salvadorik

I am aware that it is a bit premature to bring up this issue but I decided to do so nevertheless. As you probably know by now that the transmissions on A6 C7 3.0 is maintenance-free. I am personally a bit skeptical about this and I decided to email ZF Friedrichshafen AG, a company that developed and produce 8 speed tiptronic transmissions for our vehicles. Please read below my email and the answer to it. I would really love to hear as what you think with respect to the requirement to change ATF oil, if any.


Dear Mr ...,

first of all: Happy new year!

Thank you very much for your request!

Your ZF automatic transmission is filled maintenance-free with specially developed partially synthetic ATF oil. Maintenance-free fills are intended for normal operating conditions.

However, especially driving at very high operating temperatures can result in accelerated aging or increased wear of ATF oils. It is recommended, in the event of severe operating
conditions, such as:

- frequent highway driving in top speed range,
- offensive, sporty driving style,
- frequent trailer operation,

being above average, oil purification (oil change) on automatic transmissions is recommended between 80,000 km and 120,000 km, or 8 years, depending on the load.

In each case, only released ATF oil may be used for oil changes. And oil changes must be performed in accordance with the relevant specifications.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.

Best regards

Robert Buchmeier

Produktkommunikation Presse Technik / Product Communications and Trade Press
Kommunikation ZF-Konzern / Communications ZF Group

ZF Friedrichshafen AG
88038 Friedrichshafen, Deutschland/Germany
Telefon/Phone +49 7541 77-2488, Telefax/Fax +49 7541 77-902488
Mobile +49 171 9751320
robert.buchmeier@zf.com; www.zf.com

Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats/Chairman of the Supervisory Board: Prof. Dr. Giorgio Behr
Vorstand/Board of Management: Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrates: Giorgio Behr
Vorstand: Dr. Stefan Sommer (Vorsitzender/CEO), Dr. Konstantin Sauer, Dr. Peter Ottenbruch, Jürgen Holeksa, Dr. Gerhard Wagner, Reinhard Buhl, Rolf Lutz, Wilhelm Rehm
Sitz: Friedrichshafen • Handelsregistereintrag: Amtsgericht Ulm HRB 630 206
www.zf.com • postoffice@zf.com
Sitz/Headquarters: Friedrichshafen
Handelsregistereintrag: Amtsgericht Ulm HRB 630206/Trade register of the municipal court of Ulm HRB 630206




Gesendet: Dienstag, 8. Januar 2013 03:15
An: Presse Technik Pkw FRD
Betreff: 8 speed tiptronic transmission - oil change intervals

Dear ZF officer,

I am an owner of a 2012 Audi A6. Per my knowledge ZF’s 8 speed tiptronic transmissions transfer the power on most of Audi cars including mine. Let me state how truly I am delighted with this transmission. It is quick, smooth and always knows what gear to use in order to give me maximum comfort and fuel efficiency.

Since you have the best knowledge in developing and producing this transmission I would like to ask for your suggestion as how often and what intervals I am supposed to change the oil and the filter, if any? Audi says that I don’t need to change the oil on this transmission as it is very efficient and it is sealed permanently. With all do respect to the quality and efficiency of this transmission, I am a believer that there are a lot of moving parts and they tend to wear as I drive. I intend to keep this vehicle for as long as I can and maintain it to the best of my ability. Can you please recommend on what would be the best interval to change oil and filter?

I would really appreciate your response.

Sincerely yours,

PJRed2008

I guess I don't understand your point. The message is very clear, normal driving you don't change it, if you drive the **** out of the car then you do.

What else is there to understand?

salvadorik

I did not ask for interpretation of the reply. I asked for the personal opinion of C7 owners with 8 speed transmission. Everyone has his/her own experience with respect to the maintenance of their vehicles, thus variety of opinions is likely. Now if you see the reply states between 80,000km and 120,000km. Also, my dealer said 100K miles would be the right time. My suggestion to you is to be respectful to forum members and NOT be a bone-headed OP.

last911

Change the fluid at 80,000 km and you be FULLY compliant with Engineering, Reasearch, and Development Depatments at ZF. What more security do you require?

PJRed2008

Okay, got it. You can't make up your own mind so you need other people to do it for you. Understand.

I'm respectful of those who deserve it. And, as YOU are the OP, I wouldn't classify you as a bone-head, but you know yourself better than I...

tenspeed

Wrong tranny...

last911

The C7 A6 3.0 built for the North American market does not use the DSG transmission. It uses a conventional torque converter coupled automatic transmission. The mechanical part of the DSG transmission is totally different from the Tiptronic as are the clutch packs.

tenspeed

You're right.

Wikipedia showed an S Tronic transmission. The Audi brochure shows a eight speed Tiptronic.

directorguy7

Ignore idiots like PJRed2008. Every post he does is just rude. Shame they sold an Audi to him ( I wouldn't of.) In the end though, people get what they deserve eventually.

My dealer said as well around 100k. People say synth. oil can be changed 10k miles and they are probably right, never the less I change it every 5k. Ultimately it cant hurt, so if it is not REALLY hard to change the ATF oil every 100k then I would do it regardless of what ZF says.
Audi tests the hell out of their models to a extreme obsessive extent, so it is probably fine never touching it but I agree with your concern and thanks for posting it on the forum, we love discussions!

DeerHunter

Why do I like this description?