Q7 2017 4M transmission fluid

[winreboot]

Does anyone know what transmission fluid type goes to 2017 Q7 4M transmission? I'm looking to do a transmission oil change and can't find what fluid it takes. I know dealer says it's life time and does not need changing but I know that can't be. I have some "ZF lifeguard 8" when I was flushing my C7 A6 but I don't know if it's the same.

Thanks

[winreboot]

I probably answered my own question after googling the hek out of it, but in case someone is looking to perform transmission service.

The transmission oil pan is plastic with integrated oil filter and gasket. So to service transmission it needs new oil pan.

Part Number for oil pan/filter/gasket
0D5398009

The transmission fluid I don't have confirmation but the "ZF Lifeguard 8" is interchangeable with the OEM part number for transmission fluid. It needs 9liters but on dry transmission, on wet one probably half of that.

Part Number for fluid
G060162A2

[gdawg'05a4]

Here's the fluid chart and PN for the 4M:


Ravenol has a compatible fluid for the trans, front, center and rear diffs.
Transmission: https://www.blauparts.com/ravenol-at...id-8hp-1l.html
Front/Rear diff: https://www.blauparts.com/audi-diffe...52-145-s2.html
Center diff (transfer case): https://www.blauparts.com/ravenol-ge...0-gl-5-1l.html

The ZF-8 lifeguard will work too, PN cross references:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/lif...r-s67109031201

Are you planning on DIY or having a shop do it?

[winreboot]

Here's the fluid chart and PN for the 4M:

Ravenol has a compatible fluid for the trans, front, center and rear diffs.
Transmission: https://www.blauparts.com/ravenol-at...id-8hp-1l.html
Front/Rear diff: https://www.blauparts.com/audi-diffe...52-145-s2.html
Center diff (transfer case): https://www.blauparts.com/ravenol-ge...0-gl-5-1l.html

The ZF-8 lifeguard will work too, PN cross references:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/lif...r-s67109031201

Are you planning on DIY or having a shop do it?

Thank you! that is great info. I'm planning to do this myself, if you have any quick tips let me know. When I change the transmission fluid on my A6, it was not as bad as I thought it would be.

[gdawg'05a4]

Thank you! that is great info. I'm planning to do this myself, if you have any quick tips let me know. When I change the transmission fluid on my A6, it was not as bad as I thought it would be.

It's a little more involved with the Q7. To get to the transmission pan and center diff, the exhaust needs to be undone to get to the transmission crossmember tunnel and disconnect the e-brake connector.







Other than the extra couple of steps to get to the pan, it's about the same. Drain, remove pan/filter combo, replace, fill, get to temp and check fill level again.

Curious, do you have a lift at home to do this? I had planned to do this recently but my QuickJack set up won't work. The spread between the jacking points is just a couple of inches too wide. I'm debating doing it on jack stands or just paying a shop to do it.

[winreboot]

Thanks for shearing. Got it, it's not that bad, but def worth doing my self as dealer quoted $1700. I plan to keep the car for long long time so want to make sure it's maintained and it will last.

No I don't have a lift in my garage but I used jack stands on my A6 and it work out pretty good. I could not believe how much metal shavings dust was shucked to the magnets in the tranny of my A6, once you see it, can't unsee it. My A6 had 100k when I did transmission fluid change and I think I waited to long. It was still running fine and was the same with fresh fluid but the magnets were fully utilized, there was no space to accumulate more dust.

[winreboot]

Done :) this was not that bad diy over the weekend. Tranny does shifts smoother on coasting to part throttle, it was always smooth on full throttle.

My car has 60k miles on it. The fluid was already dark but the magnets did not have too much on them.


Old vs new fluid


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[gdawg'05a4]

Nice job!! Did you have to loosen up the exhaust to get to the tunnel crossmember as the guide suggested? Did you use jack stands? Any tips or tricks for us other DIY'ers willing to tackle this at home would be great!

[winreboot]

Nice job!! Did you have to loosen up the exhaust to get to the tunnel crossmember as the guide suggested? Did you use jack stands? Any tips or tricks for us other DIY'ers willing to tackle this at home would be great!

Yes, had to loosen the exhaust clamp but I only needed to loosen one clamp. There was enough space to remove the crossmember from under the tranny. The nuts on exhaust clamp were rusted but loosened easily. Big tip is to remember to screw in the brake line screw on the cross member before assembling it back. I forgot to screw on the brake line cable screw and had to remove the whole cross member again as there was no space to reach it once installed. My car is with air suspension, I just raise it to off road highest setting put jack stands for safety and was able to get under the car. There was enough clearance to slide under the car.

I also did not have a torque wrench that goes as low as 4Nm, so it would be good to have a nice digital torque wrench that can go that low when torqueing back the tranny pan back on.

[meyergsr]

I would think using ramps front and rear would get the Q7 up high enough to change the tranny oil? They seem a little sturdier then jack stands.

[Charles.waite]

Yes, had to loosen the exhaust clamp but I only needed to loosen one clamp. There was enough space to remove the crossmember from under the tranny. The nuts on exhaust clamp were rusted but loosened easily. Big tip is to remember to screw in the brake line screw on the cross member before assembling it back. I forgot to screw on the brake line cable screw and had to remove the whole cross member again as there was no space to reach it once installed. My car is with air suspension, I just raise it to off road highest setting put jack stands for safety and was able to get under the car. There was enough clearance to slide under the car.

I also did not have a torque wrench that goes as low as 4Nm, so it would be good to have a nice digital torque wrench that can go that low when torqueing back the tranny pan back on.

Great tips. I’m not a fan of Audi’s “lifetime” transmission nonsense so I was mulling over doing this in the next couple years. Great to know that you can just air up and be able to get underneath and do this. What a novelty when you’re used to working on an A4 like I am, haha.

[Adamlalum]

I’m getting ready to also do a transmission fluid/ filter change on my 17 Q7. I’m use to vehicles with dipsticks to check/add fluid. Once the pan/filter is replaced, how do you add fluid and how do you check the level? Is there a fill plug on the side of the trans that you fill until it starts coming out? How many quarts/liters did it take you?

[Bobeisenberg]

Just did the transmission fluid change -- only took 20 mos. from when I ordered the parts. :-) Going to do the center and rear diff fluids while I'm at it. Did folks replace the drain and fill plugs on the center & rear diff (as recommended by Audi, I believe)? The transmission pan/filter kit came with new drain and fill plugs. I'm hesitant to use part numbers from an A6 ZF transmission which I found online, as there may be differences between those the ones on our Q7s. Maybe not, but I'm just not certain. Appreciate the insights and any drain/fill plug part numbers anyone can share. Thx!

[gdawg'05a4]

I did not replace the drain/fill plugs on the three diffs.

[Bobeisenberg]

Thanks so much for the reply! And for all of the knowledge you’ve shared about these fluid changes.

[Bobeisenberg]

Well, fellow wrenches, seems I stripped the center diff drain hole by over torquing the drain bolt while replacing it. I’ll blame my HF torque wrench but human error is likely more to blame. Any suggestions short of a new center diff housing? Space may be tight to fit some of the solutions created for stripped oil pan drain plug holes. Maybe even too tight to tap the hole to the next size. Since this job may never be done again, I pondered using epoxy on the plug threads and carefully snugging it back into the hole as best as possible. Can’t believe I did this! F%CK!!!