Automatic Gearbox Additive

[Styria]

I am interested to hear from members, particularly those with good knowledge of Automatic Transmission Repair, concerning an Additive by the name of "REVITALIZANT. Also, the use and suitability of a synthetic auto transmission oil produced by ATLANTIC. My Holden Captiva has been the recipient of both products as a result of some anomalies in the operation of the Holden Captiva's gearbox. It is a five speed Automatic.

I have researched details of both products on the Internet AFTER the change of oil, and the reviews are favourable with both products. The Auto Repair Shop did make it quite clear that their recommendations for the use was NOT a guarantee to cure any or all gearbox issues, but they have had nothing but positive feedback from jobs and tasks carried out on other vehicles. The cost of draining the old oil and supplying fresh Transmission Fluid plus the Revitalizant came to a reasonable $185.00. Incidentally, the Additive is manufactured in the Ukraine. Any thoughts or comments ? Regards. Styria

 

[sean sherry]

Like Engine Oil additives I don't see the need for Transmission Additives. In the past there was a problem with the then quality of the seal material. An additive helped keep them pliable. Of course all seals become inflexible with age and an additive may rejuvenate them for a while.(.Cold and Hot cycles don't help)
. As a preventive method I don't believe it will make any difference.
Transmission today will run hundreds of thousands of Ks without Seal failures, failing for other reasons... the cost accountant dictate the life cycle !!

 

[Helmet]

Can’t do any harm, except to your hip pocket, no need for additives, they are only an extra revenue centre for the automotive industry

 

[Styria]

Hi Peter, thanks for your advice. I value it obviously for the reason of your experience in the motor industry. (Maybe I should ask Scotty Kilmer as well ? )

The money has changed hands, so on that score I am already the loser. On the other hand, changing the gearbox oil some three to four months ago (I can look up the actual date) certainly did not provide the desired solution. Mind you, in addition, I was totally surprised by the discoloured oil that was removed the other day. Just to what extent the previous shop went to in changing the oil I don't know. There is no pan on the Captiva and the oil was siphoned out.

I still wouldn't mind knowing how suitable Synthetic Oil is for a box that's done almost 200K. kilometres, and why different oil is used for the four speed and the five speed Automatic. One area of concern was the fact that the first shop told me that I had a four, and not a five speeder in the car.

Regards Styria

N.B. Food for thought ?
http://www.topklasse.org/forums/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=63296

 

[sean sherry]

200ks ? The cost accountant's transmission has had an exceptional run !

 

[Helmet]

Hi Peter, thanks for your advice. I value it obviously for the reason of your experience in the motor industry. (Maybe I should ask Scotty Kilmer as well ? )

The money has changed hands, so on that score I am already the loser. On the other hand, changing the gearbox oil some three to four months ago (I can look up the actual date) certainly did not provide the desired solution. Mind you, in addition, I was totally surprised by the discoloured oil that was removed the other day. Just to what extent the previous shop went to in changing the oil I don't know. There is no pan on the Captiva and the oil was siphoned out.

I still wouldn't mind knowing how suitable Synthetic Oil is for a box that's done almost 200K. kilometres, and why different oil is used for the four speed and the five speed Automatic. One area of concern was the fact that the first shop told me that I had a four, and not a five speeder in the car.

Regards Styria

N.B. Food for thought ?
http://www.topklasse.org/forums/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=63296

Sounds like they didn’t drain the Converter, that’s where all the fluid is so no wonder it was discoloured, they did half, no 1/4 oil change. Did they change the Filter ?

 

[sean sherry]

Converter Oil drain has been the bane of Transmissions for a long time now. I can't remember when the Drain Plugs were discontinued ( to save money ) !!
We always drilled an 1/8 th hole in the bottom to drain them when rebuilding Commodores, for example, and welded them up again. If there was Metal in the pan we cut them open and welded them shut my hand. Never had a problem.
I had a steady Hand when young !!!

 

[Styria]

Update imminent. Soon.......Regards Styria

 

[Oversize]

Converter Oil drain has been the bane of Transmissions for a long time now. I can't remember when the Drain Plugs were discontinued ( to save money ) !!
We always drilled an 1/8 th hole in the bottom to drain them when rebuilding Commodores, for example, and welded them up again. If there was Metal in the pan we cut them open and welded them shut my hand. Never had a problem.
I had a steady Hand when young !!!

Probably discontinued the same time they stopped supplying dipsticks.... You can’t treat a trans like a diff & almost never change the fluid. Far more moving parts with very tight tolerances so having a fresh oil supply is critical. The mere fact they have a filter indicates they require regular supervision lol!

 

[Styria]

Well, it had to happen, didn't it - you may well ask what...I fully understand, as I have been noted (I think) for my long absence from this esteemed forum. I can give you, my friends and fellow members, many reasons and long explanations without really getting down to the crux of various matters. However, ill health is not a problem, so on that score we can all relax. I can now bring you up to date.

As indicated earlier, back in 2020, March to be precise, I arranged to have a Transmission Shop in Parramatta change the gearbox oil, and added two bottles of the Revitalizer synthetic additive. They weren't overly confident that it would solve the issue of what I would say would have been hard, and fried, clutch lip seals pertinent to 3rd gear only, which would engage with quite a thump when decelerating for traffic lights and Round Abouts. It was quite unnerving, but I was able to by pass this issue primarily by engaging neutral when slowing for the afore mentioned traffic conditions, and also by engaging various lower gears by means of the selector lever. It worked well most of the time, but every once in a while it would get you with a huge, worrying thump - if you know what I mean.

Anyway, I decided to solder on with the status quo. There was a fairly significant improvement after that service, but I knew that not everything was "right". At that time, I was lucky (as it turned out) that I had procured privately a used box from an accident damaged Captiva, plus a replacement right front guard that had decided to have it out with a Concrete Pylon in Wentworthville Shopping Centre. I was only going snail pace looking for a parking spot, not realizing that the pylon was just waiting to teach me a lesson. Anyway, the box, plus transfer case, plus the guard set me back a gentle $600.00 together with a promise from the vendor that the box had been perfect up to the time when his wife decided to be involved in an uninsured accident. It was a chance I simply had to take. One or two transmission specialists had quoted three and a half to rebuild my box, plus whatever, and whatever.....if you know what I mean. To be continued.

 

[Styria]

So, with this somewhat faulty five speed Automatic, I decided to soldier on until such time as I could entrust the work to a qualified person, with above average mechanical skills. In between times, about four months ago, as part of the six monthly service I strictly adhere to, I asked the mechanic down the road to also replace the damaged right front guard, as well as the normal service. I have got to tell you that all he charged for the change over was $60.00 - yep, you're reading right, that was the amount as per his Invoice. I also continued to "tickle" him for a good price on the gear box change over. That was a bit more difficult, considering that I tried to negotiate at a price of $800 - $1000, but it did not look promising. I had also gotten a price of "about" $800.00 from a mechanic down the road from where I have my workshop, but when it came down to tick tacks, he chickened out. Nah, that's a big job, too much work. Right, so back to my guy, with an appropriate cash incentive. He was happy to take it on, and we left the moneypart up in he air a bit.

I handed the car over to him on the basis that I would be happy to take a bit of a back seat with the completion date. As it was it did take quite a bit of time - say between 4-6 weeks, but I did not push him. As it turned out, changing the box is a major job as it requires the removal of engine, gearbox, transfer case and suspension all as one unit. In other words, car on hoist, and dropping the whole lot down. In no uncertain terms, not a job for the home mechanic. to be continued. Regards Styria

 

[Patrick_R]

It’s great to hear from you Styria.
I am very much looking forward to hearing what happens next.

 

[Styria]

It’s great to hear from you Styria.
I am very much looking forward to hearing what happens next.

Thank you Patrick. Right at this moment,, the system does not allow me to submit photos for perusal. Admin, meaning Bryce, is looking into it for me. In the meantime, further updates without photos. The job finished up costing two thousand dollars, in cash which, of course, is quite a bit more from the, say, $1200 figure I had in mind. There appeared to be some good reason for the extra cash. First of all, all engine mounts (3) were cactus, and it cost (at a discount rate he said) an additional $570.00 for those three items. To this, of course, one has to allow for the complete servicing of the Air Conditioning system (a bit expensive at $160.00 - as I KNOW what goes into this job) and then, of course, there is oil for the gearbox, plus the replacement of the engine mounts which is quite a laborious undertaking. I understand that difficulties arose in supporting the engine and gearbox/and transfer case assembly as they are virtually stressed members of the whole drivetrain assembly.

I have a bit of an idea of just what work is involved in this job from go to whoa - it can be never ending and you gauge the results and the money outlaid once the car is returned. Right at this moment, I can categorically state that the work has been carried out perfectly. Not a drop of oil, not a drop of water, and the Automatic works like a charm, perhaps even like new ? Well, I was lucky, I bought well, I scored a better than serviceable unit and the box, as also the engine, are working perfectly. When engaging gear, I can't even notice any jerkish movement and, all in all, this Captiva of mine is performing faultlessly. In due course, I will add some photos and also my opinion on other mattrers that may perhaps be of importance. Regards Styria

 

[Michel]

Right at this moment, I can categorically state that the work has been carried out perfectly. Not a drop of oil, not a drop of water, and the Automatic works like a charm, perhaps even like new ? Well, I was lucky, I bought well, I scored a better than serviceable unit and the box, as also the engine, are working perfectly. When engaging gear, I can't even notice any jerkish movement and, all in all, this Captiva of mine is performing faultlessly. Regards Styria

So happy to read your Captiva is back in the land of the working...

 

[Patrick_R]

That is excellent news.
I think the $2000 is money very well spent for peace of mind and enjoyment of what is a beautiful car that had a niggling issue.
Great result.

 

[Admin]

Try again, Should work now

 

[sean sherry]

Yes Styria, cheap for a modern Automatic. $6000 plus the cost is near the norm for most of them. But a luck of the draw for a S/H Unit. Nothing ventured nothing gained !!

 

[Styria]

Okay, to start off with, some well overdue pics. The first I saw of the work involved, is the unit sitting on the 20 gallon drum - Caltex of course.

N.B. Sugar, it's Castrol.

 

[Styria]

I just don't know how to continue my text without starting a new "reply". When one considers that Captivas are saddled with some uncomplimentary terms for a number of problem issues, the set up is illustrated probably owes very little, if nothing, to the more "glamorous SUVs on the market. Let's face it, this engine is just a simple Holden 3.2 litre V6 shipped the South Korea by Holden. On to that of course, Daewoo would add a five speed Aisin Auto transmission. This engine is now up to 222,333 kilometers, with not a sign of wear, still whisper quiet and uses no oil between changes - I don't think I could ask for better or, indeed, more reliable. On that note, more remarks later. More pics. in the meantime.

 

[Styria]

The third picture shows one of the engine mounts. The reason for the cost of $570.00 for the mounts ? As can be seen, they are substantial in size and are bought as complete units sitting in huge alloy cases - you don't just replace the rubber mount, but you replace the complete housing - and there were three of those mounts. One issue that hastened my desire and need to get this work done was a very noisy water pump. After the last service, in fact about five days after, I noticed this grumbling noise which I almost immediately put down to a noisy bearing in the water pump housing. The mechanic ventured a noisy drive/water pump belt, but I questioned his diagnosis and putting up the car on his hoist revealed the all to clearly evident slight coolant leak - I knew this work just needed doing urgently. The pump is shown in the sixth picture. Regards Styria

N.B. Please forgive me for any duplications.