Transmission Fluid for 07 3.0 TDi Quattro Tip - Price comparison

[MarkyM]

I did a search on ATF fluid and transmission fluid without much success so thought it would be a good idea to have a single thread listing compatible/correct ATF to use for tiptronic boxes.

As we know Audi main dealers & specialists charge anything from £25-£33 per liter which (many feel) is a little bit of a rip off. Also some places (and posts) state anything between 5-9 liters to refill once tranny sump removed. Note it should be the higher number if the filter/strainer is removed at the same time:

Audi main Stealer
£32.88 inc VAT per liter (Shell M.1375.4/Lifeguard 6) £295.92
£76.06 inc Vat filter/strainer/gasket (£37.73 of which is just the rubber gasket!!)
£371.98 inc VAT total

Bristol Transmissions
£15.60 inc VAT per liter Lifeguard 6
£50.40 inc Vat filter/strainer/gasket (part no BTL2028)
£190.80 inc VAT total

Total saving of £181.18 in parts alone!

Annoyingly I have 10l of Esso LT 171141 (for my Jaguar) in my garage which is effectively Lifeguard 5 which I've been told isn't compatible...boo hoo hiss!!

So anyone found anywhere cheaper for the parts?

 

[fishyfish]

From what I have been told by a local transmission shop and my local VAG indie, you can never manage to change all the fluid, even if you drop the pan, as there is no way to drain the torque converter, so 5-6 litres may actually be closer the mark.

That said, that is a pretty good price for the bits from Bristol Transmissions... I was quoted about 300-ish plus 50 quid labour by the auto transmission guys nearest me, so I may be up for a jaunt to Bristol instead

 

[MarkyM]

Fishy, you're right in about 99% of cases, however there are some transmission places that have the facility to pump new fluid through the torque converter effectively purging it of all old oil...when it runs clean they then stop.

Bristol don't have this but will do the standard job for £280 inc parts/labour/VAT

 

[Ste_Nova]

how often should the fluid be changed?

 

[MarkyM]

ZF say every 80k miles, however if you've bought yours 2nd hand you'll not be aware of how it was used and any problems

For example:

If it has a towbar it's logical to assume it's been used to tow, if so they say every 30k miles if half of that has been towing

If the engine has overheated in the past it can 'cook' the tranny fluid and should immediately be changed (was the case in my Jag where engine overheating defo ****** the tranny fluid). Unsure if this applies to the A6 as haven't spent any time under it to know how close individual components are.

Am doing mine as soon as am flush (PI)