2004 A8 4.0TDI Gearbox issues
Discussion
I recently took a 2004 A8 in as a p/x on my RS6 (house move), and soon established the car is very lumpy on cold gear shifts. It can also be just as bad on down changes when very hot.
Now I have read that the gearboxes were sealed and back in the day Audi proclaimed they had lifetime oil in them. I think they then decided at 80k it should have an oil change after all, with a different spec of oil, and a software update.
My car apparently had said change, and apparently a software update, at an independent garage. I have since been told the software update can only be done at main dealer - is that right?
Anyway, back to my issue of lumpy changes on cold and v hot, do I perhaps have the wrong grade of oil do you think? Too thick when cold and too thin when hot? Or am i talking rubbish??
Now I have read that the gearboxes were sealed and back in the day Audi proclaimed they had lifetime oil in them. I think they then decided at 80k it should have an oil change after all, with a different spec of oil, and a software update.
My car apparently had said change, and apparently a software update, at an independent garage. I have since been told the software update can only be done at main dealer - is that right?
Anyway, back to my issue of lumpy changes on cold and v hot, do I perhaps have the wrong grade of oil do you think? Too thick when cold and too thin when hot? Or am i talking rubbish??
The wrong oil with the wrong software will cause issues, but that's unlikely I suspect. Low oil will cause all sorts of odd symptoms so getting it checked properly (and it needs to be cool to check it at around 40C IIRC) would be a first step.
The 4.0 diesel isn't the most reliable lump in the world, so depending how much it owes you I wouldn't spend too much on the box if you intend to get shot fairly quickly
The 4.0 diesel isn't the most reliable lump in the world, so depending how much it owes you I wouldn't spend too much on the box if you intend to get shot fairly quickly
Adrian E said:
The wrong oil with the wrong software will cause issues, but that's unlikely I suspect. Low oil will cause all sorts of odd symptoms so getting it checked properly (and it needs to be cool to check it at around 40C IIRC) would be a first step.
The 4.0 diesel isn't the most reliable lump in the world, so depending how much it owes you I wouldn't spend too much on the box if you intend to get shot fairly quickly
Agreed but on the flip side I'd rather sort it in order to sell it. Within reason of course.The 4.0 diesel isn't the most reliable lump in the world, so depending how much it owes you I wouldn't spend too much on the box if you intend to get shot fairly quickly
There's 2 options for doing a fluid change - either dump the gearbox sump, swap out the pan filter, fill up again, which leaves oil in the torque converter or alternatively a specialist machine can be plumbed in to the circuit and warms the fluid as it circulates it, before sucking it all out. This method empties the torque converter too.
Cost-wise it shouldn't be much different, but the machines for the latter approach aren't that widespread even amongst gearbox specialists.
Worth a browse of the a8parts forum for general advice:
http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=10
About £600 for an oil and filter change on the D3 seems the going rate, as the oil is indecently expensive.
Cost-wise it shouldn't be much different, but the machines for the latter approach aren't that widespread even amongst gearbox specialists.
Worth a browse of the a8parts forum for general advice:
http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=10
About £600 for an oil and filter change on the D3 seems the going rate, as the oil is indecently expensive.
I've just logged in to the A8 parts forum but it's telling me:
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Your user account may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?
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