RS246.com Forum :: The World's #1 Audi R, S and RS Enthusiast Community

Hi all,
i`m new to this so be gentle with me please.
Having had my RS6 for neally 3 years i`ve decided to look about getting the geabox oil changed thanks to this site hence i`ve now joined.
Living in South London thought i would do some ringing around and start asking the right questions. The prices i`ve been quote are anything from £300 to £400. Then a friend who has a sl55 mentioned about using a gearbox specialist which he uses in Wimbledon (croydon automatics) , so i phoned them up and to my suprise when i told them what car it was they informed me it was a ZF gearbox and everthing about it. When i asked how much they charge for a gearbox oil change on the RS6 he informed me that they charge £130 and that included the filter and gasket. Ive spoke to a few people about this place and it seems they are very helpful, experienced and been in the gearbox bussiness for over 30 years.
Has anybody here ever used croydon automatics in Wimbledon?

Ask them what ATF they're putting in. £130 seems too cheap.

I'm getting mine done at MRC next month at the same time as a service and a map. The gearbox oil change is £230+vat.

My indy is doing my box for £130 too (plus £340 for 20k service). They have been good to me so far so i'm gonna trust them with the box. I believe all the specs for correct oils / fluids are on the database anyway so i'd guess that they would use the correct stuff. My indy just brings it up on the screen and it tells him what to use and how long it should take, that way we both know where we stand.

Are there variations in ATF fluid used in these cars?

The ATF is pretty critical. I personally only put OEM fluid in. I'm sure the ZF equivalent would be fine. I wouldn't put any Happy Shopper ATF in though.

I got my RS6 gear box serviced at Stephens Engineering (Auto Specialists) in Ware - 20 mins from Enfield - They have been in the automatic gearbox trade for 20 years. Trust only the few with your pride and joy- also asked him to check it in general to assit if any warranty issues!! Great personal service

spoke to croydon automatics today, and asked them a few more bits, when i told him the box was a ZF 5HP24 i was informed by them that these boxes have been around for along time and are also fitted to range rovers, BMW X5 and quite a few others. Now when i told him i was informed that these boxes have been tweeked to go in the RS6, they told me well "if thats what they have told you" . On another point he did say that these boxes are very good but do have some weak points. When i asked about the aft fluid they use it was mutigrade dexron (dunno if spelt right) but said am welcome to bring Audi fluid but assures me its the same.
I then asked about flushing the box which they do not do, and reckons most gearbox specialist don`t do it as this would take around 20 ltrs of oil and that alone will cost £200, and really a waste of time and money.
i must admit they do seem to know there stuff when speaking to them, but a friend is gettimg his done tomorrow so will see what they are like.

bigboystoy wrote: I then asked about flushing the box which they do not do, and reckons most gearbox specialist don`t do it as this would take around 20 ltrs of oil and that alone will cost £200, and really a waste of time and money.

I would want to know how they get most of the oil out though, if they end up leaving say 30% of the old oil in the box then that is going to contaminiate the new stuff significantly. If you're going to the expense of getting the oil changed you want it done right.

Personally I know next to nothing about changing the oil in these boxes, other than what I've heard on this forum about the difficulty in getting all the oil out of them when changing the oil - and that I've heard it's also an issue with auto legnums....

Then don't even get that much out. At least 40% will remain in the box. The only way to get most of it out (without removing the TC) is to flush it by doing it several times. Let's say the 1st time 40% remains in. The 2nd time, 40% of 40% remains in = 16%. The 3rd time 6% remains, etc. etc.

I have heard of a "transfuser" that taps into the ATF cooler pipes, but I don't know of anyone that's had it done. Of course, if you just transfuse, then you don't change the filter and magnets...

My mate was telling me that with the Legnum one approach is to remove the drain plug and when no more oil is coming out turn then engine over by hand - but make sure you don't keep doing that once the box is dry! But how do you know when the box is dry...eeek!

But that info is at least third hand and relates to another kind of car so I have no idea if it could apply to ours.

Won't make any difference. There's no drain plug in the torque converter on the RS6. The only way you'll get any more out is by tipping the car up 90°.

Shoppinit wrote: The only way you'll get any more out is by tipping the car up 90°.

... and give it a shake.

More hassle than it's worth (trying to get every last drop out).

Just add 10p per mile to the running costs and budget for a new box every 50k miles. Tongue in cheek!

Rupert wrote: Just add 10p per mile to the running costs and budget for a new box every 50k miles. Tongue in cheek!

That's actually quite a good idea. Actually, make it 20p to cover intercoolers, MAFs, etc

There is a company called Chester Auto Transmissions CAT that have a machine that completly drains all oil etc... They are very well priced too. An S8 owner went to them and was very pleased with the service.

Heres the thread. http://www.tyresmoke.net/forum/audi-a8- ... sions.html