2001 S8 TRANSMISSION FLUID
05-01-2007, 01:26 PM
#11
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Re: 2001 S8 TRANSMISSION FLUID
I am planning to change my ATF fluid. What do you think about the machines that they flush the whole system? I am sure that like the other vehicles when we remove the pan the fluid does not drain completely....
05-01-2007, 03:34 PM
#13
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Be SURE you get the right filter
Hopefully the parts places have the correct listing but just in case make sure you verify the length of the ATF pickup tube on the new filter is the same length as the one coming out.
The place I bought from (an Audi parts specialty shop) had the wrong filter called out on their database and the pickup was something like 10mm oe 20mm too long. Whichever, that put the pickup right at the bottom of the pan. That in turn caused loss of pickup of fluid and that damaged my pump before I found and corrected it.
The place I bought from (an Audi parts specialty shop) had the wrong filter called out on their database and the pickup was something like 10mm oe 20mm too long. Whichever, that put the pickup right at the bottom of the pan. That in turn caused loss of pickup of fluid and that damaged my pump before I found and corrected it.
05-01-2007, 06:40 PM
#16
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The ATF is a lifetime fluid unless ...
If you leave it it the bottle untouched, it has a 3 year shelf life according to the bottle label. The lifetime fluid nonsense is ... nonsense.
I changed the ATF and tranny filter in my '01 S8 tranny at 33k and 66k miles.
<img src="http://www.etyparts.com/_borders/atf_vw2.jpg">
I changed the ATF and tranny filter in my '01 S8 tranny at 33k and 66k miles.
<img src="http://www.etyparts.com/_borders/atf_vw2.jpg">
05-02-2007, 12:53 PM
#17
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No, I haven't, as I've gotten the mixed signals from the dealer. Not that they won't do it,
just that they don't recommend it as "people have had problems with tranny after fluid replacement".
Here's the thing that puzzles me, though, between Audi's and the forum's opinions on this: IF the fluid is not lifetime, and I agree that it cannot be (even for Randy's simple point of 3-yr-shelf-life), why would Audi so strenously oppose a simple filter & fluid replcament? The often-quoted argument that "the dealer's service technicians don't know how to properly do it by underfilling the pan" is not convincing: there are many more complex and involved servicing tasks on the vehicle, Audi could simply issue a TSB and dictate how it should be done. Moreover, Audi would NOT recommend it but have a TSB on how it is done and the dealers charge for it as an additional cost item. Why isn't this the case (or maybe it is)?
So, I side with the forum's approach but can't stop questioning Audi's position too. If anything else, dealers and Audi would make additional revenue from servicing and parts sold as part of this, relatively simple, procedure.
Here's the thing that puzzles me, though, between Audi's and the forum's opinions on this: IF the fluid is not lifetime, and I agree that it cannot be (even for Randy's simple point of 3-yr-shelf-life), why would Audi so strenously oppose a simple filter & fluid replcament? The often-quoted argument that "the dealer's service technicians don't know how to properly do it by underfilling the pan" is not convincing: there are many more complex and involved servicing tasks on the vehicle, Audi could simply issue a TSB and dictate how it should be done. Moreover, Audi would NOT recommend it but have a TSB on how it is done and the dealers charge for it as an additional cost item. Why isn't this the case (or maybe it is)?
So, I side with the forum's approach but can't stop questioning Audi's position too. If anything else, dealers and Audi would make additional revenue from servicing and parts sold as part of this, relatively simple, procedure.
05-02-2007, 03:15 PM
#18
They make much more money on the tranny replacement.
They can charge $350 for a fluid change. Some might think that's too much, it's not. It will cost them like $150 on materials + they have to keep the car overnight + if you want most of the old fluid out, you need to loosen the VB because it holds a lot of fluid. So if they do it right it is not a good business for them. We do it because we like to work on our cars and it feels good when you take care something and you know it's done properly. For them is business. To change the fluid on ANY auto tranny has way more risk than to change oil in the engine. Take example this forum. 2 out of 10 tranny fluid change will be a bad move and the tranny goes downhill. The more they avoid doing a fluid change the less chance for a return, rework.
