The General Motors 8L45 8-speed automatic transmission has been produced in the US and Mexico since 2015 and is installed in rear-wheel drive models under the M5N designation, all-wheel drive models under the M5T designation. This automatic transmission is also known as the Cadillac CTS or Chevrolet Camaro transmission.
Specifications
| Type | automatic transmission |
| Number of gears | 8 |
| Type of drive | rear / all wheel |
| Engine volume, l | up to 3.6 |
| Torque output, Nm | up to 420 |
| Recommended oil | Dexron HP |
| Oil capacity, liter | 10.8 |
| Partial replacement, liter | 7.0 |
| Maintenance | every 60 000 km |
| Gearbox lifespan, km | ~250 000 km |
| Weight, kg | 80 |
Gear ratios GM 8L45
Using the 2017 Cadillac CTS with a 3.6-liter engine as an example:
| Main | 2.85 |
| 1st | 4.615 |
| 2nd | 3.038 |
| 3rd | 2.065 |
| 4th | 1.658 |
| 5th | 1.259 |
| 6th | 1.000 |
| 7th | 0.849 |
| 8th | 0.658 |
| Reverse | 3.928 |
Using
The transmission was installed on:
- Cadillac ATS I (A1SL) in 2015 – 2019;
- Cadillac CTS III (A1LL) in 2015 – 2019;
- Cadillac CT4 I (A2SL) in 2019 – …;
- Cadillac CT6 I (O1SL) in 2016 – …;
- Chevrolet Camaro 6 (A1XC) in 2015 – …;
- Chevrolet Colorado 2 (GMT31XX) in 2016 – …;
- GMC Canyon 2 (GMT31XX) in 2016 – …
Disadvantages of the GM 8L45 gearbox
- In the early years of production, this transmission was notorious for its not-so-smooth shifting;
- Most owners were helped by changing the oil to the more modern Dexron HP;
- However, sometimes the jerking noises only disappeared after replacing the torque converter;
- The first versions of the solenoids also had a short service life, sometimes reaching 50,000 km;
- The weak points of the transmission design include the C4 piston and the oil pump drive chain.
