- 11/28/2014
- 2 Min Read
- By: Chris Stovall
How to Change Transmission Fluid on a Non-DSG Volkswagen/Audi
It seems that the newer the car, the less serviceable it is. New Audis don't even come with an oil dipstick! The transmission dipstick was phased out years ago, and transmissions were equipped with “lifetime fluid.” Fast forward to today, and this “lifetime fluid” is dirty, your car shifts terribly, and it's time for a service.
Replacing your own transmission fluid and filter is certainly more complicated than it used to be, but it's still pretty straightforward and can be done in a few hours with a few tools. You'll need your parts – ATF (this varies between transmissions so make sure you order the right one), a filter, and a pan gasket. You'll need your tools too – a T27 socket, a T30 socket, a 17 mm allen socket, an 8 mm allen socket, and infrared temp gun, a good torque wrench, and a lot of rags.
First, make sure the transmission pan is not above 40 degrees celsius with your temp gun. Ideally, you would do this on a dead cold car, but up to 40 is okay in my experience. VW says you should start under 30, but by the time you're all said and done if you start at 40, the transmission is usually cooled off to around 30. When you lift it up, make sure it's level and in Park. If it's not level, the fluid level reading won't be accurate, and you'll be either overfilled or underfilled.
Next, pull the drain plug, and marvel over the death of your lifetime fluid. It's filthy, smells weird, and tastes even worse. Let it all drain out, and then put the drain plug back in. If there's a harness clipped to the pan, disconnect it.
Pull the T27 bolts off the pan, leaving four in on the corners. Loosen those, but leave them in a few threads. A cordless driver makes this entire process much easier. Make sure the pan drops down, and persuade it if it is stuck.
Leave the corner bolts in. It makes everything easier.
With one hand on the pan pushing it up, pull the four bolts out and bring the pan down. There's still a good amount of fluid left in the pan, so let it down slow and level. Take a good look at your transmission – it looks pretty cool.
Pan removed - looks pretty cool.
Pull the filter off with the two T30 bolts. Make sure the little rubber collar comes out with the old filter, or the new one won't go in.
A clean pan is a happy pan. Make sure to put the magnets back in the same place.
Clean the pan, and be thorough. Clean all the magnets, clean all the old fluid out, clean the gasket material off the pan. If you're using rags, make sure there's no fibers left in the pan. Clean, clean, clean.
Beautiful new filter
Put the new filter in, and tighten the bolts to 5 Newton meters – not too tight. Make sure the transmission side is dry where the gasket will contact it – if it's not dry on reassembly, it won't seal properly.
Put the gasket on the pan loosely, and start putting it back together. Don't tighten the first bolt all the way tight - the gasket probably won't be lined up with the rest of the holes, so it needs to be able to be shifted. Put the rest of the bolts in, and torque them to 10 Newton meters – again, not a lot. Volkswagen recommends tightening them in a diagonal sequence, so do it that way.
Reconnect the harness if you had to disconnect it, and get ready to fill it and check the level. Fill the pan until fluid comes out, then start the car and fill it up again, until fluid comes out with the engine running.
Fill it until it pours out
Put the fill plug back in, and get back in the car. With your foot firmly on the brakes, put the transmission in each position for at least ten seconds, and then return it to Park. Hop out and check the fluid again. Top it up, then plug it up. Let it run until the temperature reaches 35 degrees Celsius, checking it with the temp gun. Pull the fill plug out, and top up if no fluid runs out. If fluid runs out when you pull the fill plug, let is slow to a small stream, then put the fill plug back in.
Make sure nothing's leaking, wash the ATF out of your hair, then go for a road test. It should shift much smoother, and you're good for another lifetime!
