How long should I expect my torque converter/transmission to last?

[killeraxemannic]

Hi guys,

I just bought a 2003 Allroad. It seems to be in pretty decent shape and wasn't abused as far as I know. It has 107k on it. Everything seems to be working fine right now but I am worried about the transmission and torque converter going out because of all the horror stories. I just had the transmission fluid changed. I used Redline D4 ATF. The shop that changed it said that the old fluid was dirty but nothing to be concerned about. After the change the trans seems to shift much more smoothly and is much less sloppy. I want to do some things to it like a stage 1 tune, brake kit, new air compressor and arnott airsprings etc. I just don't want to spend my money on all of that and then have the trans/TC go out in a few months.

[fR3ZNO]

Replacing the tranny fluid helps a lot. Shouldn't have any issues. Mod away!

[PaperToast]

im 1000 miles from 200k on the original-from-the-factory trans and TC with the fluid the german boys put in.
and thats with a stg 1 tune for the last 100k or so 'knocks on wood'

[AceholeRimmer]

ive had the reverse slipping since i bought the car, and it still shifts and runs great going forward. ive lived with it for 3 years, and 40k miles. i do have a complete 6 speed swap sitting on the garage floor as a backup. but. lazy. i would say, it could last forever or blow up tomorrow. but that can be said for pretty much anything. ;)

[killeraxemannic]

im 1000 miles from 200k on the original-from-the-factory trans and TC with the fluid the german boys put in.
and thats with a stg 1 tune for the last 100k or so 'knocks on wood'

Well that sounds quite reassuring! Mine seems to be doing just fine. No weird stuff and reverse works perfectly. Hopefully it will last another 100k! How are your turbos? Still stock? I hear a faint whistle from the engine when the windows are down and I'm getting on it a bit. Seems pretty normal but Idk for sure. May have showed up when I put on my magnaflow cat back system

[Scotty@Advanced]

The simplest answer is "Until it doesn't". It may go tits up tomorrow or in 250,000 miles.
But yeah I'd start with a fluid change.

[Racin2redline]

I wouldn't worry about it. Don't beat the snot out of it and make sure your fully stopped before you go into reverse to save the basket from cracking.
Even if the converter went bad, It would drive mostly fine for a LONG time with a cel.
Ooh and don't worry about turbo sounds.. There will be no questions if and when a turbo blows. Que big white clouds of smoke and loud noises that resemble a old shop vac.

[happy2B5]

Any reason why you didnt replace with oe and/or zf trans fluid?

[TheAvgBear]

I am in the same boat as you. Just bought an 04 allroad, with 180k on it, my first audi and I am worried about the tranny failing after seeing all the horror stories. It feels fine, but I just dont know the history or the transmissions that well. I am in the process of taking care of some leaks, and changing the fluid. The fluid that came out looks pretty dirty. So I will probably just top it off, run it, drain it, and repeat until it comes out clean.

The previous owner said he topped it up with Castrol multi-vehicle ATF, can anyone chime in on this fluid if they've used it? The back of the bottle says it meets the ZF LT71141 specs. I'm really hoping its compatible, its only like $32 for 4 litres at partsource.

[killeraxemannic]

Any reason why you didnt replace with oe and/or zf trans fluid?

Multiple reasons really... First off the redline is what most of the forum posts I read said was the best fluid, Its about $40 a quart cheaper than the OEM fluid and it takes 6 quarts so $240, and Redline is all the shop I take my cars too will use. Also along with letting them do the change and using the redline fluid I get a 30k mile warranty from them.

[AKBray907]

I just went though my tranny with 160k on it and was pretty surprised. The car was owned by an older lady before me and lots of service records. All the friction and steels and seals appeared in great shape. There was only one steel in the whole Trans that showed heat wear. So if you take care of it there is no reason they won't last. But with any transmission you can go from good to bad pretty fast but care an maitenence widen that window alot.

[LakeTahoeQuattr]

I was running 400 CHP on my JHM tuned tip with stock TC and TC light. Worked just fine. I think they are harder to blow than people think, however I wasn't running full stg3 power and had a slow torque onset.

[aysix]

Just leave it the way it is.

[Scotty@Advanced]

Redline fluid is garbage. Diesel fuel would probably do a better job.

[PaperToast]

Redline fluid is garbage. Diesel fuel would probably do a better job.

you sir won the internet for today; you made me lol

[killeraxemannic]

Redline fluid is garbage. Diesel fuel would probably do a better job.

Have any proof or is that just your opinion?

[PaperToast]

Have any proof or is that just your opinion?

tranny's are what he deals with for a living, so there is prolly proof

[killeraxemannic]

Lol well since he is the only one I have found that says that redline fluid is "garbage" I don't really care what he does for a living. If you are that deep into a profession you ought to have something to prove your statements. I'm not about to go drop another few hundred bucks to change to the OEM fluid if there is really no reason to. From what I have read the Redline and the OEM fluid are almost identical except the redline uses a better base stock oil. So I would like to see some proof as to why he claims it is garbage. Not saying he doesn't know what he is talking about, I just need evidence.

[Brandon002]

Multiple reasons really... First off the redline is what most of the forum posts I read said was the best fluid, Its about $40 a quart cheaper than the OEM fluid and it takes 6 quarts so $240, and Redline is all the shop I take my cars too will use. Also along with letting them do the change and using the redline fluid I get a 30k mile warranty from them.

How often are you changing your trans fluid? Personally I would have paid the extra 240 for OE or ZF fluid. I've worked on cars with over 200k, original trans and never had the fluid changed and the trans operated fine. The OE fluid was made for the transmission MFGR to their exact specs and requirements. I wouldn't put anything else in mine. Figure you're changing the fluid what? Once every 7-8 years? So 240 dollars every 7-8 years is too much?

[killeraxemannic]

How often are you changing your trans fluid? Personally I would have paid the extra 240 for OE or ZF fluid. I've worked on cars with over 200k, original trans and never had the fluid changed and the trans operated fine. The OE fluid was made for the transmission MFGR to their exact specs and requirements. I wouldn't put anything else in mine. Figure you're changing the fluid what? Once every 7-8 years? So 240 dollars every 7-8 years is too much?

Cost was just one of my concerns. I probably would have went with the redline even if the factory fluid was cheaper. I am still waiting on Scotty to provide proof as to why the redline fluid is bad. This is the first I have heard of that and even after searching I am not finding anyone else claiming that. Basically I did the redline fluid because that's what my shop recommended and that's what I thought the best choice for my car was based on my shop's recommendations and forum searching. If someone can prove that wrong then I am more than willing to listen.

[LakeTahoeQuattr]

Lol well since he is the only one I have found that says that redline fluid is "garbage" I don't really care what he does for a living. If you are that deep into a profession you ought to have something to prove your statements. I'm not about to go drop another few hundred bucks to change to the OEM fluid if there is really no reason to. From what I have read the Redline and the OEM fluid are almost identical except the redline uses a better base stock oil. So I would like to see some proof as to why he claims it is garbage. Not saying he doesn't know what he is talking about, I just need evidence.

You own an audi, not a civic. Don't be cheap with the fluids. I always use OEM fluids for everything accept blinker fluid yo

When I did my fluid change I think it cost about $160 in fluid

[Racin2redline]

What kind of proof do you want man? Graphs and diagrams?
I have redline MT-90 in my TT and its horrible, especially when cold. Its hard to shift and notchy I feel like I'm driving a old jeep. Can't wait to change it! That's a personal experience .

Only experience I have with the tip trans I when I spend 240$ on oem fluid only to send it to the scrap yard for 10$ a few months later.
Google it, redline fluid doesn't have many fans over a wide range of manufacturers

[killeraxemannic]

Well as far as proof for trans fluid you could do an oil analysis or maybe post pictures of the inside of transmissions that were ruined because of the redline fluid? Or maybe a list of repeated failures attributed to the fluid? Idk I would assume that someone from a trans shop would have something of the like to back up their claims. As I stated in my post before I didn't really do the redline specifically because it was cheaper, I did it because my shop recommended it and most research I have done on forums said it was better or equivalent to the OEM fluid. If I would have read that it was horrible and that the OEM was all that should have been used, and that's what the shop I used said as well I would have by all means spent the extra money on the OEM fluid.

[Brandon002]

The shop you used was a redline fluid distributor right?

[killeraxemannic]

Ha yeah they definitely are. They are listed on the redline website as a distributor.

[Brandon002]

There's your answer as to why they recommend redline fluids.

[killeraxemannic]

The shop owner is a pretty honest guy and I have been taking my cars to him for quite a long time and I have even autocrossed with him a few times. They specialize in German cars and exotics. I am going to call him and ask why they like the Redline fluid. I don't see him as someone who is selling an inferior product just to make money off of it. I would assume they are a distributor because they like the product.

[carmudgeon]

Mine's been making a whump-whump-whump sound when in gear since I bought it a year ago, still shifts fine. Fluids been changed twice in its 120k lifetime.