| [quote=minitoo;3147686]Jeff,
Thanks for the info on the CVT oil breakdown. I am definitely motivated to get my hands on some and change out soon. I change my engine oil yearly (about 4000 miles) but was hoping the tranny would be OK since it isn't in a combustion atmosphere to get contaminated. Cheap insurance...I'm changing my CVT oil early now. When you change yours out do you go through all the steps as outlined in the Bentley manual or just replace as much as you drained out?
Sejanus,
I would not get nervous I'm sure lots of CVT cars with more miles than mine are doing the recommended service. Like I said they told me the CVT oil was "starting to break down" Still had life in it but all three analysis recommend I change it at 15k if I want the best protection.
At 15k is when they saw the oil begin to loose it ability to keep the important additives in suspension.
I'm not a chemist so I don't fully understand what the chemist from Shaffer's is telling me. I get lost talking to him.
But the way I understand it the trans oil is synthetic and synthetic oils have a problem keeping additives in suspension. but are more thermally stable than a conventional oil so the best is a blend of synthetic and conventional. Unfortunately this dose not exist for our CVT So the best we can do is change it out when this starts to occur.
I wish I had some of the 30k oil to send in from my first service to see how bad it was. They told going to 30k would not ever be the direct cause of a failure. but will cause premature wear and shorten the life of the cvt they also recommend a external filter to remove abrasive wear particles from the oil if going longer than 15k. I will just change it.
Minitoo,
I just drain out what I can and refill. This may not be the best way. But it will maintain a certain level of good quality fluid in the trans. If you keep up on services.
To be honest I have not read the Bentley service procedure I imagine maybe pulling the cooler lines and flushing all the old fluid while the return line draws in the new? if your getting all the fluid out each time so there is very little old to contaminate the new I think that would be A better service. But a drain and fill is quick easy and works fine to keep the overall fluid condition in good shape.
Jeff  | 
