Just Me

Sounds like in general we agree. If its been neglected, be wary, and certainly don't flush (i'd still service it).

For the record, i serviced mine (well, had a tranny shop do it - without a lift its PITA) at ~ 40k, and again at around 76k. I'll do it again at around 110-120k.

My pan had very little metal debris (nearly none, all on magnets); some slime, no varnish (that forms with time and heat).

I guess i push a bit FOR service because i believe Audi, disingenuously, pushes AGAINST it, to our dis-service. To me changing fludis is alwasy good. You just need to be careful abotu what one dislodges.

Remember the early days of high-detergent synthetic oil? dont change to synthetic in and old car! It eats metal! Dissolves rings! Enclaves the planet!

Oh, wait, no, it just cleans all that **** out that was sealing your rings that had been building up for 17 years.

njoy. Off to figure out what to so with the broken rear spring in my S6

G

pearlwhitesix

Thanks for the great thoughts from everyone!

Just came back from the trip, car drove flawlessly, even through the steep hills and inclines around Pittsburgh. Made it back to Chicago no sweat. I plan on doing the recommended filter & fluid procedure once I can find someone local to me that can lend a VAG-COM.

Prospeeder

Exactly! i get so tired of hearing the stupid, oh dont change the fluid, it will die myth. When really it people dont know the proper fill procedure and damage the trans, or the transmission was failing anyway and the last ditch attempt was a fluid service and it died a few days later. It would have died anyway.