B7 RS4 gearbox & rear diff oil change guide

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Teutonic Tuner
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B7 RS4 gearbox & rear diff oil change guide

Post by Teutonic Tuner » Sat Sep 01, 2012 12:21 pm

Following on from this thread http://forum.rs246.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=98654 where I queried the specs for the gearbox and diff oils I have completed the oil changes and as promised have put together a little DIY to help anyone else that wants to do the same.

Oil specs are as follows:

Gearbox:

Audi OE part No: G052911A SAE 75 W 90 (1 litre, synthetic Oil)
oil spec: 75W90 GL4+ (suitable for synchromesh transmissions and hypoid gears)
capacity: 3.2 litre (fill to -2 mm +/-1 mm)
torque plug to ~30 lb/ft

Rear differential:

Audi OE part No: G052145A1 (0.5 litre), G052145S2 (1.0 litre)
oil spec: 75W90 GL5 (suitable for hypoid gears)
capacity: 0.9 litre (fill to lip/overflow)
torque plug to ~33 lb/ft

Both oils must be fully synthetic.

Opie oils recommended Gulf Competition 75w-90 (Ester based fully synthetic) as an alternative oil to the OE Audi oils that is suitable for both the gearbox and diff so I purchased a 5 litre tub for £52 which was a very good deal http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-60162-gulf- ... 5w-90.aspx

First of all get the car off the ground using these:
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The car must be level for draining to make sure you get as much oil out as possible and for filling to make sure the correct amount is added. I raised the rear of the car first using the diff casing as the central jack point, then the front using the point on the sub-frame where the gearbox mount attaches (see pic 4).
Image

Tools required, including 10mm hex bit for all 4 plugs, torque wrench, extension bar and a hand pump with container (old 1 litre carton used here, cleaned-out):
Image

Front jack point circled, gearbox drain plug (green arrow) & fill plug (red arrow)
Image

It's always good practice when draining/filling diffs etc to loosen the fill plug first as you don't want to drain the oil to find that the fill plug is ceased. This is where the extension bar is needed.
Image

Another pic showing the extension bar and ratchet used to remove the fill plug:
Image

Then remove drain plug and drain oil, I used an old 5 litre screenwash carton with the top cut away, works better than a shallow drain pan as it catches more of the splashes:
Image

I drained 3 litres from the gearbox, the oil looks fairly dirty dark brown so is well worth changing even though my RS4 has only done 38k miles.
Image

After re-fitting the drain plug (there are no copper washers to replace) hook the hose from the fill pump into the fill hole
Image

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I removed the front left wheel to get better access to the pump as you will get a dead arm after pumping just 1/2 litre whilst lay under the car...I promise you!
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From the front left wheel arch you will also be able to see the fill hole so you can keep an eye on the level, this is to be filled to just below the fill hole so keep checking with your finger.
Image

Tools for the diff (+torque wrench), note only mid length extension bar is required for the fill plug.
Image

Drain plug (green arrow), fill plug (red arrow)
Image

I drained about 0.8 litre from the diff
Image

and again looked a pretty dirty dark brown
Image

Then fill in the same manner as the gearbox but this time fill until oil starts to overflow from the fill hole (no more than 0.9 litres or similar to what you drained out as over filling diffs can cause the oil to blow past the diff seals).

I spent a couple of hours doing this but I was taking photos and going at a fairly leisurely pace. It’s quite a satisfying job and would say the gear changes feel smoother, but my gearbox was pretty smooth anyway so those with stiffer gearboxes may find more of an improvement.
Last edited by Teutonic Tuner on Fri Dec 11, 2015 11:19 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Spaceman_RS4
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Re: B7 RS4 gearbox & rear diff oil change guide

Post by Spaceman_RS4 » Sat Sep 01, 2012 6:55 pm

Cracking write up bud. I think I might do this, luckily I have a 2 poster so saves some time.

Cheers for the links to the opie stuff to.
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Re: B7 RS4 gearbox & rear diff oil change guide

Post by Teutonic Tuner » Sat Sep 01, 2012 7:43 pm

awe the stuff of dreams...your very own car lift! :bowdown:

We've just got a new house purchase going through at the moment that has the all-important garage, needs making bigger but either a lift or pit will be going in!
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Re: B7 RS4 gearbox & rear diff oil change guide

Post by Spaceman_RS4 » Sun Sep 02, 2012 1:09 am

well note mine yet got garage at my house the rs fits in ok.

my dad retired and built a 3-4 car garage with a 4 ton 2 post lift (How lucky am I?) that goes full height I'm 6ft 3 and can walk under the disco 3 when its up.

got full use 24/7 when i want and in bout 7 years i should be buying the house from him as he gets a place in spain or that and buys my wee bungalow off me..
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Re: B7 RS4 gearbox & rear diff oil change guide

Post by Teutonic Tuner » Sun Sep 02, 2012 4:46 pm

reckon with a lift you should get this done in about 1/2hr!
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Re: B7 RS4 gearbox & rear diff oil change guide

Post by ROY » Sun Sep 02, 2012 9:35 pm

Great wright up mate
A couple of jobs which i need to do :beerchug:

Could do with this adding to a sticky section to help others :thumbs:
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Re: B7 RS4 gearbox & rear diff oil change guide

Post by TonyHayers » Mon Sep 03, 2012 11:58 am

Thanks for this TT, a really detailed walkthrough, much appreciated.
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Re: B7 RS4 gearbox & rear diff oil change guide

Post by ArthurPE » Mon Sep 03, 2012 2:35 pm

great write up
especially like the fact that you measured the drained quantities
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Re: B7 RS4 gearbox & rear diff oil change guide

Post by otterolly » Tue Mar 12, 2013 2:04 pm

nice write up with good information.....thanks

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Re: B7 RS4 gearbox & rear diff oil change guide

Post by Surrey Sam » Tue Mar 12, 2013 3:08 pm

A great write up, many thanks for taking the time to detail and share it.

I have found on previous cars that getting the oil warm first, helps with draining the oil out and you can get a little more volume removed. You just have to be careful with the oil being hot and burning you.

**I've reported to Moderator this topic so as to get added to the FAQ post at the top of the page**
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Re: B7 RS4 gearbox & rear diff oil change guide

Post by cherub72 » Tue Mar 12, 2013 3:52 pm

Great write up, mine's in to have the clutch looked at this week, I might ask them for a price on doing this too
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Re: B7 RS4 gearbox & rear diff oil change guide

Post by Brooner » Tue Mar 12, 2013 4:04 pm

Excellent write up got be a sticky
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Re: B7 RS4 gearbox & rear diff oil change guide

Post by Teutonic Tuner » Tue Mar 12, 2013 7:51 pm

Brooner wrote:Excellent write up got be a sticky
...it's already stuck! :thumbs:

Thanks for the comments.
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Re: B7 RS4 gearbox & rear diff oil change guide

Post by alex020869 » Tue Mar 12, 2013 8:47 pm

Just came across this.

Brilliant tutorial. Well done.

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B7 RS4 gearbox & rear diff oil change guide

Post by RS4pete » Wed Mar 13, 2013 2:27 pm

Agreed! Great write up, changed mine and the positive difference is very noticeable.

Interestingly filling the rear diff to the fill hole took 1.1 litres yet I'd only removed 0.9 litres. So I removed .2 of a litre. Really just a FYI to recored how much you take out and how much you put in!
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