Gearbox Flush
 

At 113,000 miles S8 has gone in for a fluid change today - gulp. Hope it doesn't lead to premature death. The garage have ordered in new *everything*; flanges, seals - the works.

If you don't hear any more from me regarding this, assume the gearbox is okay!

Fingers crossed for you

Mine should be getting done on Friday for 2nd time in my ownership :)

Hi Phil,

Where did you take your S8 for the Gearbox Flush?

Surlingham Garage in.... Surlingham.

They were recommended to me by my father-in-law over 10 years ago and I've used them ever since. Neither cheap nor expensive but the level of service is excellent. I guess that's why they're busy despite being a little out of the way.

If you're thinking of having it done I'd definitely recommend them, especially as they've just done mine so know exactly what's involved for next time. They appreciate having unusual or rare machinery to work on.

I dropped the car off in the morning, drove off in one of their loan cars and by about 2.30 the car was finished.

They've got a website; drop Kevin an email or give him a call. Mention my name and that you'd like the same thing done and take it from there.

My fingers are crossed for you too, as it sounds like these guys, good as they are, probably won't have the correct equipment to flush and filter the oil and the right temperature. Mine's getting done for the second time in my ownership (and it was done once before that), but I've used a specialist with the right machine.

Mine only gets the 'dump what's in there warm, remove sump and change strainer, then refill with correct temperature box' method - but mine's got so little mileage on it the original oil would probably still be alright and it's only done 17k miles since I had it done before

I have read on here the various degrees of flushing but I'm happy that they did the best they could with what they had.

They did spend some time going through the advised procedures beforehand as it's a car they don't get in often - or at all. They work on newer, more complex Audi's every one in a while but nothing this old.

I knew beforehand that they don't have the specialist equipment to properly cleanse the 'box but at least been done at some level. There was nothing wrong with the car before but it does feel a little slicker now, although I'm not 100% it's just my mind playing tricks.

When I first considered the S8 and initially turned it down they were suprised. Apparently they had bets on how quickly I'd buy one after expressing an interest in getting one. They know me better than I know myself.

Right, gearbox flushed etc but now I have a whine at low rpm when cold. After a search on Google it threw up the likely answer to be something to do with the Torque Converter and/or ATF Pump. Here's the symptom and problem as nicely described on another forum (AudiNet I think):

Many tend to make noise with age no matter what...esp at cold idle and low speed.

Mine's a fairly quiet whistle/whir that I only hear at idle and low revving (not past 1500rpm) in P or N, which gets higher pitched with rpm...nothing once I'm moving...I've just accepted it, since the trans works at 100% in all respects..never a thump, slip or hard shift...

Anyway, under the torque converter, at the front of the trans, is the ATF pump...sometimes a notorious noise-maker...some have called it the "D2 Kazoo". A restricted atf filter can overwork the pump causing it to whistle/whir/whine...this is why it’s often recommend to cut off part of the pick-up tube on a new filter installed (they are very close to the bottom of the pan...I measured about 7mm on mine with correct OEM filter).
Also some can make noise due to "cavitation"...air bubbles in the fluid, sometimes caused possibly by overfilled trans foaming the oil...or even overheated or contaminated ATF.

It could also be an installation error. When they bolted the motor/trans together they did not pushed the TC against the flex plate, they used the 3 TC bolts to pull the TC. It creates a tension in the flex plate. The only way to fix it to loosen the 3 bolts and re-tighten them.

Anyone else have this and found that the above is the solution?

I seem to remember seeing somewhere that there are 2 different filters and if you fit the wrong one it is too close to the bottom of the sump and makes the pick up struggle to work properly so it may well be that - check the part number on your filter and make sure it is correct because if it isnt you may be doing the change again +++

Whine when cold could be a symptom of being a little low on fluid. When it gets hot and expands, it no longer cavitates and the noise goes away.

Its really quite vital that the oil is refilled/checked at the correct temperature to ensure there is the right amount put in +++

Thanks for the advice chaps.

It's going in again on Wednesday for a cam belt change and I've asked that they look at the gearbox again. I don't like telling someone how to do their job but as this is involves a D2 auto box I will ask that they double check that everything is correct.

If anyone happens to know the part number of the correct filter that would be a great help too.

After all that, the gearbox just needed a little top up. All is well:)

that was close, that's the risk you take when taking it to people which are not used with the common procedure of filling it up, they probably filled it up while the T was over 40C, so it got in less than it should've.

Anyways, if all good now, that's what counts. I am about to do mine this weekend on the RS6 and i am also a bit worried since this is a second gearbox in its life and it was fitted by Audi 87k miles ago and never head an oil change since and i hope i won't speed up its deaths, as some say when doing an oil change at high mileage.

I guess yours is now doing alright? how many miles have you driven it since service?

my S8 is due cambelt change and MOT soon, so may well check out this garage that you recommend. how much did they charge for the cambelt job?
it's probably something i could do myself without too much difficulty, but i dont have a workshop any more (until we move) :(