I thought, with the arrival of the T3, that VW had made the gearbox ATF change a service item at 60,000 miles/96,000 kliks.

If towing makes up a big percentage of your mileage, then I think you are on the right lines to change it at 60,000 kliks.

 

I don't think my service guide mentions the transmission and was under the impression that it was a "lifetime" sealed unit too.

However when I was browsing parts.com I noticed that they do sell a replacement teams filter element. This leads me to believe that there is a procedure somewhere for the drain/fill of it.

 

It depends what you consider a "lifetime". In my book no fluid cal last a lifetime, especially an ATF.

 

I asked the service advisor last night when I was at the dealership for my oil change. He checked the guide and told me there is no scheduled interval on our T3's. I explained that I do tow a small travel trailer on a regular basis and he immediately suggested if it was his Touareg he would do an interval of 45k miles. He followed up with: we have never done a transmission fluid change on a Touareg, so you will need to make you schedule it for 2-days.. Not really confidence inspiring; albeit he was honest about it.

I wonder if Audi or Porsche publishes an interval?

 

According to the shop Forman I deal with VW say lifetime is 120,000 miles.

 

ATF oil is easily changeable in T3. I shall be doing it at some point. I tow a bit and if nothing else want the piece of mind its done. Can only do good giving it some fresh clean fluid. Download the OEM service info on how to change it from Erwin. Only costs a few Euros for as much as you can download in 1 hour.

 

Can you post up the procedure?

I'd like to tackle this on my rig too.

 

For MY 2008, Porsche recommends 240,000 km or 16 years.

http://www.porsche.com/filestore.as...ype=download&id=porschecentrenetwork-bmarket-cayenne&lang=none&filetype=default

 

I just had mine changed at 75000 km. Fact is that ATF degrades over time and through use. Given the price of a tranny repair, what's to debate about a fluid change? I do notice that the tranny shifts silky smooth after the change, better than before.

 

Same debate as changing engine oil every 3K vs 10K. No harm (unless done wrong) but not required.

 

The issue with ATF is the rate of oxidation.

None of us know what that is as it's temperature dependent.

Thus a car used in a cool climate on long constant speed journeys will oxidise its ATF far later than a car used in hot climates in stop-go heavy traffic or one towing heavy caravans around the likes of the outback in Australia.

For what it costs why wouldn't you undertake prudent preventative maintenance at sensible mileage intervals based on your own style of driving and type of journeys - and most certainly not after 16 years!

 

You're assuming the lubricant will oxidize at a faster rate to the point of losing its lubricating properties causing mechanical failure.

The oils of today are nothing like oils of decades ago.

I'm sure the engineers understand the kind of duty the transmission will do in its useable life. That's why you see them testing these vehicles in extreme cold and heat.

16 years is a rather odd number. There's no doubt they also baked in a buffer to it as well.

I understands preventative maintenance is good but some suggesting replacing it multiple times even before you are half way to the recommended interval seems useless.

It's the equivalent of suggesting we change our motor oil at 1,500 miles versus the 10,000 recommendation.

 

It's your $8,000 autobox at risk, not mine! Let us know what happened when your car turns 16!!

 

Or is it your $8,000 auto box that is at greater risk by mistakenly re-installing the gaskets?

http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/s...m/forums/showthread.php?p=1209545#/forumsite/20553/topics/206729?postid=1209545

I'm not saying don't do it. Just think we are making interval recommendations on here that aren't based on anything other than sticking our finger up in the air.

 

That's a one-off and doesn't support your argument against changing the ATF at all.

Many boxes have had their ATF changed around 60-90K when the valve chest delivers the BIG BANG and owners have had no problems thereafter.

Many people have just changed their ATF and are happier with the performance of their box afterwards too.

These boxes are not "sealed for life" at all and need the ATF changed after reasonable use.

 

Well that certainly stirred up the hornets nest!!
We wouldn't be having this discussion if those crazy German Engineers just said something like "change the ATF every 100K Km, or every 60K Km if in adverse climates or towing heavy caravans". But No!. They have to say "Fit for life", which in my opinion is bordering on being irresponsible. But then, these are the same Engineers who say we can tow up to 3500Kg, with a towball weight of up to 280Kg, but don't you dare use any form of weight distribution or load leveling device or you risk ripping the tow hitch out of the vehicle. I mean, how hard would it be to engineer additional bracing and strengthening into the tow bar mounting points at the time of manufacture, so owners don't have to have these endless debates about using/not using a WDH?
Back on topic now.
I have read the excellent pictorial post on CT, describing the full process of dropping the pan, cleaning the magnets and screen, etc., etc., but decided it was too much for me to attempt; hence my original question. However, Drag(Mark), has suggested that at 60K km, I don't need the full treatment, just a relatively simple drop the oil and refill (NO pan off). Thanks Drag, I will go that way for now, and hopefully by 100K Km there will be a few more dealerships/VW specialists who have carried out the full process, so they don't have to learn on my car.

 

Thanks Drag, I will go that way for now, and hopefully by 100K Km there will be a few more dealerships/VW specialists who have carried out the full process, so they don't have to learn on my car.

There's nothing different about changing the Touareg'a ATF versus say the DSG (which is required every 40K btw and I did it at 40. Not 10K but I digress).

The VW dealer saying they've never done it probably doesn't mean they don't know how. Plenty of other models do require ATF changes and it works the same way. Drain. Drop pan. Clean Magnets. Change Filter. Refill.

 

Further to my posts in the following thread, regarding getting the ATF changed;
http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/f67/list-of-auz-wide-mechanics-for-treg-nomads-225569-3.html

My preferred method for ATF change in the 8 speed Aisin gearbox is the two buckets technique, as described in very good detail in CT. However, it is way beyond my level of competence, especially as I am 5000Km from home, and do not have any support readily available. I considered getting an Auto Transmission specialist to perform a full flush and replacement, but could not find any who have worked on the 8 speed Aisin in the T3 Touareg.

I finally decided to get Philip at Eurospec Automotion in Perth to change my ATF. He had not worked on an 8 speed Aisin previously, so there was a lot to discover as he proceeded. We agreed that he would drop the pan, and also loosen the valve body in order to drain as much ATF as possible.

On removing the pan, he found that the oil was in fairly good condition, considering the 82000Km on the odometer, much of which included towing a caravan (TT) of about 2900Kg. The oil was not black, and had what appeared to be relatively good colour. There was very little sediment on the magnets, and no sign of any fine metallic particles.
http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=159242&stc=1&d=1474460902
http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=159250&stc=1&d=1474460902

The next surprise was the presence of a filter. All my searching in CT indicated that the “filter” would be a stainless steel mesh, which just had to be cleaned and re-inserted. The filter turned out to be a plastic cartridge housing with some type of fabric mesh inside the housing. As far as he could see, the fabric was in good condition, with no evidence of contamination. Philip rang a transmission specialist who told him that some of the 8 speed Aisins have a steel mesh, and some have the filter, but I have no way of verifying this. The attached photos show both sides of the filter, and a close-up of the inside fabric.
http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=159258&stc=1&d=1474461130
http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=159266&stc=1&d=1474461130
http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=159274&stc=1&d=1474461130


After reassembly, nearly 8 litres of ATF was added, and the level was checked following the recommended ElsaWin procedure. We used Motul VI ATF, which is equivalent to VW G055 540.
See this Link:
https://www.motul.com/system/produc...ct_descriptions/technical_data_sheets/48940/original/ATF_VI_(GB).pdf?1435932694

Finally, the cost of doing this job using a specialist Euro Car mechanic was less than half the estimated cost I was quoted by a VW Dealership. Needless to say, I was very happy with that.

 

Further to my posts in the following thread, regarding getting the ATF changed;

http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/f67/list-of-auz-wide-mechanics-for-treg-nomads-225569-3.html



My preferred method for ATF change in the 8 speed Aisin gearbox is the two buckets technique, as described in very good detail in CT. However, it is way beyond my level of competence, especially as I am 5000Km from home, and do not have any support readily available. I considered getting an Auto Transmission specialist to perform a full flush and replacement, but could not find any who have worked on the 8 speed Aisin in the T3 Touareg.



I finally decided to get Philip at Eurospec Automotion in Perth to change my ATF. He had not worked on an 8 speed Aisin previously, so there was a lot to discover as he proceeded. We agreed that he would drop the pan, and also loosen the valve body in order to drain as much ATF as possible.



On removing the pan, he found that the oil was in fairly good condition, considering the 82000Km on the odometer, much of which included towing a caravan (TT) of about 2900Kg. The oil was not black, and had what appeared to be relatively good colour. There was very little sediment on the magnets, and no sign of any fine metallic particles.

http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=159242&stc=1&d=1474460902

http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=159250&stc=1&d=1474460902



The next surprise was the presence of a filter. All my searching in CT indicated that the “filter” would be a stainless steel mesh, which just had to be cleaned and re-inserted. The filter turned out to be a plastic cartridge housing with some type of fabric mesh inside the housing. As far as he could see, the fabric was in good condition, with no evidence of contamination. Philip rang a transmission specialist who told him that some of the 8 speed Aisins have a steel mesh, and some have the filter, but I have no way of verifying this. The attached photos show both sides of the filter, and a close-up of the inside fabric.

http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=159258&stc=1&d=1474461130

http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=159266&stc=1&d=1474461130

http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=159274&stc=1&d=1474461130





After reassembly, nearly 8 litres of ATF was added, and the level was checked following the recommended ElsaWin procedure. We used Motul VI ATF, which is equivalent to VW G055 540.

See this Link:

https://www.motul.com/system/produc...ct_descriptions/technical_data_sheets/48940/original/ATF_VI_(GB).pdf?1435932694



Finally, the cost of doing this job using a specialist Euro Car mechanic was less than half the estimated cost I was quoted by a VW Dealership. Needless to say, I was very happy with that.

Handy to know as Philip is changing my fluid soon.

Great write up!

 

Good write up and photos. Thank you.

Given what you now know, would you run the box longer next time before changing the ATF [if you're keeping the car]?

 

Good write up and photos. Thank you. Given what you now know, would you run the box longer next time before changing the ATF [if you're keeping the car]?

Hello again Nooby,
I am of the opinion that most "normal" cars with auto transmissions recommend an ATF change at around 60 - 80K Km, so I was concerned about running the Treg much past that distance, especially considering the towing duties. I must say I was pleasantly surprised to hear that the oil looked to be in good condition, but did not feel that I had made the change too early. In any case, once the pan is dropped it's too late to suck it all up and put it back in. Personally, I have gained considerable peace of mind that the very hard working box is running in fresh oil.

 

I comes down to what you consider a lifetime to be.
Obviously with superior maintenance you will get a longer lifetime.

What I'd do, especially if i were doing any towing, is fit an accessory cooler with an inline spin on filter.

 

Good Write up.
I used the 2 bucket method about 6 months ago at 100,000km. The old ATF fluid was very dark compared to the new fluid. Glad I did it.

 

Eastern side of the island? UK, US, etc

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

 

Sorry Chris79,
The island of Australia. I should have made it clearer at the start.
Bill