MP4.2+6.0

And in turn, you can get the LifeGuard 6 from a variety of sellers on eBay, down to about $25/liter depending on which ad. You can also get the Audi equivalent (aka "Gold" for its color) from either AudiUSAParts or ECS Tuning for somewhat more--Audi # G055005A2.

ZF doesn't sell the Blue equivalent fluid anymore (LifeGuard 6+), saying instead to use LifeGuard 8, but you can still get it via the Audi part #: G055162A2. It now sells for just slightly more than "Gold" via the Audi OE #, while originally it sold for more like 2x. The W12 spec always was for Blue, so I use that type and thus the Audi OE. As Brozee suggested in his reply, if I had a 4.2 and some shift quality issue, I would probably just start with a fluid and filter change with standard Gold (LG 6), plus the tranny adaptation you can trigger with VAG COM/VCDS.

FWIW to supplement this reply about the number of drains, my calcs showed to get to a 90-95% cumulative change, it takes 3 drains. Two drains gets more like to 80%. This assumes one of the drains (only) includes a pan pull to get at the filter. Doing so gets over another liter + out for that drain cycle that is in the pan but below the drain hole exit. The total quantity of fluid spec'ed in the TSB for the full change over to a different fluid type (Blue or Green) suggests to me Audi was using/implying a three drain cycle regimen.

Also supplementing for others, if you search the web there is a large database of posts on the 6HP units, particularly for BMW's. Both BMW and Jag published a TSB equivalent for the hoot, and also went down the path of improved fluid. Audi's TSB seems the most comprehensive though, having read all of them back to when I drove a friend's Jag XJ8 with the "hoot," which would also trigger a CEL at times. I have also come across a fair number of separate BMW posts about the 1-2 shift, described at times as the clunk. For Audis, I have heard little of that; that's more a five speed 5HP24A (lemon) tranny issue for Audis, and even the old four speed 4HP. If you search long enough, Ford also published some stuff on the 6HP tranny for its application, and Hyundai/Kia of all things has an extensive diagnostic publication on it, though not really around the "hoot" issue particularly.

Panelhead

if I had a 4.2 and some shift quality issue, I would probably just start with a fluid and filter change with standard Gold (LG 6), plus the tranny adaptation you can trigger with VAG COM/VCDS.
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As a preventitive action, I am getting mine done with the timing belt at a solid indie shop soon. What is the firmware/programming I can do with my Ross Tech?
Works fine now, want to keep it this way.

MP4.2+6.0

that is, the programming described in the Audi TSB. It is a reflash of the tranny control unit (TCU) and has to be done on their equipment, tied back to the central Audi computers in Germany. Not a DIY, not available via CD/DVD, etc. Dealers charge 1 or 1-½ hours for it if stand alone from other work.

What you can do is the adaptation if you want via VAG-COM/VCDS, which is a relearning of shift characteristics and driving style. That's what I was referring to. Once triggered you do a prescribed drive with a series of shifts; it's covered in the TSB IIRC. But it doesn't change the baseline programming of the TCU.

Panelhead

This I have read about. I will stick it as is. The driving, stopping, accelerating, and other items can wait till there are issues.

bmwm750

As long as you stick with the original "gold" 6 fluid, you're fine. However, the TSB warns (take this as seriously as you'd like), that going to the "blue" 6+ or green (8) fluid, requires the software, or else transmission damage will occur.

TSHong

I agree with everyone that I would do a filter and flush with gold fluid and see how it goes. If id does not work, I would drain and refill it again and that would probably do the trick.

nathanwind

My local shop (that specializes in German autos, mainly BMW/Audi) recommends and has great success with LiquiMoly Top Tec ATF 1800, same "gold" fluid, and is called out specifically for ZF 6HP transmissions as can be seen here:

http://www.liqui-moly.de/liquimoly/produktdb.nsf/id/en_3687.html?Opendocument&land=DE&vcmstemplate=mob ile&redirect=1

The quote from their website is "Top Tec ATF 1800 was developed primarily for use in type ZF 6HP19/26/32 automatic transmissions".

Any thoughts or experience with this fluid if one is looking to keep it in the "gold" realm and not go blue or green?

dvs_dave

Reality is that it will be just fine and work just as well as the ZF LF6. Although just how much of the all important snake oil additive is in the ZF fluid is anyone's guess. Protectionism and scaremongering by the manufacturers is alive and well.

bmwm750

Yes, yes it is. The way I look at this, for something that you do every 40k-50k, who really cares about saving $50 or $100 every 3 or 4 years (if you even keep the car that long) to accept what amounts to potential risk.

It's your car, so you do what you think is the smartest choice.

faisalfaisal

Hi I haven’t been able to find the tsb and searched the net do you happen to have a copy of the pdf or where I can find it ?
thanks