Liqui moly top tec MTF 5400 for 6-speed

[JohnnySLine]

Hey all!

Late last year Liqui Moly released a new transmission fluid that sounds perfect for our old transmissions. Its a GL4, 75w-90 fluid that supposedly is a direct replacement for the OEM part # fluid. It's part number is 22275. As I live in New Zealand, there's not any available locally yet, so I'm going to give Liqui Moly a call to see if I can get it through them rather than ECS or some other US site.

Has anyone tried this fluid? In my search to find a good transmission fluid for my 01E, I've found that I would prefer a straight up GL4 fluid rather than a hybrid type fluid which covers both GL4 and GL5. I've also found conflicting information about the OEM fluid, with multiple part numbers being provided (both on forums and through my local dealership) for seemingly different fluids with different viscosities and such.

Anyway, the rear diff will probably get the hybrid GL4/GL5 fluid from Liqui Moly as it's readily available and I'm sure the diff isn't too fussy with what fluid it gets.

Any discussion would be greatly appreciated as I'd love to get some more opinions on this topic.
Also, would it be a good idea to post this in the B5 S4 forum too? I believe my specific transmission, the 01E is far more common on those cars than ours, especially in the United States.

Cheers all!

[JohnnySLine]

Bump!

I've spoken to both a VAG specialist shop who mainly carry Liqui Moly fluids, along with Liqui Moly themselves and have decided to order 5 litres of the Top Tec 5400 fluid. Though this fluid is only rated as a GL4, Liqui Moly say that this fluid is the correct type for both the transmission and the diff, even though the diff calls for a GL5. Their website says that the MTF 5400 is correct our cars and also that it covers the appropriate part numbers.

Along with the 5 bottles of MTF 5400, I have also bought a tube of the MoS2 gear additive for the diff only.

I'll update this thread with any findings after I swap out the fluids.

Currently my car has 214,XXXKMs on the odometer and I am unsure if the diff or transmission fluids have been changed yet. Running through the gears is wonderful when the gearbox is warmed up, but when it's cold, second and third can be slightly unpleasant to use. First only likes being engaged at low speed or through double clutching which is quite different from my mate's B6 that I believe has an 01A, which is less fussy.

[Spike00513]

Bump!

I've spoken to both a VAG specialist shop who mainly carry Liqui Moly fluids, along with Liqui Moly themselves and have decided to order 5 litres of the Top Tec 5400 fluid. Though this fluid is only rated as a GL4, Liqui Moly say that this fluid is the correct type for both the transmission and the diff, even though the diff calls for a GL5. Their website says that the MTF 5400 is correct our cars and also that it covers the appropriate part numbers.

Along with the 5 bottles of MTF 5400, I have also bought a tube of the MoS2 gear additive for the diff only.

I'll update this thread with any findings after I swap out the fluids.

Currently my car has 214,XXXKMs on the odometer and I am unsure if the diff or transmission fluids have been changed yet. Running through the gears is wonderful when the gearbox is warmed up, but when it's cold, second and third can be slightly unpleasant to use. First only likes being engaged at low speed or through double clutching which is quite different from my mate's B6 that I believe has an 01A, which is less fussy.

Every transmission is different. It's trial and error.

Make sure the fluid is compatible. Regarding things like brass synchros.

Some people even mix fluids a certain ratio.

It depends on the use case of the vehicle. For example, some fluids are thin and feel good cold, and not good hot.
Others are thick and feel good hot, but not good cold.
It likely takes over a mile to warm up the gearbox.

It's hard to find a fluid that is good at both, if any even exist.

[JohnnySLine]

I've made sure that this fluid is compatible. Liqui Moly calls recommends it for use for where the correct respective OEM fluids are called. It's also a GL4 fluid which should inherently mean that it is safe on yellow metal components.

I've heard about folks using a mix of ATF with MTF in their BMW transmissions for better shifting characteristics, though when I searched for any similar ideas in Audi circles I found nothing. Maybe people don't want to try something similar due to the torsen diff sitting in the same fluid as the gears themselves. Anyway, the Liqui Moly stuff should be here in the next day or two and I'll get onto the flush when they show up.

[shurur9]

I've made sure that this fluid is compatible. Liqui Moly calls recommends it for use for where the correct respective OEM fluids are called. It's also a GL4 fluid which should inherently mean that it is safe on yellow metal components.

I've heard about folks using a mix of ATF with MTF in their BMW transmissions for better shifting characteristics, though when I searched for any similar ideas in Audi circles I found nothing. Maybe people don't want to try something similar due to the torsen diff sitting in the same fluid as the gears themselves. Anyway, the Liqui Moly stuff should be here in the next day or two and I'll get onto the flush when they show up.

Interested how it shifts for you.

I've been using Amsoil 75-90 GL4 synthetic MT and Transaxle gear lube for a few years now and like how Gretchen shifts with it.

[EuroxS4]

Maybe in wrong but I don't think a 1.8t a4 will have a 01E transmission in it. Maybe for the market in new zealand but here in USA 01E only came in early 3.0 a4 vehicles 2002-2003, b5 s4's some allroads and audi a6's.

[JohnnySLine]

Interested how it shifts for you.

I've been using Amsoil 75-90 GL4 synthetic MT and Transaxle gear lube for a few years now and like how Gretchen shifts with it.

Liqui Moly stuff showed up yesterday and I'm planning on doing the fluid change tomorrow. Need to borrow jack stands from some mates to be able to have the car level and with the wheels off the ground. I'm also interested to see how this stuff compares to what is in the box currently. I can get the amsoil stuff locally if the Liqui Moly doesn't shift well, but I really hope the Liqui Moly is fine as I don't want to spend another 150-250 odd dollars on more fluids.

Maybe in wrong but I don't think a 1.8t a4 will have a 01E transmission in it. Maybe for the market in new zealand but here in USA 01E only came in early 3.0 a4 vehicles 2002-2003, b5 s4's some allroads and audi a6's.

In New Zealand we get the Euro specced cars. My car is NZ new and has the BEX motor (190HP with the K03S turbo, dual intercoolers, bigger injectors, etc) and the 01E transmission for sure. Here's a local VAG breakers who had pulled the same transmission from a car like mine

https://vagparts.co.nz/audi-a4-b6-qu...8-final-drive/

I have confirmed that I have the same gearbox from the part number sticker on the top of the box, so certainly an 01E. A bit odd to have such a strong box paired with a motor that makes less than 200HP but I'm not complaining.


Side note, should I swing by the dealership for new drain bolts? I always replace my engine oil drain bolt for every oil change but I have noticed that in all the write ups for tranny fluid changes, people just reuse their old fill and drain bolts. Mine aren't leaking so I'm leaning on the side of just reusing them.

One last side note is that I opened a bottle of the 5400 and did notice the terrible smell of it that people have noted with the OE fluid and fuchs stuff, so it's looking like a good sign haha.

Should hopefully be updating tomorrow with shifting quality from the new oil.

[JohnnySLine]

Ended up just getting the transmission done today. Got too tired and I've got work this evening so I didn't end up bothering to do the diff. That'll be a job for another day.

Who knew that jacking up the entire car would be so scary? Getting it totally airborne was important for this job and a lift would have made life so much easier. Oh well, at least my car didn't fall on me.

The three bolts were in there good but they weren't seized or anything.

I was pleased to find almost nothing fishy about the fluid that came out, other than the smell. God this stuff bloody stinks! It was quite dark compared to the new stuff but wasn't worryingly so. It was a pretty simple process, but very messy and tedious. Filling up the trans, I would have to wait a little to top up the fluid more as the fluid wouldn't immediately sink to the bottom. I borrowed a huge syringe from my mate who had just done his rear diff on his S3. A tool like that or a pump makes the process much easier.

Eventually it was completely full and feeling the shifting while in the car was in the air was great. There was absolutely a noticeable improvement, especially with reverse.




Once the car was on the ground, I took it for a test drive and the shifting felt much more buttery. Obviously it wasn't that bad before so it could only improve so much but the slight grind into second and third has been greatly improved, It's almost imperceptible now when cold.

I'll update once I've driven a little bit more, but unfortunately I won't be doing that much driving as I noticed one of my inner front CV joints has split which will be another job for me to fix. Fortunately I think I have caught it early as theres no noise or slop in the joint.

Thanks for the input everyone! I hope others who try this fluid also enjoy it.

[Kevin C]

Good to hear the new fluid has worked out. I had tried Redline and two versions of the OEM fluid before going to Ravenoil. Of the three choices the Old Guy approved Ravenoil worked the best in my 02X. The biggest difference I noticed was it shifts great and it got rid of the shudder in the Torsen when at slow speeds wheels cut and accelerating. Getting rid of the torsen shudder was an unexpected bonus.