any diys on changing out transmission fluid?

yup, purchase a bentley manual, it's all in there.
http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articles/auto_transmission/autotranservicing.html

I would flush it, so fill a couple of time, run it, then change it again.

you really SHOULDNT change your fluid. highly UNRECCOMENDED by every mechanic and audi dealer i talked to. just check to make sure your fluid is at the correct level.

I hope no-onebuys into the "lifetime fluid" idea. My mechanic (European shop) that works on all sorts of exotic cars (and true exotic cars) states that it is shameful that any car manufacturing company would actually state that any fluid that is used by the engine/transmission is a lifetime fluid. The manufacturer considers lifetime in the area of 7-10 years, after that you should be buying an other new car. After all they are in the market to make money.

I can tell you that my shifting (auto) was much smoother after my mechanic flushed and drained my 2000 4.2, I am very pleased with my decision to have it done.

I hope you’re not serious. I have changed mine and it was the nastiest, worst smelling fluid I have ever had come out of a car. The idea of a lifetime transmission is ridiculous.

Jason

I took my car to a transmission shop that specializes only european cars and has a lot of experience with the ZF5HP19 transmission that are used in Audi and BMWs. He said the fluid was a lifetime fill and it was recommeded by Audi not to change it. I was going to change it no matter what he said so I asked if he really believed that, and he said well of course not, but I sell a lot more transmissions that way. He changed my fluid and filter at 114k miles and ever since my transmission has been very smooth. It cost me around 200.00 dollars, for me the risk of under or over filling it for 200.00 dollars was not worth it. With every other car I have ever owned I have done the fluid changes myself, this car, I'll pay 200.00.

Jeff

Lifetime Fluid??? Of course this is stupid. The bet is that you will sell the car as mentioned above. I talked to a mechanic at my dealer and he said not to replace the fluid. Not becuase it didnt need it but becuase I am under warranty until 100,000k and the tranny will fail beforehand. It is already missing shifts and reverse feels like its going. As soon as it pukes, I get a new one under warranty, and then from there the mechanic says do routine flush's every 30k miles. If not under warranty, do a full flush, filter change, gaskets etc to save your tranny.

LIFETIME FLUID???????? THAT"S JUST PLAIN STUPID.
It's like saying your engine oil is lifetime don't change it, now, what would happen if you don't?
If you want your transmission to last longer change it :)
I did on mine (@140000) and it's a lot better.

ORIGINAL: foorausfoora

you really SHOULDNT change your fluid. highly UNRECCOMENDED by every mechanic and audi dealer i talked to. just check to make sure your fluid is at the correct level.


Why? Is it due to Audi saying not to? All auto makers are getting into "Lifetime" fluids. It's fine if you lease the car & will be not driving it over 50,000mi.

The Dealer is Hell bent on not changing it! Audi fluid is expensive.

I changed mine, it was nasty! Very nasty. My car shifts smoother, I picked up a couple MPG. It has a filter in there. Would you never change any other filter on there?
We also have Lifetime fuel filters. So we should never change that to?

Where some of the internet myth comes form is really old neglected trans who have never had a fluid change. So when you get it changed it shocks all the seals & clutches, cleans them all out, so now they fail due to the gunk that was holding them tougher.

I would change the trans fluid every 30kmi. But that's just me, & I've never had a trans fail because of it.

dont mean to hijack the thread but since we're onthe subject of fluids, should the diff. fluid be changed routinely as well?

ORIGINAL: DominanceX

dont mean to hijack the thread but since we're onÂ*the subject of fluids, should the diff. fluid be changed routinely as well?


YES! They all should be changed!

That’s what I was told "Audi tranny are "NST" meaning non-serviceable transmission. I was like "Yeah Right", than why do they have transmission filter kit and the biggest fluid leak problem, the Drive shaft inner seal.
I changed the trannyfilter and it was nasty but quite easy only thing is the several dozens of bolts on the tranny fluid pan.
Actually the AUDItransmission oil is supposed to be goldish yellow in color and not red. Its a pretty thickoil by the feel of it I'd guess30or 40weight.
Yeah you will need siphon pump.

I read on the other forum they say its supposed to be repalced by atleast 3 quarts well mine took 3.5 quarts before oil started dripping off the fill hole.

Hey it it normal to find 6 magnets in the tranmission fluid pan?

Question: Are we generally talking automatic or MT6 here, or both? I'm about to have my clutch replaced at 89k and thinking about having the transmission fluid changed in my 2003 A6 2.7T MT6.

ORIGINAL: ppgoal

Question:Â* Are we generally talking automatic or MT6 here, or both?Â* I'm about to have my clutch replaced at 89k and thinking about having the transmission fluid changed in my 2003 A6 2.7T MT6.


Both should be changed.

Should we bring it to an Audi dealership to get the tranny fluid changed? Or to any shop? Would it be wise to just get the transmission flushed ? Because for an extra hundred they flush out the tranny and replace the fluid.

ORIGINAL: shockedimpy

Should we bring it to an Audi dealership to get the tranny fluid changed? Or to any shop? Would it be wise to just get the transmission flushed ? Because for an extra hundred they flush out the tranny and replace the fluid.


I doubt the Dealer will do the work. They will give you the "Lifetime" thing.

YES, flush it. Have a good independent do it. It's not a hard job, just dirty & takes some time.

ORIGINAL: rap7
Hey it it normal to find 6 magnets in the tranmission fluid pan?


Yes it is. I found that out with my last car, they are there to attract any loose metal shavings that might occurasthe car ages.

You can drain the fluid with a smaller plug on the low point of the pan. (dirty business) and then you fill it through the huge allen plug. you will need a bike pump type tool to push the fluid up, or I did it once with a turkey baster (took a little while). also you might want to drop the pan and replace the metal/foam filter right in the trans. I had to do this on a 3.0l Tip A6 that no longer shifts (stuck in 4th) as you all may know by now.. that "lifetime" fluid was absolutly filthy.

Trans fluid is also very pricy (I believe we bought it by the liter)

I bought the Transmission filter kit from www.audicarparts.com (http://www.audicarparts.com/) for my Automatic 2k A6 2.7T. They had the right part. I bought the tranny fluid from an Audi Dealer just to be sure.

You'll need a flat surface and four jack stands to keep the car in level position.
If you have ever changed the oil for any differential than Audi tranny uses the same concept.
The drain and fillplug is next to each other. Once you open the oil pan you'll figure it out what to do. After draining the oil therewill beabout 1/2 quart of oil still in the pan so while getting the pan off make sure you bring it down evenly other wise you'll be covered in what Audiindirectly stateslife time guaranteedtransmission oil.
Itsa nasty job but will save you some extra bucks.

I drove around my car and brought it home and left it in idle for like 5 minutes this gives the car enough time to push all the oil to the tranny oil pan. Some guys say in reverse gear the tranny actually reverses the circulation of the oil. This might be a good idea to get the 2 quarts in the torque converter out. Just a thought I haven't tried it yet.
Or maybe you can open one of the cooler line pipes and try pushing the fluid from there. Actually that’s what the big tranny servicing machines does. They push 12 quarts of fluid through the cooler line pipe so the whole oil path is flushed.
These are the tools you'll need;
1. No. 17 Allen bit. I would recommend buying the whole set, sizes from anywhere 10 thru 17.
2. I think no. 10 or 12 allen bit.
3. Torque bits - buy them in set.
4. Gravity Pump - Any type of pump that will push the fluid from the bottle an up to the tranny. If you would be doing this and your car islifted in four jack stand than you'll have a very tight spot to pump the fluid. Siphon pump will work but keep in mind this is athick fluid you'll be pumping.
All the bolts are torque at 10NLB, I think that is like 7.5 ft-lb. Hand tight would be fine as long as you don't over tight it and please don not use those muscles. These are aluminum threads YOUWILL STRIP THEM. Just make sure you tighten the bolts loosely tillboth surface (the oil pan the transmission surface groove) are in contact and may be quarter turn or may be half turn should be good enough to sandwich the seal between the two surfaces.
Just don't bath yourself in that oil. It is nasty very nasty and stinks.

I have a 5sp manual with 163k. Don't really know when the last time the tranny fluid has been changed. Should i change it, or would this be the age in which the tranny shreds itself after?

Yes, read the entire post. ALL fluids should be changed. Make sure the shop doing the work understands to use the correct fluid. A great source is Blauparts.com, ecstuning.com, etc. While you are under there change the diff fluid as well.

ok this is great help for me. can i use a different fluid or should i use audi tranny fluid only?

Audi fluid.

thanks. how much is it a qt? is it different then normal atf?

It's about 15$, and as far as different goes, I've not seen any other atf that is approved for the application. On older cars Mobil 1 is recommended. For the new ones it says audi atf only. The good thing is that for most differentials you can use regular 75W90 synthetic gear oil from your local store.

I'm going Redline fluids throughout, using their recommendations. Worked well on all my prior vehicles including the Porsche, I see no reason to stick with factory fluid. To each his own though.

ORIGINAL: smtcapecod

I'm going Redline fluids throughout, using their recommendations.Â* Worked well on all my prior vehicles including the Porsche, I see no reason to stick with factory fluid.Â* To each his own though.


I feel the same way, my car is all Redline. So far the Trans has been happy.

Just as I figured out later, there are many ATF's approved for ZF transmissions. The cheapest ones will be Valvoline Mercon V, Quakes State Multi Vehicle and Castrol Multi Vehicle.