audisowner

Per recommendations on this forum, I requested my Audi dealer to changed the transmission fluid AND filter on my 99 A-8 (52K miles). After reviewing the invoice, it appeared that NO parts besides the ATF fluid were used. After inquiring why the filter wasn't changed, the dealer informed me that it wasn't part of their transmission service and not recommended (unless the filter was torn). Any comments welcome.

barryl

Hello,

I bet the dealer did not remove the pan.
I bet all they did was open the drain, let the
fluid out, then pump in new fluid.

Barry

erisalaw

When I had my 99 in this month to have it done (after specifying exactly what I wanted when I made the appointment) they looked at me like I was nuts. I reconfirmed that I did in fact want the filter changed and the screen cleaned and they did it (even though they later called that day to say they did not have all the parts and thus it took an extra day). I have the invoice at home and can get the details if you want as to the parts. It was about $350. They said they have to drop the exhaust to do it.

PaulW

They obviously didn't do it. Yes, yes, yes, yes you need the tranny filter changed.

I really believe that foreign material can get in the filter and then starve the oil pump/torque converter of oil and that's what causes the metallic squeal from the tranny.

If you did do the filter change, they would of dropped the pan (and had to drop the exhaust). However, you wouldn't get all the oil out because half of it is still in the torque converter.

Within the next six months, have them order the parts (or get them for $19.95 from audipages.com Wendy Hager) and have them do the filter service. When they do the second drain and fill with the filter, you will have changed all of your ATF out for the most part.

Another $350, but $0.01 on the $1.00 in the long run.

If they did the filter, I would still recommend you doing another fluid change in six months.

Dealers are really bad at understanding customer purchase orders or requests. You need to change the filter to complete the job.

pw

ultradub

Paul how often do you recommend the ATF fluid being replaced and the filter?

ryoung

.
I 100% agree that if the tranny is acting at all flaky, change the fluid (maybe twice because of the fluid retained in torque converter) and filter.

But how does the filter look at 50k miles? If good, for normal transmission maintenance, what do you think of the following,

1. 50k miles -- change fluid and filter
2. 100k miles -- change fluid only
3. 150k miles -- change fluid and filter
4. 200k miles -- change fluid only
etc

The silly reason for the suggestion is that this is what I did with the ZF transmission on my Range Rover. For an ATF change only, I didn't even need ramps to change the fluid. The RR's got enough ground clearance to just crawl under and do it. Changing the filter was a real pain. Even with the 100k filter interval, though, it always came out spotless.

My sister has the RR now, and it's approaching 250k miles trouble-free miles (at least mechanically, the Lucas electricals are something else). BTW: Land Rover also recommended never changing the ATF :-(

PaulW

If you start at 50K miles, I think that is great, would be my recommendation too

PaulW

After 50K both filter and oil, maybe only once I.A.W. Randy's post....looks great!