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Bit of ATF help
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 8:56 pm
by rs4_avant_7
Hi
bit of help needed please, apologies if its an obvious question, please dont shoot me
I am replacing the gearbox oil cooler, and associated pipes which have failed on an RS6 C5 which i have not actually got to see the underside of yet on Thursday (its a long story, with many twists and hopefully a happy outcome) and which I have bought.
So in terms of getting oil back in the box, do you fill this via the dip tube (which i asusme it has) or does it have an obvious looking fill/level plug on the side of the transmission?
I am goign in to this all a bit blind, but i want to try and button up the first job as quickly as i can so i can then get to work on all the other issues, and that's a long list.
thanks in advance to any positive comments

Re: Bit of ATF help
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 9:01 pm
by Shoppinit
It's a bit of an involved operation. Not a 5 minutes job.
This will give you a good idea of what is involved:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2912550.htm
The consequences of getting it wrong are disasterous.
I'm guessing this is linked to your combined ATF/oil cooler issue.
YOu *really* need to tell us the story now

Re: Bit of ATF help
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 9:03 pm
by Shoppinit
Re: Bit of ATF help
Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:49 pm
by rs4_avant_7
thanks for the link, i certianly would not have considered going through the gears without the fill plug in and the engine running. I will make my own hand pump tomorrow for filling with luck. is that your car for sale ? how do you find the bilstein suspension if it is, is it possile to adjust the ride height of those on the car I wonder ?
Re: Bit of ATF help
Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:42 am
by Shoppinit
The trick is to get as much ATF in with the engine running so that you can get the fill plug back in as soon as the temp hits 35°C. If you don't go through the gears then you might end up with airlocks in the valve body. Probably wouldn't accoutn for much in volume terms, but leads to odd box behaviour until it fills up properly.
No, that's not my car. I think dunk5y bought it a couple of days ok. I've got the same suspension though and it's excellent. Very pleased with it. It's height adjustable and the damping is adjustable, too, although only a couple of settings are any use. If I had to do it again, I'd put the same on. The ride height can't really be adjusted on the standard car. Well, you could get the 'plus' springs I suppose to lower it 10mm. Seems a bit pointless though. The DRC will still be pants.
Re: Bit of ATF help
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 4:10 pm
by rs4_avant_7
Thanks for your help. Managed to get it all done, bit of a mission but I now have a new cooler and 4 new pipes fitted, and the box filled.
However I have sprung a new leak from the middle of the car, looks like atf fluid on the garage floor.
Off to the workshop tomorrow to pop it back on the lift and have a look
I am wondering if I overfilled the box during the fill process.??
I did the procedure as best I could but its hardly easy, trying to get oil in a vertical hole, yelling at someone to change gear with it pi55ing everywhere
After a long run I checked the temperature of the oil on ross tech lite, and it was 74c which I reckon sounds about right, looking at engine oil temperature around the same 60 - 70
Do the boxes leak from any obvious points if overfilled ? or should I suspect yet another pipe has had it’s day ?
Not looking forward to what I find tomorrow, because everything else on this beast is sound, and the performance is staggering.
Re: Bit of ATF help
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 4:12 pm
by JCviggen
I don't think it could leak from being overfilled, it should be sealed even if you hold it upside down. Check the obvious places, like the drain and fill plugs you never know. Obviously you'll have to top it off again though when you find the problem.
Re: Bit of ATF help
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 4:17 pm
by Shoppinit
Sounds like the drive shaft seal. Quite a common leak point. I think Audi redesigned the part to improve the seal. See what you see when you get it on the ramps.
Re: Bit of ATF help
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 4:18 pm
by rs4_avant_7
Thanks’ can’t wait to top it up again after last time!!! I might need to devise a better delivery pump...
thanks shoppinit, that gives me some insight
Re: Bit of ATF help
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 4:20 pm
by Shoppinit
Maybe you never noticed it before because the level was so low that none was leaking out. Just speculating.
Re: Bit of ATF help
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 5:34 pm
by rs4_avant_7
I will buy you a beer if you are right! Is it an easy job, driveshaft off, seal out, replace, refit shaft or more involved ?
Re: Bit of ATF help
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 5:43 pm
by Shoppinit
I think it's a relatively easy job. I'm sure some people on here have had it done and can give you the low down.
Re: Bit of ATF help
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 10:19 pm
by bilko1
I'm sure Grizz posted about there being a modified flange and seal about £150 for parts if i remember correctly.
Re: Bit of ATF help
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 3:57 pm
by rs4_avant_7
ok its the rear seal after a quick ramp inspection this morning, spoke to an independent and they say there is modified flang and seal now. Plan to get it done asap. thanks to everyone who replied.
Re: Bit of ATF help
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 4:10 pm
by Shoppinit
Topping up the ATF will be easier this time since it'll be mostly full. Don't forget to start the engine before opening the fill plug

stuff as much as you can in there, and when the gearbox is up to 35° close the plug.