 3309 compatible fluid. There's nothing special about it, it's the same fluid Toyota has used for the past 10 years. You can get Toyota Type IV at the Toyota dealer for a good price. DO NOT buy from Saab as you will pay big bucks for exactly the same fluid as you can buy from the Toyota dealer!

Saab specifically does NOT recommend synthetic fluid.

Use the same fluid for all three changes. You are only changing half the fluid in the trans at each change, so if you use a different one for the third change you end up with half of one fluid and half of another in the trans...
Thanks, yeah. I am leaning away from using the M1 as it doesnt seem the cost is worth it. I was going to do 2 / 1 to try to save cost when flushing the old stuff out and go M1 going forward, but this seems unneeded. It sound like the Castrol Dex VI stuff is more that what is needed and will do well for what i am looking to do. Sound like on pay day i will be buying a few cases to stock up and next weekend i will be doing the change on the 9-3 and the 9-5.
 
#8 ·
I always used Texaco Havoline Dexron-III until my local Kroger store stopped carrying it. Since Texaco gasoline is not sold in Michigan it is tough to find the Texaco Havoline fluids.

My last transmisison oil change was with Castrol MD3 fluid, the equivalent to old Dexron-III since GM no longer licenses the Dexron-III trademark to oil blenders. The Dexron-VI is probably better than MD3 (definitely not worse), and I am glad to hear prices have lowered for this fluid.
 
#10 ·
I'm getting ready to change mine as well. Of the several places that I have seen on the forum that give tips/instructions on the transmission fluid change, everyone seems to be doing the empty-fill-3-times method. Is there a reason that no one tries to get all of the fluid at the same time?

The WIS and a friend of mine that works for a company that makes transmissions and used to be a mechanic say to empty what you can with the drain; then disconnect one of the hoses between the cooler and the transmission; run the engine and collect the old fluid fro that line, while refilling. Has anyone done this method? You get everything at once? Is there a reason no one suggests this (just harder to do)?
 
#13 · (Edited)
The WIS and a friend of mine that works for a company that makes transmissions and used to be a mechanic say to empty what you can with the drain; then disconnect one of the hoses between the cooler and the transmission; run the engine and collect the old fluid fro that line, while refilling. Has anyone done this method? You get everything at once? Is there a reason no one suggests this (just harder to do)?
Just much harder to do for the average D-I-Y'er.

Same for changing the power steering fluid. The WIS says to disconnect a hose and place it in a bucket, then run the engine and pump while turning the wheels full lock to lock. Three suction extractions with a turkey baster are much easier - just make sure you don't use the one from your kitchen! ;)
 
#26 ·
I like your answer. When in doubt go with the manufacturer! He made the thing! Uncleme... since you are here, and I know u have helped me before, cud help with the warning lights situation? Like most of them stay on.
The ABS, TCS and other lights staying on is a symptom of a failed ABS module. There are plenty of posts in here about that, search for ABS and you'll find them.
 
#25 ·
I found this in a Saab document fom a few years ago:

"The fluid used in this transmission system is a completely new type due to the increased stress caused by the slipping lock-up. The fluid is designated JWS 3309, (Aisin-AW spec). JWS 3309 is a mineral-based ATF with unique additives, high coefficient of friction and very high resistance to thermal oxidation. This fluid is factory standard on model -02 cars and applies also to 9-3 (4-speed aut.). JWS 3309 will mix with Dexron II and III. (JWS 3309 is therefore "backwards compatible" but will not provide any advantages over standard fluid in earlier 4-speed automatic transmissions. However, only JWS 3309 is to be used in Aisin AW 33/5 and no other fluid.)"
 
#27 ·
I will say that others say that they are JWS 3309 compatible, which probably wasn't true back when that was written. Things change and those new oils may be ok for our transmissions, I don't know. But since I can get the Mobil 3309 oil at my local parts store for about $5/qt I see no reason to take the chance.
 
#29 ·
You may find in Hawaii the Toyota type T-IV ATF being more readily available than the 3309. Check with a local Toyota dealer as well with the Lexus dealer for price. You may find the Lexus dealer has it cheaper, explained in a previous post of mine.
 
#31 ·
Oh got it

I have re-read the posts again. One says it for both 9-5 and 9-3. Thanks! Unclemitle, thanks too about the warning lights advise. One of my friends had a good diagnostics machine which said the same thing. Its bothered me for a while, so I will buy that one and see what happens. Thanks again
 
#32 ·
9-3 and 9-5 used the same transmissions but the switch over from one to the other happened in different years and models.

The AW55 (5-speed) needs the 3309 fluid
The AW52-40 (4-speed) uses Dextron III or equivalent

you will find a yellow tag on the top of your transmission telling you which one you have