DIY transmission service

hunker7 · #1 23rd February 2019, 05:46 PM

Hi guys, gearbox has started to be a little confused when it comes to choosing gears. After looking at sticky on transmissions it seems to be a fairly straight forward job. I have few questions though;

How tricky is it to do it on stands, as I don't have access to a lift?

Where is best place to get service kit, does kits from Audi carry stupid premium?

Thanks for any input

EDIT: Mine is a 2.8 FWD, 5 speed EBX gearbox code.

MikkiJayne · #2 23rd February 2019, 07:06 PM

Straightforward if you have the right tools. I suspect an epic pain in the posterior if you don't.

If you're going to drop the pan and do the filter then that isn't going to be pleasant on stands since access will be very limited to get to all the bolts out and then clean everything up and put the sump back on properly. If you over-torque the bolts you can bend the oil pan flange which then damages the gasket which then causes leaks so be careful with them - 10Nm. Personally I wouldn't try this job on stands but I'm sure someone on here will have done it who can report on how it went.

To fill it up again you really need a pump which can push the fluid up through the hole. I believe people have contrived solutions using bottles and long hoses, but really the pump is the way to do it. That's £75-100 depending on which one you get. I may consider lending mine if you don't have access to one. You also need VCDS to monitor the gearbox temperature.

Meyle and Febi do gaskets and possibly filters. Don't forget the o-ring for the filter. Audi fluid is about £15 a litre, but Febi also do an equivalent for £8 a litre. I've never tried the Febi myself but having spoken to a few D2 guys in the US they use it all the time so I will be getting some for my next change.

hunker7 · #3 23rd February 2019, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

Straightforward if you have the right tools. I suspect an epic pain in the posterior if you don't.

If you're going to drop the pan and do the filter then that isn't going to be pleasant on stands since access will be very limited to get to all the bolts out and then clean everything up and put the sump back on properly. If you over-torque the bolts you can bend the oil pan flange which then damages the gasket which then causes leaks so be careful with them - 10Nm. Personally I wouldn't try this job on stands but I'm sure someone on here will have done it who can report on how it went.

To fill it up again you really need a pump which can push the fluid up through the hole. I believe people have contrived solutions using bottles and long hoses, but really the pump is the way to do it. That's £75-100 depending on which one you get. I may consider lending mine if you don't have access to one. You also need VCDS to monitor the gearbox temperature.

Meyle and Febi do gaskets and possibly filters. Don't forget the o-ring for the filter. Audi fluid is about £15 a litre, but Febi also do an equivalent for £8 a litre. I've never tried the Febi myself but having spoken to a few D2 guys in the US they use it all the time so I will be getting some for my next change.

I know my way around the tool box, and anything I don't have I can buy. Wouldn't a manual pump work?

I would really want to keep to genuine parts on this one, I was quoted £300-350 for a service with genuine parts, just seeing if it's worth doing it myself or better leave it to pros.

Am I right to say you do work on these?

MikkiJayne · #4 23rd February 2019, 07:18 PM

This is the pump I use:

That's a reasonable price as long as they know what they are doing. It's easy to get it wrong.

I do work on D2s yes

hunker7 · #5 23rd February 2019, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikkiJayne

This is the pump I use:

That's a reasonable price as long as they know what they are doing. It's easy to get it wrong.

I do work on D2s yes

PM sent

ainarssems · #6 23rd February 2019, 07:35 PM

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HYDRAULIC...xBOh:rk:7:pf:0

moltuae · #7 7th March 2019, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hunker7

I was quoted £300-350 for a service

That sounds very expensive.

I have mine serviced every year at Mackie Transmissions (who are arguably the best in the country) for around £155 (inc. VAT).

MikkiJayne · #8 7th March 2019, 07:56 AM

Thats a good price from Mackies. Do they drop the pan and change the filter or use the machine to exchange the oil?

moltuae · #9 7th March 2019, 09:39 AM

I've just checked my last invoice but it doesn't say, though I'm fairly sure they drop the pan. I did ask once and, IIRC, they said that they replaced the filter and even analysed the old transmission fluid to check for signs of mechanical wear.

The last couple of annual services I've had at Mackie's were a requirement of the warranty agreement (on the gearbox rebuild they did for me a few years ago), so I would imagine they'd want to make sure those services were pretty thorough, partly because they're going to want to give the gearbox the best chance of outlasting the warranty and partly because it's a mandatory service that needs to be performed, regardless of cost, in order to preserve the warranty.

I have had quotes for a full 'fluid and filter' service from local transmission specialists in the past. Most were about the same price as Mackie or marginally more expensive, so I would say £150-£200 seems to be about the norm. When I factor-in the 400 mile round-trip, overnight accommodation and sight-seeing, my annual trip to Mackie gets quite expensive, but for me it's worthwhile and reassuring, knowing that if they find something wrong it's in the right place to get it fixed.