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T3 Transmission flush idea, with wonderful drawings.

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Discussion starter · #21 ·
Thought I'd give a little update while I wait on my tranny fluid. It is "on vehicle for delivery" as i type... but not here yet.

55,400 miles on my Touareg, I just bought it about a month ago. Being a 2012 I suspected mostly interstate miles. It has definitely never towed, as the hitch and eyelets didn't have a scratch and the original electrical grease was in a bead in the wiring hookup.

I started with the front dif fluid this morning, it came out looking like new, just out of the bottle appearance. It seemed like a waste of $34 in fluids when I changed it.

Then Xfer case, it had some brown color to it, looked nice and used, it seemed to need a change.

Finally rear Dif fluid, not as clear as the front, but not as bad as the Xfer case, in between the two in color. Probably about due, but certainly not past due.


Then on to the "Lifetime" transmission fluid. Keep in mind 55,400 highway miles with no towing. Only 2 years old. Granted, I have not seen the color of the new fluid yet, since it hasn't arrived. But, I have never seen tranny fluid this ugly and brown out of one of my vehicles before. I would certainly call it due to past due. Pic attached in the white bowl is the tranny fluid.

I am all set to try my change method, all other pics attached. Top cooler hose is outbound, I decided to help the inbound by adding a spout to the bucket and gravity feeding it from up high.

I will keep you all posted, it will happen today one way or another.
 

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#24 ·
almstsobur said:
Pure genius if I do say so myself. It worked absolutely perfectly. At about 10.5 quarts it started running through clean.
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I've heard about the two bucket car wash but never for a gearbox!!

Well done.
 
Discussion starter · #25 ·
e90diesel said:
Very cool! What brand of fluid did you purchase? Vendor? How long did it take to pump 10.5 qts?

Just curious, did you clean out the pan and reinstall the old fluid before the flush?
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I used genuine VW/Audi G 055 540 A2 12 Liters @ $20/L from ECS tuning.

It took about 3-4 minutes, maybe less to flush it all.

No, I did not drop the pan this time. I will change it again in another 40k, the next time I will drop the pan, change the filter, clean the magnets and then flush with this same procedure. I've pulled a few tranny pans in my day and I don't expect the magnets or filter to be bad at 50k.
 
Discussion starter · #26 ·
noobytoogy said:
I've heard about the two bucket car wash but never for a gearbox!!

Well done.
Click to expand...
Thank You. It's was really very easy once I had all the ducks in a row. Hose/clamps/buckets etc. I think next time I will also order 2 new Orings at the tranny/cooler lines. They seemed fine, but I hate taking things apart and not replacing simple things like O-rings. I will keep an eye on it for a few days, make sure there is no leaks at the cooler. But if anyone else does this method ... get the orings, just to be safe.
 
#28 ·
almstsobur said:
I think that's a matter of opinion. VW claims never, I would say 40,000-60,000 miles. Closer to 40k if your towing, lot's of stop n' go or unusually hard on it. Closer to 60k if it lives a fairly highway bound easy life.
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I would agree. I did mine at 80K and the condition of the fluid and inside of the pan was disgusting, the sooner the better, even 60K may be pushing it.
 
Discussion starter · #30 ·
mghamms said:
What size tube did you use?
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1/2" ID. Make sure it's clear you will need to see what's going on, fluid travel, air etc. Prime the air out of the clean fluid hose. Also 1/2" is not snug enough on the cooler hose without hose clamps. I got the hose at Lowe's $7 for 10' clamps at Lowe's also $.69 for 2
 
Discussion starter · #32 ·
3.6T-REG said:
How much fluid came out when you first pulled the cooler lines? This seems like a very innovative way to do a complete fluid change of the transmission

Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App
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Negligible amount maybe a quarter of a liter. Make sure you do it cold though so the cooler thermostat isn't open. I really didn't do this to avoid the "normal" way. I did this because the normal way only gets 1/3 of the old fluid, I consider that a waste of time. My old man always said do it right, do it once.
 
Discussion starter · #33 ·
By the way; If anyone else gives this a shot ... normal disclaimers apply. It's your car, your expensive tranny. Use common sense and don't do it alone. You will need someone at the key control so you can watch the fluid flow. If the buckets are getting more than a liter out of sync I would shut her down and figure out why. It does seem to drain just a little faster than it fills, but if need be you can shut it off and let it slowly fill more with gravity (at a much slower flow) till you are in sync again. I did this once, but in hindsight I don't think I needed too, I was just being careful and borderline paranoid. Mine never got more than a liter out of sync, and I was able to make it exact once the fluid came clean I shut it down and let the last bit of clean fluid flow in gravity wise.

It actually works out well, because you know the exact amount that came out a little before you finish filling, so you can be very exact about putting in the same amount that came out. Then it should be at least at a safe level to self bleed it and then do the proper level check procedure.
 
#36 ·
Moved to DIY forum, made it a sticky. Nice work - thank you for sharing.
 
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#37 ·
Great job. I was trying to figure out a way to do this myself. Also, I figured out that Mobil ATF 3309 is equivalent to G 055 540 A2 (VWs spec ATF for the Aisin 8 spd trans). A little under $6 a quart versus $20.
 
Discussion starter · #38 ·
Nordschleife said:
Great job. I was trying to figure out a way to do this myself. Also, I figured out that Mobil ATF 3309 is equivalent to G 055 540 A2 (VWs spec ATF for the Aisin 8 spd trans). A little under $6 a quart Gresham $20.
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Thank you. I'm not so sure about the 3309 though. I looked into it and a few other fluids myself before I decided to order the factory fluid. I see the older gen 052 spec and the 025, but not the 055 540. Being a 100k powertrain warranty I wasn't willing to risk it. Even Amsoil and Royal Purple point you to factory fluid....

http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Other_Products/Mobil_ATF_3309.aspx#
 
Discussion starter · #40 ·
Yeah, I wish Mobil or someone would make that spec. $20/L is outrageous, but I guess the alternative of not changing it would be even more expensive. I use Mobil 1 as my engine oil and in a lot of my vehicles, I would have complete faith if they listed that spec. I've never heard of Gulf Dexron VI ... but I would assume if it lists the spec it has to meet or exceed OEM.
 
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