[gerryo619]

Hey guys,
I'm new to this forum. Been at vwvortex for many years but for Touareg info it lacked, so here I am. I bought my wife a used 2011 w/ 37,000 miles (at the time) a few years back and it now has almost 70K. The only maintenance I have done are oil changes every 10K and a simple cabin filter replacement, plus just threw on some new Pirellis. It has given us zero issues and has taken us on several road trips. Needless to say it is time for a major service. I have never taken it to the "stealership" since I don't like getting hosed. I have a good mechanic that does my services on it plus other VWs I own. I have no doubt that he can handle the major service, but I want to make sure I cover all bases. I have been buying parts in the meantime and so far I have the following:
New Spark plugs (oem VW)
VW brake fliud
3 gallons of G13
Mobile 1 oil
Oil filter.
I plan on having him change oil and oil filter, change spark plugs, brake fluid flush, and a coolant flush. I know the 40K service was never done since when it rolled over to 40K the "service now" warning started showing when starting the car and hasn't gone away since! (I know this requires vcds). I've read the recommended services from VW and it also shows to replace fuel filter ever 40K so this also needs to be done, however I am not finding much info on this part or process to change. Also I would like to know if there is anything special that needs to be done when flushing coolant. Does it have some hidden drain, or is it as straight forward as pulling out lowest cooling pipe? Also any other info on anything I should have mechanic check that may not be too obvious. ANY other advice would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks in advance!

 

[gerryo619]

No one huh?

 

[gerryo619]

Matt,
Thanks for the doc. I also have something similar I got online. I noticed that this document doesn't mention anything about a coolant flush and/or a fuel filter replacement. Anyone have additional insight? Thanks

 

[gerryo619]

The tranny fluid is the one thing I am a little hesitant on having my mechanic due. I will ask him if he has done this on Touareg's before, but this part of the maintenance MIGHT be left to a VW/Audi Specialist OR the STEALERSHIP, noooooooooo!!!

 

[gerryo619]

We have a 2011 VR6 that we got from a VW Dealer at 44K with CPO warranty, we now have just turned 89K

At 84K the "Service Now" light came on and I took to VW dealer for reset, they charged me $89 for 1 hour of Labor to hook up to their system, run a complete scan and reset Service Indicator which I thought was really fair price. They claim that with the Touareg VW requires the results of this scan be uploaded to VW Noth America before resetting 40K Service interval.

I change oil/filter every 10K
Cabin Filter every 3 Years
Brake Fluid Flush every 2 Years
VW OEM Plugs at 60K

I will do Coolant at 9 years (2020)
Plan on doing Transmission Fluid/Filter Change in next 3 to 5 months

Our Touareg's have a transmission built in Japan (Asin) and is similar to other 8 speed transmissions in other SUV's but when you do refill your mechanic needs to be able to read tranny fluid temperature through ECU for correct refill, if he can do that it is not a hard job to due but make sure to get correct fluid type.

A lot of items on 40K service are just visual inspects, you action items are the important stuff to keep up on.

Great info. It's nice to see how other people with same exact car are doing their maintenance. So you're actually planning on the tranny flush way before the coolant flush huh? Have you done a coolant flush in the past? Out of curiosity, any idea what dealership might charge for tranny flush? I always like to use that as a starting point. You didn't mentioned fuel filter, what the deal with that??

 

[gerryo619]

The fuel filter for the VR6 is not a recommended replace item like it is on the TDI, I think the fuel filter is part of the fuel pump located inside the gas tank, not really servicable.

The Recommended VW Service for transmission is not a "flush" but the method shown by a member on here with 5 gallon pails is a good method if you want to go that route.

VW service procedure is drop pan, replace filter, reinstall pan with new gasket and refill per the recommended procedure. Unfortunately this only replaces maybe 1/3 of the original fluid but IMO better than nothing.

The VW coolant does not have a replace recommendation from VW, personally I drain and refill 8 to 10 years just to be safe.

So when YOU do the tranny "service" are you going the dealer route where they do what you describe as opposed to the method on the forums with the two buckets etc?

I really find it odd that VW would recommend never changing fuel filter. I can see the hassle in changing it out after watching this youtube video:

This also appears to be a job that any mechanic with any type of skill wouldn't have a problem handling. I have seen the whole plastic piece (housing) with new filter inside sell online for around $125-160. I would think that would make it easier than having to open and install actual filter inside that.

I think for now I'll just go forward with what I was planning. I'll go ahead and have the coolant flush since I already bought the G13. I'll have mechanic also check condition of water pump. I was almost thinking of swapping water pump out as preventative maintenance, but I thought that might be going overboard. I've had to change so many waterpumps in VWs in the past I'm afraid it's only a matter of time that this one will too and rather nip it in the bud before it leaves my wife stranded.