allenst

on my model.
when reading I see 50/50 view on this.
Reading the 2004 maintenance schedule, I do see ATF changes.
but then more views that ATF not to be changed.

What is the verdict ?

Prospeeder

Change it. Lifetime to them is as soon as the warranty is up. By 80k its looking rather dark and by 100k its black. Thats asking a lot for fluid to handle a powerful, heavy, awd car an infinite amount of miles. The fluid does break down, the fluid does oxidize, the anti foam additives, friction modifiers, ect all break down. ZF themselves say 40-60k mile changes.

MP4.2+6.0

Perhaps you might search a bit? Been debated a lot.

Let us know when you find the severe service spec for the tranny BTW, per ZF. Or that the 5 speeds are now "lifetime", even though they started with a regular service interval, until they decided not to retroactively and then buried the prior publication too, coincidentally about the time it became obvious it was a crap design internally. At the time Audi said lifetime and ZF didn't for the five speed. Yep, gives me the warm fuzzies that only technical expertise and experience rules. Not.

But opinions vary then and now, and there are lots of stories and quasi religious views in both directions. Again, search some even just a few pages down let alone for many years. Even in the past week I posted on some detailed ZF six speed specific internal changes that I will not repeat here yet again. Maybe also search more generally on why manufacturers are driven as an economic and marketing matter by cost of ownership analyses to stretch or declare lifetime service intervals as well. Let us know what you find.

allenst

that's what I have mostly gathered from my reading. Blauparts has a good 'how to' with photos. It is black in there demo.

allenst

So I did go back and read the audiworld posts on ATF.

I would say the posts ranged from:
don't fix if it ain't broke.
to remove 5L of old and put in 5L of L6
to do the full filter, gasket, and ATF oil change.

N_Jay

ZF North America Technical Services can be emailed for very direct answers.
In general the ATF should be changed at about 40K and every 80K after that.
For severe use you can cut the numbers about in half.
The first change is due to the amount of friction material that builds up from all the new parts.
They also said that (different than the old wives' tale) changing the fluid will not harm the transmission even if earlier changes were missed.
They are also adamant that once a transmission has started to fail, changing the fluid is not a fix.

Prospeeder

Yes i love that mindset people have. Gosh then why the hell don't you just never change the engine oil while your at it too. Its not knocking, so why maintain it.....Yea lets never change the trans fluid, just wait and wear the hell out of the transmission, it starts acting up, THEN try to do something, like change the fluid (which wont usually work since, you know, its worn out now because it wasn't maintained.) How does that make sense.

N_Jay

THEN you blame the failure on the fluid change.

allenst

thats what I've e reading.
if its already slipping or there's metal in the pan
then forget changing the fluid as a solution.

ps. now I gota go find out what a 'slip' feels like and possible causes...

Pothole5000

You should notice the transmission slipping.

You will see the revs rise too quickly and not feel the car moving forward at the same rate.