Facel Vega HK 500 / Excellence

Automatic transmission fluid capacity & service interval

Facel Vega HK 500 / Excellence automatic transmission fluid capacity is 12 liter. Service intervals occur every 15000 km. The data covers 2 configurations.

The configuration chart below lists fill volumes and service intervals for each engine and trim variant.

TypeSpecifications
Excellence (1958-1964)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 12 liter
  • Change 15000 km
  • Code: Torqueflight 4/1
HK 500 (1958-1961)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 12 liter
  • Change 15000 km
  • Code: Torqueflight 4/1

Additional Notes

  • The Facel Vega Excellence and HK 500 share an automatic transmission fluid capacity of 12 liters, a figure consistent with the large Chrysler-sourced TorqueFlite automatic units fitted to French grand tourers of the era.
  • A 12-liter automatic transmission capacity is notably high and reflects a full overhaul or dry-fill quantity rather than a routine service drain-and-fill, which typically recovers only a portion of total fluid volume due to fluid retained in the torque converter.
  • The Excellence carries a 15,000 km change interval under normal use conditions, spanning the full 1958-1964 production range of the model.
  • The HK 500 shares the same 15,000 km normal-use change interval across its 1958-1961 production span, placing both models on identical service schedules despite differing body configurations.
  • A 15,000 km automatic transmission fluid change interval was a relatively short cycle by later standards, reflecting mid-century fluid technology and the performance demands placed on large-displacement V8 drivetrains.

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