enlo

Who makes the automatic transmission in the A6?

tlewis81

ZF makes all the audi trans

Schumi1

I have a 2001 A6 4.2 with 170k miles on it. It has started down shifting harder than normal lately and I wonder if changing the fluid would help/hurt?

pierreb

fyi, you might get a quicker answer in the C5 forum.

enlo

While for your specific car you should check the C5 forum, I have repeatedly heard that for high milage, if you've never replaced the fluid, you are opening a can of worms changing it now for the 1st time. In the 'old days' before manufacturers picked up basic maintenance, fluid intervals were much shorter. I recall reading in an ACNA publication some time back that despite the claim of 'lifetime' fills, automatic transmission fluid should be flushed at 60,000 miles. Go read Roundel, and you'll see BMW owners are also being messed up because of unrealistic fluid interval recommendations. Remember, when the manufacturer is picking up the tab, service goes down. When I bought my A6, I asked how often should I change the oil- I was told every 5,000 miles. When I leased my 5 series, I spoke to a friend who was a service adviser fopr BMW; at the time, BMW paid for yearly or 12,000 mile oil changes. Well, my friend asked me if I bought or leased- I said leased, and he said stick to the factory recommendation. He added that if I bought, cut the factory numbers in half.

tlewis81

seen a fluid change help after it already starts acting up, just ends up being a waste of $700.

Egil A64.2s - S6

I'd say you are just as likely to have problems with a transmission fluid change as with not doing it.

Audi, by the way, does not recommend changing the fluid.