To keep the gears inside your Saab’s transmission turning smoothly, they rely on Gearbox oil to get the job done. Most car owners do not think about the oil level in the gearbox. The only thing you may have heard from some owners of automatic transmission cars is that it is important to make sure that the oil level is not low and that it is necessary to change the transmission oil at the recommended intervals.
Changing the automatic transmission oil is part of regular periodic service interventions and must be done at the scheduled interval. Preventive oil change improves gearbox performance, improves driving comfort and efficiency, and can prevent serious and very expensive breakdowns.
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Transmissions used by Saab cars of the last generation
However, Saab owners with a manual transmission need to pay more attention to their transmission. If the oil in the gearbox has worn out, sludge and metal shavings will accumulate. In Saab cars of the last generations, from the era of GM ownership, the most common manual transmissions were the F35 and F40, which Saab cars shared with cars from the GM and Fiat groups. It should be known that the SAAB Powertrain company was behind the development of both gearboxes, and these gearboxes were installed in Saab models (9-3 and 9-5) and all other models of other strophe brands.
In Saab cars with automatic transmissions, which are almost all Saab cars that targeted North America as a market, the most common automatic transmission is the AF-40 / TF-80SC from the Japanese manufacturer AISIN. It is also called the AWF21, AF40-6, AM6, AW6A-EL and TF-81SC (AF21). According to the manufacturer’s manual, but also Saab’s inquiry, the oil in this transmission is Life Long – ie, it is a lifetime sealed unit that uses a protected transmission fluid that is marked as maintenance-free?! Is that right?
Why is it necessary to change (the automatic) transmission oil?
There are numerous reasons for the necessity of changing the oil in gearboxes, both manual and automatic. Optimal lubrication enables the smooth operation of automatic transmission components, protects the transmission from premature wear and breakdowns, and enables efficient and comfortable gear changes.
Worn-out oil does not sufficiently lubricate the parts of the automatic transmission, so the components wear out faster, the gears are more difficult to change, the service life is shortened and deposits are formed that prevent the normal operation of the transmission.
Changing the oil can solve the following problems:
- Delay when changing gears;
- Rough or unreliable transmission behavior;
- Vehicle vibration under load;
- shaking when stopping or parking
How often is the oil changed in the automatic transmission?
However, for Saab vehicles with an automatic transmission that are primarily used for towing, in city driving or in mountainous environments, it is recommended to change the transmission fluid every 60,000 km. AF40 transmissions made before 2011 (generation 1) use standard oil JWS 3309, while transmissions made after 2011 (generation 2) use standard oil JWS 3324. However, the Saab versions of the transmission use AW-1 mineral oil, which is what it says. user manual for Saab cars.
93 165 147 Automatic transmission fluid, mineral oil based. Synthetic oil has a coefficient of friction that differs from mineral oil based oil and should therefore not be used. The use of synthetic oil can cause malfunction through abnormal wear.
How often is the oil changed in the manuel transmission?
On the other hand, and similar to automatic transmissions – with manual transmissions, Saab recommends that No maintenance is required for normal operation. Nevertheless, better connoisseurs of cars recommend changing the oil in the gearbox in classic “manuals” as well. The F40 MT2/MU9 uses a Castrol Burmah (BOT 0063) manual transmission fluid, or GM 88862472 gear oil. This gear oil is identified in GM documentation as a synthetic 75W-85 GL-4.
Fresh oil lubricates the bearings better, although most manufacturers, including Saab, do not prescribe changing the oil in the gearbox. However, in order to avoid the need to replace the bearings after about 150 thousand kilometers, the oil should be changed even more often, and every 60,000 km if the car is often driven under any kind of load.
Do not forget that when the manufacturer writes “for the whole life of the car”, it does not mean 20 years and 500 thousand kilometers, but half of this time and distance. During operation (or over time), the oil loses its properties – in addition to lubrication (you also need the right viscosity), it must also be cooled, protected from corrosion, etc. Although it has better working conditions than motor oil (lower temperatures, no exhaust gases), this type of oil also ages. The last argument for changing can be the low price of changing the oil, and the fact that you can do it yourself in your garage.
How to Change Saab 9-3 F40 Gearbox Oil – GM 6 speed Manual Fluid Change
Below you can see the instructions on how to change the oil in the Saab 9-3 gearbox yourself. The GM 6 speed manual fluid change is common in many GM cars that use the GM F40 transmission. The author of the video is a well-known Saab mechanic and automotive engineer with 40 years of experience, who shows in detail how to change the oil in the gearbox and estimates the required amount of oil for the GM F40 gearbox.
How to Change Saab 9-3 AF-40 Automatic Gearbox Oil
Similar to the manual transmission, you can change the oil yourself in the Saab AF40 automatic transmission.
Changing the automatic transmission oil is recommended if you do not know if and when the oil was changed, for example when buying a used vehicle. Also, as a first step, it is advisable to change the oil in case you notice any irregularity in the operation of the automatic transmission.
Changing the automatic transmission oil does not mean that it will solve problems or irregularities in the operation of the automatic transmission. There is a possibility that the gearbox is not maintained or that there is a mechanical failure so that the oil change itself does not give the desired results.
What specification of transmission oil does SAAB 9000 self-displacement ZF/4HP-18 transmission need?