Dare I get the transmission fluid changed

[mannyo]

I wonder if I would be tempting fate with my 2001 facelift 3.7QS.

The car has covered just shy of 175,000 miles now, and going through the reams of paperwork I got with the car its never had a fluid change in its lifetime or for that matter any gearbox work either.

Car currently drives fine, there are no strange noises from the transmission on startup, gear changes seem smooth and trouble free.

I'll hopefully be driving the car across Spain from Santander to Malaga in a few months, assuming the MOT throws no spanners into the works and I dont really want the car to breakdown whilst in Spain.

So do I chance getting it the fluid and filter changed, and who can I trust. I have read about Ben doing a few changes, but would it be worth travelling from Dorset / Hertfordshire to get it done.

[Adrian E]

My mate in Sussex could do it for you, but to be honest I don't think I'd chance it unless you're prepared to potentially pay for a new box shortly after. At that mileage its probably a better bet to put any money towards a replacement box, or a replacement car

I'm having my 04 a6 box done on Friday (it's done 55k miles with no previous work) and I'm hoping the speed it moves from D to R will improve. Had my s8 done fairly recently but it's done 130k less than yours so worth doing....

[PsYcHe]

Might be OK.. But as Adrian says, at that mileage (especially if it's behaving), then I'd save towards a replacement. FL boxes are more prone to catastrophic failures than the preogressive ones of the PF.

[sarg]

I would definitely leave it be, put the money aside to budget for a new box.

I had my ATF changed one week before a ferry booking to France, thinking the same as you are, the gearbox failed terminally three days after the ATF change

[christhompson]

Re your Santander to Malaga - are you taking the Ruta del Plata? Nice drive. We'll be in Jerez de la Frontera for much of April. Expat mini-meet in Zahara de las Atunas?

PS Mine shows no bills for tranny fluid change up to now at 322,000km - but the 2.5 diesel puts less strain on the box

[mannyo]

Originally Posted by christhompson

Re your Santander to Malaga - are you taking the Ruta del Plata? Nice drive. We'll be in Jerez de la Frontera for much of April. Expat mini-meet in Zahara de las Atunas?

We will indeed, drove it last year in my old car when we stayed just outside Huelva.

Route this year will be, Santander - Valladolid - Salamanca, down to Seville, then Jerez before heading towards Algeciras and the coast road. Will be in spain for nearly 3 weeks from mid June.

[christhompson]

Close but no cigar. Re-gas the climate control!