Hi..Thanks for the hint...yes it sound likel a owl kind of :ROFL: and 140k just passed..no matter what gear you at but is definitely not doing that at the 1st gear...when you in the motion and fully step on the gas it hoot...so
Shall i give a go with atf flush+filter? Keep the same atf oil(which one it is actually??or shall i get the lfg8 in?? I am bit worried that something will go wrong with the tranny once new oil is put in as stated on some forums.

A 'hoot' definitely sounds gearbox bad-fluidy.

Full flush could be good. The death of gearboxes after a flush is more associated with the 5 speed D2 boxes. The 6 speed D3 ones do seem generally far more reliable.

Just don't take it to Audi......

D3 Gearboxes are pretty robust but at 140k, an ATF change would be a good move even if you didn't have any issues.
Most important thing here is to make sure you don't give the job to someone that doesn't know what they are doing....
I'm not in the UK but I have used an Audi Dealer to carry out ATF + Filter changes 3 times on my old D3 over the years. They dropped the pan, replaced filter etc. but I think it cost about €500 everytime. The fluid is expensive.

I have the same quandary as you. My car is roughly the same mileage and does the owl hoot thing. It is also not the smoothest, gearchanges can be felt as jerks especially at low speeds.

There is a different fluid that can be put in but it requires a full flush with the new stuff - I think its called lifeguard 8 instead of 6 - then the gearbox needs a software update to deal with the different viscosity and friction coefficients of the different oil. As far as I'm aware the oil has been specially developed for high mileage gearboxes. There is a technical bulletin from Audi for the change.

I also believe that there arent many places that do the full flush - two names consistently come up, one in Glasgow and one in chester and it is very expensive due to the amount of fluid required (double the usual amount).

A question I have tried to get answered is whether a normal fluid and filter change with the same fluid as filled from the factory would restore the gearbox to the smooth slick gearbox it should be or whether it would wreck the box.

The consensus opinion is that maybe it would maybe it wouldnt! The fluid should be inspected first. If it is black and stinks, then there is a good chance that it is the particles of clutch friction material and tiny metallic particles floating around in the fluid that give it sufficient frictional properties to keep the gearbox working and changing for clean new stuff with a new filter will cause it to slip and basically finish it off.

If the oil has never been changed in 140k miles (like mine probably hasnt), its a gamble as to what will happen.

The other possibility; assuming a successful fluid and filter change (drop and clean pan, change filter, torque converter still full, refill with same type of oil) which improves the gearbox function, increases smoothness etc but on a gearbox that was hooting. A question Ive never managed to get an answer for is whether the hooting will still be there and will it further damage the gearbox or will it improve? What damage does the hooting actually do?

I have a good local autobox specialist who i would trust to do a full fluid change and fliter change. I can get the oil at a good price from my dad's work and I already have the filter, so I would just be paying for time. I'm going to take the car in and get some advice from them and see what they think. maybe get a sample taken of the oil to see what condition it is in.

Until I get the hot start problem sorted on this car though I dont want to spend much on it, certainly not the £600+ that I would be charged in glasgow. My A4 cabrio 3.0 tdi has the same gearbox but at only 30k miles. It is smooth as butter, you cant ever feel a gearchange and really is a joy. when you use the paddle shift the gearchanges are totally different, fast and sporty whereas on auto they are clutched in by the TCC giving smooth smooth changes.

Its a lot to think about. I'd be interested to see what you decide and how it work out for you of you go down the route of a standard oil and filter change. It sounds like your gearbox is hooting more often than mine. Mine tends to only really do it around third gear and on high loads, full throttle acceleration and changes going up very steep hills.

gill

Hi

Thank you for the long write up. I just went through the paperwork I received with the car..I am the second former keeper and service book is filled with audi stamps since new. The book say's Audi did ATF change at 37K which was 103k ago. Then the car was off audi's system and maintenance from 74K and returned at 111k(4 years later) I contacted audi and they said they not able to tell what has been done on the car in that period. Since 2011(111k on the clock) until today the car did 38k miles.
The thing is, the car seems to change gears smoothly in all gears but the hoot is just annoying and want to get rid before it become major problem.
£220(ATF oil+filter) is a fixed price at audi if my garage beat Audi's price I will get it change with same fluid over there...If the tranny dies by feb.2018 I will claim the repair through my extended warranty(hopefully)
or
Should I go to audi get it change and if something goes wrong with the tranny within a month or so audi should take a full responsibility as they should be aware not to replace ATF fluid at that high milage car.
What do you think :Confused::Confused:

I'm not aware of anyone doing an oil change (correctly) on a D3 and making the gearbox any worse.

I personally did the 4.2 Tdi that Oli is currently selling at around 100k and it went from pretty good anyway to feeling brand new with a simple oil and filter change, clean of pan etc.

I really can't emphasis enough times not to your use Audi however for the job, as they'll give 'the simple job' to the freshest student in the place who won't give too hoots whether the oil level is spot on, or likely go to the efforts of cleaning the pan.

From distant memory, I think the W12 and 4.2 Tdi use different gearbox oil due to the torque, but the rest are cheaper stuff.....

The hoot will be a semi-blocked filter that is starving the box of oil creating a high pitched sucking sound as its getting air, not oil.

I would imagine the issue can only get worse rather than better if left.

If you speak to a decent transmission specialist, and discuss the symptoms hopefully they will give you some sensible feedback and suggest the best course of action.

Audi won't do this. They have no idea whatsoever about gearboxes. Its a part number. If its bust. They change the whole part...!

Did I mention, don't take it to Audi ?

And don't take it to joe bloggs regular car garage either. This isn't a Toyota.

Take it to a *transmission specialist* who fixes these things day in, day out.

I would be gobsmacked if any 3rd party warranty picked up the whole tab for changing a gearbox on a 100K 10yr+ old car.

A grand, or 2 maybe. After a fight.....I'd check your small print quite carefully..... ?

I am also sceptical about taking it to Audi with knowing how many “freshies” students going to work on my car and not give a s*** about the work done. I wish to have a roof above my car to do it myself It cant be that different than on Chevy truck I use to own.

Yeah I did that..I pay 10% of the repair quote and the claim limit is £1000 plus £50/h labour where the car must be maintained to the manufactures standards (so if something goes wrong after the ATF oil change I should be fine I hope)

PS: I got 6 moths of 3rd party warranty when I bought the car.

£220 sounds "too cheap" for a proper job given the price of the parts required and amount of labour involved. I'd be suspicious.
It's very unlikely but if the gearbox does pack up, I think you'll be well past the £1000 claim limit to get it sorted. I'd be considering finding another D3 at that stage.