DIY- DSG Oil and filter change

[dex140]

Hi,
Perhaps someone can help.

My dsg oil is due for a change. I quite a proficient DIY mechanic so would be confident doing this myself however i dont have VCDS which from watching some videos on youtube is required.

So i guess my question is has anyone changed the DSG oil without using VCDS to check the levels?

Myy understanding is that the rough procedure is as follows:

- Remove battery etx to gain access to filter
-Remove filter housing and old filter and replace new unit
- Remove dsg sump plug..drain
-remove snorkel bit....drain
-replace snorkel
-using the DSG refillitng tool fill roughtly 4.5l into the sump
-cycle dsg box through all gears
-Remove filling tube and allow any overfill of oil drip out
-refit sump plug and jobs done

I have also read you can drain the box then refill trhough the filter housing

Can anyone offer any advice?

 

[jaydav2306]

After watching this being done on mine and the fact you need VCDS for the levels and the temps, no way in hell I'd ever rish doing mine myself, also looks like you need some method of getting the oil up and in, best of luck though

 

[dex140]

yeah ...im on the fence atm, i would just like to hear from someone who had done it already!

 

[G"MAN]

I have done mine on my drive way at both set intervals 40k-80k after speaking to my friend who is a master audi tech he does advise that you should really get it done buy the ppl that know if your not sure.

but anyway.. what i done was levled the car out on stands first as it has to be levle to get corect oil readings.

then done what you have put bassically but i filled through the filter housing after draining the old oil out till no more came out (i left over night to drain ) i then put plug back in with snorkle.
i then measured the old oil that came out and turned out was 4.4lts so all the oil was out..i then placed 4.5lts back in thrught the filter housing this takes a long time as the hole is very small.
when that was done i then put filter back on started the engine went through all the gears and left in each for around 3-5 seconds in each with foot on the brake.
the requied temp is 35'c-45'c from what i got told and on tick over this takes roughly 20-30min to get to that temp.if you dont have a vagcom (my friend has done many of these and knows the time of by heart lol i do now too lol) i dont have one.
i then opened the drain plug with the engine running (be carefull of the hot oil) you will get oil coming back through the snorkle as its getting the corect levle this way..
once the oil starts to drip out put the plug back in and turn off engine...

and there ya go its done..

simple as that mate.

like i said i have done it both times this way and have never had a problem..

its up to you though what route you take..

but hope it helps.
G

 

[MrLapou]

Ive done DSG oil and fiter change to (Mk5 Golf GTi).
Only need VCDS to keep an eye on oil temp.

Oh and do not be fooled by parts person in buying more than 5 litres of oil. When filled from new, box needs about +6 litres. Draining using the sump plug/removal of snorkel still leaves some oil in the box, hence most will need about 4.3 to 4.8 litres.

G"MAN's method seems sound.

This is what oil looked like after only 28k miles. Right ~ New, Left ~ Old.

I made up my own rig, but you can buy one an enema kit. Do not laugh, it's works a treat to.
Buy a spare DSG plug, drill hole and epoxy into the barbed pipe fitting.

Home made rig.

Use this for a more off the shelve method.

Best Care Enema Travel Kit 1-Litre
can be had for about £9 from other places.

 

[OCD-A3]

I had a good laugh at the enema kit!


I've changed my fluid three times now, mostly by the book. One thing I've found is that you can change the filter without removing the battery. The engine cover/intake needs to come off, and you'll need a long extension to loosen the filter. Then just snake the filter out towards the rear of the engine bay- it's a tight squeeze, but doable.

I would not recommend skipping the Vag-com... The reason why they use 6L of oil is because it expands when it gets hot. You put extra in at ambient temp, and as it gets up to operating temp the excess runs out. If it doesn't get up to temp before you seal it you'll have too much fluid (and possibly too much pressure.)

It is possible to get more than 4.5L out- drain the old fluid with the front of the car jacked up, then set the car down before filling it. Seems that mine takes between 5-5.5L that way.

I can't comment on filling from the top, through the filter housing. Never tried it, and I don't know why it wouldn't work just as well, but if there's no downside it seems like Audi would've just put a filler up there (like maybe right next to the filter they put up top!)

Good luck if you decide to DIY! Just allow yourself plenty of time. :thumbup:

 

[PH1L]

suppose you could use this method to refill a mechatronic unit, i just did one sunday what a ballache 1.5 hours to fill the thing with fluid T_T

 

[dex140]

Im still on the fence! Simply becasue the DSG seems a sensitive piece of kit! uts had a quote from a VAG specialist and the quoted £120 so may take that route instead! Hopefully by the next tiem its due i have stopped being a tight sod an bought VCDS!

 

[jaydav2306]

suppose you could use this method to refill a mechatronic unit, i just did one sunday what a ballache 1.5 hours to fill the thing with fluid T_T

This is a good point, when is the mechatronic fluid due a change because I am ******** if it says anything in my box, yet the service schedule has a tick box for mechatronic fluid?

 

[jaydav2306]

Im still on the fence! Simply becasue the DSG seems a sensitive piece of kit! uts had a quote from a VAG specialist and the quoted £120 so may take that route instead! Hopefully by the next tiem its due i have stopped being a tight sod an bought VCDS!

£120 seems like a good price, I paid £180 but to be honest I don't trust my car with anyone now except TTS so I don't mind that it cost that, at least I know it's done properly

 

[dex140]

£120 seems like a good price, I paid £180 but to be honest I don't trust my car with anyone now except TTS so I don't mind that it cost that, at least I know it's done properly

Yeah last thing i need is for the DSG to drop its **** out! Gonna get it booked in i think!

 

[MrLapou]

With the cost of oil and filter around £80, £120 to have it done my a trusted Indy is a no brainer ~~ Indy

In the early days around 2003 when the DSG/S-Tronic boxes first came on the market VW/Audi would charge stupid money for the oil change like £350..!!

 

[210_MIH]

Sorry to post randomly, I have mine booked in for this weekend...how much of a difference does it make to the car once you've had the DSG oil changed?

 

[jaydav2306]

Sorry to post randomly, I have mine booked in for this weekend...how much of a difference does it make to the car once you've had the DSG oil changed?

I had mine done early at 35K and to me the shift on the paddles seemed quicker, more responsive and smoother, to the point where I think i'm going to do an oil change every 10K instead of 38K!

 

[PH1L]

This is a good point, when is the mechatronic fluid due a change because I am ******** if it says anything in my box, yet the service schedule has a tick box for mechatronic fluid?

i know the 7 speed boxes are filled with lifetime fluid and arent serviced couldnt say on the 6 speed ones, its an easy job just a pia and vagcom is a must

 

[jaydav2306]

Just a bit worrying it dosent say in the book! I bet Audi have never even taken notice of it either, makes you wonder if there is any chance of the unit packing up through not having an oil change