Gearbox fluid change

[47p2]

Originally Posted by sarg

Are you not going to use some sort of pump for draining and flushing, I thought this was pretty much mandatory to get the job done correctly?

I've spoken to several auto box repairers and also to my mate who was head of MB workshops in Glasgow at great length about this subject. The correct way is to use expensive equipment that very few garages have and drain everything away. This special pump is not available in Scotland that I'm aware of, even MB do not have one. The method MB use is as I've described above, and with two or three flushes should have 90% of the fluid changed. Another method which an auto box repairer said would work was to drain the sump and crack open the pipe to the gearbox cooler then start the engine for a few seconds to empty the TC, but when I mentioned this to my mate he said that MB stopped that method as it was not recommended.

Also from my investigations on this subject it seems the first ATF change is the most important as it removes the worst of the contamination, subsequent changes as not as important. My plan, as is with all my auto boxes is to change the oil and filter then when servicing the car in the future change the oil in the sump, that way it is allowing some fresh oil into the system every 12k-15k

[ainarssems]

Could someone who has Elsawin please have a look for me and check if the crossmemeber has to be removed?

I can have a look later but I do not think it will be there as according to Audi gearbox is sealed for life and filter/fluid changes not applicable. I think there will only be fluid level checking and filling, no removal of sump.

[Adrian E]

Removing the sump and filter drains about 8 litres from the d2 box so I'd expect this to be about the same. Think total capacity is about 9 litres. I figured doing the filter off option got enough out as mines not done many miles. It leaves the TC fluid only in there

Will get mine changed again in a couple of years which should see most of the remaining 'dirty' litre out, assuming it wasn't low on fluid in the first place!

[HPsauce]

This tool looks interesting (from US though) http://www.blauparts.com/proddetail.asp?prod=J91001

[47p2]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

This tool looks interesting (from US though) http://www.blauparts.com/proddetail.asp?prod=J91001

Is this for removing and replacing the fluid? If so it would be contaminated with old fluid and not easy to clean before refilling the box.

Originally Posted by Adrian E

Removing the sump and filter drains about 8 litres from the d2 box so I'd expect this to be about the same.

If the change does 8/9th then that would be an excellent result, it's not usually that good though, more likely to be around 50-60% from my experiences

Originally Posted by ainarssems

I can have a look later but I do not think it will be there as according to Audi gearbox is sealed for life and filter/fluid changes not applicable. I think there will only be fluid level checking and filling, no removal of sump.

Good point, but surely if a new filter was required for whatever reason then it should be on there, after all not all mechanics are smart enough to work it out for themselves

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by 47p2

Is this for removing and replacing the fluid? If so it would be contaminated with old fluid and not easy to clean before refilling the box.

If I was doing it and that bothered me I'd buy two of them and label them appropriately. Cheap enough.

[Adrian E]

I asked my mate to collect and measure how much fluid he got out of my box it was somewhere between 7-8 litres allowing for some spillage etc.

Just removing the drain plug won't get anywhere near as much out, for sure

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by Adrian E

Just removing the drain plug won't get anywhere near as much out, for sure

Which box is that? I thought that there was no drain plug as such (at least on the 5-speed as I have), just the filler plug.
From what I've read you need a special tool (VAS or VAG 1924) to syphon out through that hole then refill back the same way until it just overflows.

[47p2]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

If I was doing it and that bothered me I'd buy two of them and label them appropriately. Cheap enough.

Usually when you remove the top-up-plug there is a blanking plate behind it that doesn't allow draining from the top-up orifice, therefore it is possible this tool would not work. As I have not completely removed the plug on my box yet I cannot say whether the box has the blanking plate, but will let you know once I have.

Originally Posted by Adrian E

Just removing the drain plug won't get anywhere near as much out, for sure

Correct, the sump has to be removed to drain what is left at the bottom of it and also to clean the swarf from the magnets.

Originally Posted by HPsauce

Which box is that? I thought that there was no drain plug as such (at least on the 5-speed as I have), just the filler plug.
From what I've read you need a special tool (VAS or VAG 1924) to syphon out through that hole then refill back the same way until it just overflows.

See the picture I posted earlier today, the 17mm hex is a drain plug, but as been said earlier doesn't allow all the fluid to drain out

[sarg]

Originally Posted by 47p2

I've spoken to several auto box repairers and also to my mate who was head of MB workshops in Glasgow at great length about this subject. The correct way is to use expensive equipment that very few garages have and drain everything away. This special pump is not available in Scotland that I'm aware of, even MB do not have one. The method MB use is as I've described above, and with two or three flushes should have 90% of the fluid changed. Another method which an auto box repairer said would work was to drain the sump and crack open the pipe to the gearbox cooler then start the engine for a few seconds to empty the TC, but when I mentioned this to my mate he said that MB stopped that method as it was not recommended.

The D3 is supposedly not as bad, but the D2 gearboxes are so delicate, I don't think I'd do it any other way than using the specialist gear on a D2.

The wrong process killed my gearbox (well, finished it off at least) on my D2, thanks Vasstech

Tried re-flushing myself after it went wrong, and used almost 20 (TWENTY) litres flushing until I had got ALL the old crap out.