2015 S3 - DSG Whine (Not the Bevel Box, MikTip)

[S3_Miles]

As the title says.

65,000 Miles. JUST and I mean JUST had the DSG service done. Drove down to the shop fine (1/2 drive from my home). Driving home, whine around the 70-85 mph range that sounds similiar to a faint howl/whine....like these sounds:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwM0AzmripA
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGfPmStl7cE

My question is - Has anyone has THIS scenario happen and did you figure out the root cause?

I know its not the Bevel Box on the front because they did not touch it. At all. And this noise was immediately following service. I know it is not the Haldex either because once home and up to temp, I checked that level as well. Its fine.
Its like as if the fluid would be low somehow and its gear-mesh noise...but the trans feels like it shifts fine as it did before.

Shop is reputable and the guy that did the work is a well-known Audi enthusiast in the area. He even drives a trick RS3. I have every reason to trust his work, but also this is odd.

Wondering if its simply because its new clean fluid in there and the old DSG oil may have been masking an issue?
Wondering if maybe it IS truly low?

Really do not know and hoping someone posts about their experience.

TIA

[MikTip]

As the title says.

65,000 Miles. JUST and I mean JUST had the DSG service done. Drove down to the shop fine (1/2 drive from my home). Driving home, whine around the 70-85 mph range that sounds similiar to a faint howl/whine....like these sounds:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwM0AzmripA
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGfPmStl7cE

My question is - Has anyone has THIS scenario happen and did you figure out the root cause?

I know its not the Bevel Box on the front because they did not touch it. At all. And this noise was immediately following service. I know it is not the Haldex either because once home and up to temp, I checked that level as well. Its fine.
Its like as if the fluid would be low somehow and its gear-mesh noise...but the trans feels like it shifts fine as it did before.

Shop is reputable and the guy that did the work is a well-known Audi enthusiast in the area. He even drives a trick RS3. I have every reason to trust his work, but also this is odd.

Wondering if its simply because its new clean fluid in there and the old DSG oil may have been masking an issue?
Wondering if maybe it IS truly low?

Really do not know and hoping someone posts about their experience.

TIA

You wrote: "I know its not the bevel box cause they did not touch it"

So how much oil is in the bevel box? Anyone ever check/change the oil in the bevel box? How do you "know" its not the bevel box if its oil was never checked?

What specific oil did they put in the DSG?

Theres a whole lot of assumption here with allot of specifics missing....


I know its not my bevel box cause I change its oil. So I know its oil level is correct!

FYI bevel box oil is vented to atmosphere and a person here posted his ran out of oil!

I know its not my DSG cause I put in OE Audi oil for the 6 speed DQ250

Did you know the 7 speed DQ381 uses a different oil?

Why was the DSG service done at 65,000 miles? Was the 35,000 mile DSG service done?

Shop is a reputable guy.... Reputable guys have bad days too...

What specific oil was put in the DSG? How much?

Reciepts?

PS no one ever touches the bevel box and always assumes its fine...how can you if its oil quantity is unknown???

[S3_Miles]

You wrote: "I know its not the bevel box cause they did not touch it". So how much oil is in the bevel box? Anyone ever check/change the oil in the bevel box? How do you "know" its not the bevel box if its oil was never checked?

Brother I said it was fine all the way up to the point of parking it in their garage. The bevel box was never mention on the requested service by me, nor was on the invoice, nor was stated they touched it in any manner. Leaving the shop, as soon as I was up to speed..... whine. Car was there a day. It did not magically vent/evaporate to the atmosphere in that amount of time.
I know you are stuck on this symptom being the box as I saw by when I searched the topic and saw you time and time again reply with it being "the bevel box". I am glad that worked for you. There are many things that can symptomatically cause gear whine noise. Am I 100% sure it is not? No of course not. Is it likely? Not nearly at all.

What oil did they put in the DSG? Do you know?

Pentosin 8038207. I have it on the invoice.

Theres a whole lot of assumption here with allot of specifics missing....


I know its not my bevel box cause I change its oil. So I know its oil level is correct!

FYI bevel box oil is vented to atmosphere and a person here posted his ran out of oil!

I know its not my DSG cause I put in OE Audi oil for the 6 speed DQ250

Did you know the 7 speed DQ381 uses a different oil?

Ok, but the 2015 Audi S3 uses a DQ250

Shop is a reputable guy....if I had a dollar every time I heard that...

Yeah ok - but he is. Been around along time and has 100% positive experiences. He is in my local Audi club as well and how I came to know him. If he was shite, he would not be recommended by every local Audi driver around. Anyways....

What specific oil was put in the DSG? How much?

See above. How much? I do not know because he put a flat rate and not quantity on the invoice. Even if he said "6 quarts" - He may have had to open 6 but not use all 6.

I am trying to understand...from anyone that had this scenario happen..."immediately after DSG service"... what their root cause was. Maybe it IS low. Maybe this is his first screw up? This is why I am asking.

Reciepts?

Yes, I have one. Regardless of what the receipt says, I have a problem. The receipt can be incorrect too but that would not be the root cause of my problem.

PS no one ever touches the bevel box and always assumes its fine...how can you if its oil quantity is unknown???

I am not at all convinced this has anything to do with the bevel box based on the scenario that occurred. Thanks.

[MikTip]

You avoided answering was the DSG oil changed at 35k? Why was it changed at 65k? Audi specifies specific intervals...

My guess...your old dsg oil was just that...old and thick.

Everything was fine before...reputable shop only changed oil...should be fine.

[S3_Miles]

You avoided answering was the DSG oil changed at 35k? Why was it changed at 65k?

Not intentionally. Somehow I missed it when quoting you to reply item by item. I bought the car at 29k miles CPO from Rusnak Audi in Pasadena California. My wife worked there at the time, and because of her "charm"...she asked not only for a discount but also that all upcoming 35k services got done. I know the plugs were changed because as soon as I got it home, I inspected them as a "check" to see what / if it was done. I can only assume they swapped the DSG fluid as well but I do not know for sure. I was not noted on any paperwork I received. I never asked a service advisor for a printout of the maintenance history with Audi network (again because I assumed all was done). I have since done nearly all of it myself...Oil, Plugs, Brakes, Filters, etc (sans the DSG, Haldex, Carbon Intake Cleaning).

I live no closer than 2+ hours from the nearest Audi dealer where I am, and semi-rural so finding an appropriate Audi technician you can trust around is a needle/haystack search. I am not into car clubs but it was the primary reason I ended up searching for one and joining...to find someone that would be willing to do what I do not do. I just happened to be at 65k miles and I was looking for someone to do all 3 (DSG, Haldex, Carbon Intake Cleaning) things for me. The DSG would have been overdue in terms of years. I bought the car in 2018, and it is to be changed every 3 years. Well I am at year 6.

The shop I went to took pictures of the intake tract in regard to the carbon cleaning...and it sure needed it. Also discovered I had the beginning of the nefarious water pump leak, so replaced that while in there.

Anyway, back on track: Could the DSG oil have been too oil or thick? Possibly...and I suppose that would mask a problem that was there (which I read there could be bearing challenges in the DSG).
I was hoping to learn from someone's experience here to help solidify a theory.

Audi specifies specific intervals...

My guess...your old dsg oil was just that...old and thick.

Everything was fine before...reputable shop only changed oil...should be fine.

Sure and if it was old and thick..and now has new fluid...what is it that was now exposed? Is it a bearing issue? If the fluid was degraded, it would not lubricate well and cause potential failures. This is what I am trying to find out before it happens.

[MikTip]

Mine has 187,00 miles on it...still drive it to work every day.

I would look at your gearbox mount...they get worn...can transmit noises to the uni-body...

[texasboy21]

Everyone says OEM genuine Audi fluid is the way to go, despite other fluid manufacturers making seemingly viable and often times less expensive options. Generally speaking OEM fluid is 2x the price of aftermarket.

It's possible your shop when with a non-Audi fluid and you are feeling it.

Ive had a total of three DSG fills, two of which were done by Audi (original fill + an Audicare service at the dealership) as well as an indy shop using the LiquiMoly flavor trans fluid. My butt dyne could tell a difference immediately after the LM fluid fill. Specifically I was hearing more noise/howl from the trans. I am due for another service and will DIY this one with Audi fluid, so that should tell me whether or not I am crazy for thinking it sounds or feels diff with OEM fluid. The placebo affect is real.

[MikTip]

Not intentionally. Somehow I missed it when quoting you to reply item by item. I bought the car at 29k miles CPO from Rusnak Audi in Pasadena California. My wife worked there at the time, and because of her "charm"...she asked not only for a discount but also that all upcoming 35k services got done. I know the plugs were changed because as soon as I got it home, I inspected them as a "check" to see what / if it was done. I can only assume they swapped the DSG fluid as well but I do not know for sure. I was not noted on any paperwork I received. I never asked a service advisor for a printout of the maintenance history with Audi network (again because I assumed all was done). I have since done nearly all of it myself...Oil, Plugs, Brakes, Filters, etc (sans the DSG, Haldex, Carbon Intake Cleaning).

I live no closer than 2+ hours from the nearest Audi dealer where I am, and semi-rural so finding an appropriate Audi technician you can trust around is a needle/haystack search. I am not into car clubs but it was the primary reason I ended up searching for one and joining...to find someone that would be willing to do what I do not do. I just happened to be at 65k miles and I was looking for someone to do all 3 (DSG, Haldex, Carbon Intake Cleaning) things for me. The DSG would have been overdue in terms of years. I bought the car in 2018, and it is to be changed every 3 years. Well I am at year 6.

The shop I went to took pictures of the intake tract in regard to the carbon cleaning...and it sure needed it. Also discovered I had the beginning of the nefarious water pump leak, so replaced that while in there.

Anyway, back on track: Could the DSG oil have been too oil or thick? Possibly...and I suppose that would mask a problem that was there (which I read there could be bearing challenges in the DSG).
I was hoping to learn from someone's experience here to help solidify a theory.



Sure and if it was old and thick..and now has new fluid...what is it that was now exposed? Is it a bearing issue? If the fluid was degraded, it would not lubricate well and cause potential failures. This is what I am trying to find out before it happens.

Lets assume here, as we have from the start...the old oil was OEM Audi oil.

Lets assume it never got changed at 35k as per factory recommendation.

So at 65k the OEM oil is old and thick....

Reputable shop drains and fills with Pentosin and as TexasBoy21 wrote...the oils are different.

1+1=2.

Mystery solved.

Especially since your not even entertaining the idea of the bevel box oil...

[MikTip]

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...1#post14915335

[S3_Miles]

Mine has 187,00 miles on it...still drive it to work every day.

I would look at your gearbox mount...they get worn...can transmit noises to the uni-body...

That is a good call. I replaced the one in my wife's A3 but that was due to a different kind of noise. I do not think its this because again it was immediate...but still worth a look at the car is now 9 years old and sadly sits outside in semi-harsh seasonal conditions

Lets assume here, as we have from the start...the old oil was OEM Audi oil.

Lets assume it never got changed at 35k as per factory recommendation.

So at 65k the OEM oil is old and thick....

Reputable shop drains and fills with Pentosin and as TexasBoy21 wrote...the oils are different.

1+1=2.

Mystery solved.

Especially since your not even entertaining the idea of the bevel box oil...

Ok this one makes sense. Also learned that the factory fluid is not Pentosin. Wonder what additive the Factory Fluid has that Pentosin does not?

[S3_Miles]

@MikTip - I just wanted to follow up on this thread as im still chasing the howl. I caved and replaced the front and rear differential fluids (something the guy did not even touch..and how I knew it was not that). I bought brand new OEM Diff fluid, added the Liquimoly to it too before pumping back into the differentials. Drained the old oils (rear looked still like honey...front was a little more like molasses)

Howl still there.

It is something that is correlated to the speed of the car and varies with the speed. Not the gearbox because the speed of the DSG changes depending on RPMs (I would think). I also just had it reserviced at the Audi dealer as well so I know its correct with correct fluid.
Same for the Haldex as it only engages when the car is pushed (also an assumption). Like if I am cruising at 80mph on the freeway, I can hear it clear as day...but I am not under (much) acceleration and it is dry so I would think I am only using FWD.

So yeah...who knows. Maybe a wheel bearing. Gotta be something stupid like that.

[MikTip]

My guess is the normal wear of the ring and pinions...
The sound travels thru the unibody...
Have to looked and the gearbox mount? If its bad it sags...allows gearbox noise into the car...
I replaced my stock mounts a long time ago...they were shot. Have BFI. They are great

[ReggieNoble]

I'll put money on wheel bearing, I've had three of the four fail, all with howling noise. And of course I'm lazy and only change one at a time haha

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Audizine Forum mobile app

[MikTip]

$5