thoughts on high milage ATF change

[terracide99]

Hey all

I'm trying to get quote from few nearby shops on ATF change, and have been reading online about it as well. One of the shops, as well as few post here and there, warned about changing ATF on a high-mileage car that never had it done before due to potential transmission failure. I'm the 2nd owner of my 05 S4 with 86K on it, and never track my car but have pushed it once a month or so. I'm incline to have it changed, because Audi's definition of lifetime doesn't mean forever. But I would like some more opinion on this, especially if someone here had a failure due to ATF change.

Thanks in advance

[EErie B6]

I am pro ATF change.

BUT - you MUST change the filter, and it would be VERY WISE to change the filter again 500-1000 miles later.
I bring this up because a lot of transmission shops just want to hook into transmission cooler lines (or similar) and pump new into it till the other side runs clear - many don't bother to touch the filter.

The reason people see AT failures after a fluid change is because ATF is a high detergent oil. Replacing the fluid renews all these detergents and ends up cleaning out your valve bodies and grabbing stuff that has settled along the way. This is then caught by the filter, it plugs it up, and the tranny dies of fluid starvation.

[dparm]

Best thing you can do is change the fluid and then change it AGAIN about 500 miles later. And yes, change the filter.

[nicotino15]

From what I heard from other people I was always afraid of a high mileage flush, I did a drain/refill on my old 98 maxima with 130k miles and drove it until 165k miles with no issues.

[dparm]

If you are truly concerned, take it to the dealer and let them handle it.