angrypengu

I bought my D5 when it was launched in 2019 and have extended warranty until 2029 directly (err, sort of directly but I'll save folks from the details) from Audi Canada.

That means the car is now 5 years old and, in my case, is just shy of 30,000km (yes, kilometers). I know our vehicles don't have any service intervals for things like transmission & power steering fluid but what do people recommend? Is it a once/10 year sort of thing, or is it a mileage thing? There is no such thing as lifetime fluids of course but I have no idea what the recommended intervals are.

Apparently the below is the ZF transmission in the D5, but I find it interesting that they recommend every 150,000km but nothing is mentioned in the Audi manuals.

https://aftermarket.zf.com/remotemed...fluid-8-it.pdf

Per: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZF_8HP_transmission

So that settles the tranny. 150,000km (most likely, happy to be corrected). What about the power steering and/or other fluids?

A8bil

This site has links to all audi service recs.... https://www.prestigeimports.net/serv...nd-procedures/

IME, I would change the tranny fluid every 100km. By 150km, if the trannie is going to have problems, it will have already started to develop by then. Conventional wisdom is other fluids are replaced every 2 years or 90k, but I think conventional wisdom is behind the times on fluids. I've gone 150km or more on original steering and brake fluid without noticeable change in performance. I work on vintage cars and attention to fluids is more important in those cars.

angrypengu

Brake fluid definitely has to be changed every 2 years per Audi SOP. It's hygroscopic. In any event, the link you posted is probably in line with what's in the service manual for the D5 but alas it doesn't quite address the topic at hand. For example, Audi does not have any prescribed mileage/time for a power steering fluid replacement which seems asinine to me when keeping the vehicle long term. I wonder what's a good interval?

pcc125

2 to 3 years (depending on heavy usage and mileage) is what I would personally do for all fluid changes, to include transmission, coolant, brake, and power steering fluids. Since your mileage (kms) is low, you could stretch it to 3 years.

MorganMay

I was thinking we had electrical power steering.........

derfA8L

Yes, we do! Definitely not hydraulic.

JeffNIL

Fluids are cheap compared to transmissions. If my trans pan didn't have a drain plug I would weld one in and just dump the fluid in the pan every 40,000 miles. I did buy a used A6 from my sister for my daughter. It was a 99 and I think we got rid of it in 2019, with 190K on the odometer. Trans fluid was never changed in that car, because I bought it with 160K on the clock. I was told that I might have problems if I changed it, so I didn't. But I like to change trans fluid every 40K, and by just draining the pan. Also the differentials.

pcc125

Yes, trans fluid changes are a must. With the newer 8 and 10 speed transmissions, many transmission shops recommend fluid changes every 40k miles. I just had the transmission fluid changed on my Chevy truck at the dealership and the cost was $490.00. Sounds like a lot but it is much less than a $8k transmission replacement.

Nice VW

Just do the usual maintenance schedules of the car and you will be fine. Abused vehicles are the ones that get the bad news reports.
Audi vehicles are fantastic. Ignore the bad news junk. I've owned them for years and they are wonderful cars. Buy new vehicles only, establish a great relationship with the manirtenance crew and you will sleep well. I have50 years of experience. I also have been in 40 + years old vehicles, I know what is good!!!

Torque450

​​​​​​But back in the real world, a lot of people buy used!

Either because we can't afford new, or want a higher spec model, or choose not to suffer from crippling depreciation.
My A8 was listed at £83000 new (*1.26 for US, so $105000) but it cost me £34000 from Audi with 20,000m and warranty...