Transmission Fluid Change?
08-28-2022, 10:40 AM
#41
AudiWorld Super User
Every manufacturer that uses the ZF8HP, and there are many, specify the transmission fluid as lifetime. Which is how ZF themselves position the transmission. Yes, on their commercial after-sales site, where they sell kits, they do suggest changing the fluid, and BTW click here to order a kit 
To be clear, lifetime means there are components within the transmission that will need replacement before the fluid is no longer effective. The ZF8HP has been in production since 2008, and Audi first started using it shortly after that. I suspect some of these cars did manage to make it past 120,000 miles or so with the original fluid, without the transmission exploding. In this current iteration of Audiworld, you can rest assured that if Audi were not recommending a fluid change because they were too lazy / secretly hate their franchised dealers and don't want them making large profits on transmission fluid changes / want these transmissions to fail outside the warranty period so they make huge profits replacing them - then you would be showered in threads on the subject. Or have a look on the Porsche, BMW, Jaguar, Fiat-Chrysler, ete etc forums and see if all their ZF8HP's are exploding too?
If some want to under take preventative maintenance, whether required or not, fine. But to use anything other than ZF LifeguardFluid 8 or 9, whether in OEM or ZF packaging, is self-defeating madness. If you don't want to spend the money using the correct lubricant, you'd be better off leaving the original fluid in there than putting in some cheap crap. What sort of cereal box diploma engineering logic is this??!!
Source: https://aftermarket.zf.com/remotemed...fluid-8-it.pdf
To be clear, lifetime means there are components within the transmission that will need replacement before the fluid is no longer effective. The ZF8HP has been in production since 2008, and Audi first started using it shortly after that. I suspect some of these cars did manage to make it past 120,000 miles or so with the original fluid, without the transmission exploding. In this current iteration of Audiworld, you can rest assured that if Audi were not recommending a fluid change because they were too lazy / secretly hate their franchised dealers and don't want them making large profits on transmission fluid changes / want these transmissions to fail outside the warranty period so they make huge profits replacing them - then you would be showered in threads on the subject. Or have a look on the Porsche, BMW, Jaguar, Fiat-Chrysler, ete etc forums and see if all their ZF8HP's are exploding too?
If some want to under take preventative maintenance, whether required or not, fine. But to use anything other than ZF LifeguardFluid 8 or 9, whether in OEM or ZF packaging, is self-defeating madness. If you don't want to spend the money using the correct lubricant, you'd be better off leaving the original fluid in there than putting in some cheap crap. What sort of cereal box diploma engineering logic is this??!!
Application: ZF LifeguardFluid 8 has been specially developed for usage in 8HP automatic transmissions and some 6HP automatic transmissions from ZF. The approvals for each specific case can be found in the ZF List of Lubricants TE-ML 11 (www.zf.com/schmierstoffe). Please note that only ZF LifeguardFluid 8 or ZF LifeguardFluid 9 may be used for these transmissions (where applicable, also available as genuine spare part from the relevant Original Equipment Manufacturer). Using other oils can lead to various adverse effects, ranging from significant deterioration in shifting characteristics to transmission failure. In principle, an oil change is only necessary when repairs are carried out. ZF automatic transmissions are generally filled with lifetime oil. However, due to the many factors influencing the service life of transmissions in individual operation, ZF recommends an oil change after 150,000 km for its transmissions. In operating conditions with high temperatures and loads, or with unknown vehicle use in the past, it can make sense to change the transmission oil at shorter intervals.
In these instances, only the approved transmission oil may be used for the oil change, and you must also ensure that the oil change is carried out according to the relevant ZF provisions. Small container (up to 20 l) must be shaken vigorously for at least 15 s before removing the oil. Before removing oil, large container (more than 20 l) must be mixed with a suitable and clean stirrer (min. 1500 1 / min) for at least 60 min at room temperature.
In these instances, only the approved transmission oil may be used for the oil change, and you must also ensure that the oil change is carried out according to the relevant ZF provisions. Small container (up to 20 l) must be shaken vigorously for at least 15 s before removing the oil. Before removing oil, large container (more than 20 l) must be mixed with a suitable and clean stirrer (min. 1500 1 / min) for at least 60 min at room temperature.
The following users liked this post:
Nikon1 (08-28-2022)
04-25-2024, 07:13 AM
#42
AudiWorld Newcomer
Join Date: Mar 2024
Location: Somewhere in the sky
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Good day to all.
this is my first ever post on this forum ( been a viewer for a while.. ;-) )
just want to say thank you for a lot of you guys out there. Seriously, this issue of transmission fluid change on a B9 S5 is quite a mystery and obtaining the proper information isn’t as clear as water. However, reading this thread has pointed me in the right direction.
Just for reference,
We’re in 2024 and to this date, I have two different versions on transmission fluid change from Audi dealership and and a renowned German shop who’s has been dealing with these cars for more than 25 years.
One dealership says full transmission fluid change ( including filter) every 60k kilometres ( yes I’m from Canada) and other dealer says not to touch it.
The German shop says doesn’t know but rather follow the manual…in which manual doesn’t specify.
Anyways,
Ive decided to have the transmission fluid change only ( I’m at 70k km ) and will have a complete fluid and filter change at every 100k after that….well at least until the car runs..lol
obviously proper fluids.
I still own an older BMW with lots of driving mileage but the transmission is no longer in working condition. Followed the dealer’s instructions and owner’s manual and did not touch the tranny. It said lifelong fluid…well it’s not.
cheers
this is my first ever post on this forum ( been a viewer for a while.. ;-) )
just want to say thank you for a lot of you guys out there. Seriously, this issue of transmission fluid change on a B9 S5 is quite a mystery and obtaining the proper information isn’t as clear as water. However, reading this thread has pointed me in the right direction.
Just for reference,
We’re in 2024 and to this date, I have two different versions on transmission fluid change from Audi dealership and and a renowned German shop who’s has been dealing with these cars for more than 25 years.
One dealership says full transmission fluid change ( including filter) every 60k kilometres ( yes I’m from Canada) and other dealer says not to touch it.
The German shop says doesn’t know but rather follow the manual…in which manual doesn’t specify.
Anyways,
Ive decided to have the transmission fluid change only ( I’m at 70k km ) and will have a complete fluid and filter change at every 100k after that….well at least until the car runs..lol
obviously proper fluids.
I still own an older BMW with lots of driving mileage but the transmission is no longer in working condition. Followed the dealer’s instructions and owner’s manual and did not touch the tranny. It said lifelong fluid…well it’s not.
cheers
04-25-2024, 07:50 AM
#43
AudiWorld Senior Member
Were you very clear with the dealer that you were asking about an S5 with the ZF transmission - the 60,000 km with filter change interval sounds more like that which is needed for the DSG/S-tronic transmissions.
04-25-2024, 09:38 AM
#44
AudiWorld Newcomer
Join Date: Mar 2024
Location: Somewhere in the sky
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi there,
yes I did. In all cases I was very clear and even told them about all the lack of information etc. Serial number verified and, I had three different responses.
truly amazing to say the least.
yes I did. In all cases I was very clear and even told them about all the lack of information etc. Serial number verified and, I had three different responses.
truly amazing to say the least.
04-25-2024, 10:24 AM
#45
AudiWorld Super User
It's not complicated. If you in fact have a B9 S model with the CWGD engine and automatic transmission, it's the 8-speed Tiptronic. Which will be the type 0D5, ie the ZF 8HP65A, a second gen ZF 8-speed. Audi officially has no service interval for any aspect of the 0D5. ZF officially has several statements, including:
https://aftermarket.zf.com/remotemed...fluid-8-it.pdf
This is a longer duration than older statements by ZF of 80k-120k km.
For the 0D5 second gen 8-speed transmission, the oil pan is plastic and the filter is integrated into the oil pan. The ZF service kits for the 0D5: https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/catalo...07/?country=US or without oil: https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/catalo...06/?country=US
The Lifeguard 8 ATF comes in the 1L bottle, https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/catalo...12/?country=US , the 20L bucket, https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/catalo...11/?country=US , and the 209L barrel, https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/catalo...10/?country=US
"60k km" is almost certainly talking about the ATF in the s-tronic 7-speed DCT DL382. The B8 S models used a DCT; the B9 S models do not.
ZF automatic transmissions are generally filled with lifetime oil. However, due to the many factors influencing the service life of transmissions in individual operation, ZF recommends an oil change after 150,000 km for its transmissions.
This is a longer duration than older statements by ZF of 80k-120k km.
For the 0D5 second gen 8-speed transmission, the oil pan is plastic and the filter is integrated into the oil pan. The ZF service kits for the 0D5: https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/catalo...07/?country=US or without oil: https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/catalo...06/?country=US
The Lifeguard 8 ATF comes in the 1L bottle, https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/catalo...12/?country=US , the 20L bucket, https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/catalo...11/?country=US , and the 209L barrel, https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/catalo...10/?country=US
"60k km" is almost certainly talking about the ATF in the s-tronic 7-speed DCT DL382. The B8 S models used a DCT; the B9 S models do not.
04-30-2024, 06:32 AM
#46
AudiWorld Super User
It's not complicated. If you in fact have a B9 S model with the CWGD engine and automatic transmission, it's the 8-speed Tiptronic. Which will be the type 0D5, ie the ZF 8HP65A, a second gen ZF 8-speed. Audi officially has no service interval for any aspect of the 0D5. ZF officially has several statements, including:
https://aftermarket.zf.com/remotemed...fluid-8-it.pdf
This is a longer duration than older statements by ZF of 80k-120k km.
For the 0D5 second gen 8-speed transmission, the oil pan is plastic and the filter is integrated into the oil pan. The ZF service kits for the 0D5: https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/catalo...07/?country=US or without oil: https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/catalo...06/?country=US
The Lifeguard 8 ATF comes in the 1L bottle, https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/catalo...12/?country=US , the 20L bucket, https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/catalo...11/?country=US , and the 209L barrel, https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/catalo...10/?country=US
"60k km" is almost certainly talking about the ATF in the s-tronic 7-speed DCT DL382. The B8 S models used a DCT; the B9 S models do not.
https://aftermarket.zf.com/remotemed...fluid-8-it.pdf
This is a longer duration than older statements by ZF of 80k-120k km.
For the 0D5 second gen 8-speed transmission, the oil pan is plastic and the filter is integrated into the oil pan. The ZF service kits for the 0D5: https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/catalo...07/?country=US or without oil: https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/catalo...06/?country=US
The Lifeguard 8 ATF comes in the 1L bottle, https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/catalo...12/?country=US , the 20L bucket, https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/catalo...11/?country=US , and the 209L barrel, https://aftermarket.zf.com/en/catalo...10/?country=US
"60k km" is almost certainly talking about the ATF in the s-tronic 7-speed DCT DL382. The B8 S models used a DCT; the B9 S models do not.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jerobean
A4 (B5 Platform) Discussion
4
09-26-2022 12:08 PM
How Bizarre
A4 (B5 Platform) Discussion
9
01-25-2018 08:22 AM
Luxus Panzer
Audi 90 / 80 / Coupe quattro / Cabriolet
0
09-23-2006 06:37 PM
BigEd
A4 (B5 Platform) Discussion
17
12-15-2004 02:44 PM
sbkracer1
A4 (B5 Platform) Discussion
10
05-19-2002 07:15 PM