Audi Mechatronic / Multitronic Gearbox Oil - HOW MUCH????

[Crook]

Could anyone offer a bit of advice on this please? The stuff from VAG is horrendously expensive - is there an approved alternative manufacturer fluid that is used?

Car is a C6 A6 3.0T Quattro.

Many thanks!

[Crook]

Further calls to my local garage and then to main dealer...

Main dealer said the gearbox is sealed for life and doesn't need changing.
Local garage said they would cost it up.

Going to call indie VAG specialist and see what they say...

[Crook]

Sealed unit - leave alone.

Well that was a rather public display of don't be lazy and find it out for yourself

[shtu]

That's a ZF 6HP26 transmission.

Audi will say "sealed for life", but that's a somewhat dodgy measure. ZF themselves would say 60k change intervals.

https://aftermarket.zf.com/sea/en/aftermarket-port...

The same 'box is in BMWs, Landrovers and Jaguars too, plenty how-to out there.

You don't need to buy the Audi-brand fluid - iirc Mercon SP fits the bill, but there's Febi, ZF lifeguard 6 and many other brands out there.

https://www.bristoltransmissionsshop.co.uk/bmwjagu...

[Crook]

Many thanks for the reply.

I had seen similar but less concise information on a few Audi specific forums. The car is on 74k so I will look to getting it done at some point this year. I'll need to investigate further who can do it as expertise appears to be critical.

[shtu]

About the hardest part of the job is monitoring the trans temperature when setting the fluid level, and that's not exactly rocket science. Plug in scan tool - start car - find the trans temp and wait.

Here's someone local(ish) to you - https://www.stephensengineering.co.uk/ it should be a bread-and-butter job for a place like that.

Here's a DIY guide - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCy6KrhxdxU note the debate about different fluids partway in. My view would be that if you're having no issues with the trans, stick with Lifeguard 6 spec if that's what is in. That's almost certainly what it has now if it's never been changed, plus there's some horror stories out there about changing the fluid spec and SW.

btw, the fluid is originally a Shell spec, m-1375.4 which lots of different companies manufacture. I did have a list of about a dozen different OEM part numbers, but can't for the life of me find it.

Edited by shtu on Wednesday 1st February 12:11

[Crook]

shtu said:

About the hardest part of the job is monitoring the trans temperature when setting the fluid level, and that's not exactly rocket science. Plug in scan tool - start car - find the trans temp and wait.

Here's someone local(ish) to you - https://www.stephensengineering.co.uk/ it should be a bread-and-butter job for a place like that.

Here's a DIY guide - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCy6KrhxdxU note the debate about different fluids partway in. My view would be that if you're having no issues with the trans, stick with Lifeguard 6 spec if that's what is in. That's almost certainly what it has now if it's never been changed, plus there's some horror stories out there about changing the fluid spec and SW.

btw, the fluid is originally a Shell spec, m-1375.4 which lots of different companies manufacture. I did have a list of about a dozen different OEM part numbers, but can't for the life of me find it.

Edited by shtu on Wednesday 1st February 12:11

That’s incredibly helpful of you. Many thanks.

[sgrimshaw]

Had mine changed in my S Type R Jag, eye wateringly expensive stuff.

[PushedDover]

IIRC £275 for the 7sp Servotronic gearbox....
Mine is going in next week for it - as the lifeblood of a fragile set up.