ZF 6HP19 - ATF - Valvoline MafLife Multivehicle

[vtraudt]

Is the 6HP any different regarding ATF than the 5HP?

I (and a lot of others, including big tranny shops in our area) have been using the Valvoline MaxLife Multivehicle ATF for the 5HP car (Audi, BMW, etc) for decades.
I am changing fluid on my B7 tranny tomorrow, and plan to use again the Valvoline based on the success with the 5HP trannies (5HP19, 5HP24).

What is the word out there (aside from the "only use Audi labeled fluid (made by someone else and same stuff just for 3x the price)" regarding alternative fluids for the 6HP?

Haven't checked bimmer forum et al. And now the 6HP is maybe used in domestic cars (pretty sure the indy trans shops don't put Audi fluid into those)?

[Audibot]

I changed my B7's transmission fluid the first time with OE Audi fluid (ZF's Lifeguard 6 at the time). 2nd time, I had Lifeguard 8 (which is supposed to be compatible) and had a shop do it; it was terrible. Shifts were jerky; I could feel it slipping, etc. Brought it back and they did a complete drain and fill (3x IIRC) with Redline D4 and it was great.

TL;DR: Haven't used the Valvoline, but have used Redline D4 to great success. Be sure to do several drain and fills to completely remove the original fluid.

[vtraudt]

Officially, ZF specifies their Lifeguard 8 for the 6HP "A) (quattro I pressume) in Audi, but Lifeguard 6 in BMW (RWD).
Valvoline rates their MaxLife as a suitable replacement/mix for Lifeguard 8 (and various BMW, Mercedes and Volkswagen specs).

For the 5HP trannies, they specify Lifeguard 5.

So I guess it is a good fit for the 6HP.

[vtraudt]

I changed my B7's transmission fluid the first time with OE Audi fluid (ZF's Lifeguard 6 at the time). 2nd time, I had Lifeguard 8 (which is supposed to be compatible) and had a shop do it; it was terrible. Shifts were jerky; I could feel it slipping, etc. Brought it back and they did a complete drain and fill (3x IIRC) with Redline D4 and it was great.

TL;DR: Haven't used the Valvoline, but have used Redline D4 to great success. Be sure to do several drain and fills to completely remove the original fluid.

Hmh. Strange since they specify Lifeguard 8 now for the Audi (but still 6 for the bimmer; same tranny; assume 8 because of quattro?).

I will drop pan and change gasket, filter and fill with the Maxlife (mix with the fluid that is in the car; assume original). See how it goes.

[Jay-Bee]

Officially, ZF specifies their Lifeguard 8 for the 6HP

They split it during the B7 years, you need a TCM update to run the ZF8 fluid properly.

[vtraudt]

They split it during the B7 years, you need a TCM update to run the ZF8 fluid properly.

Wow! Wonder how the "ZF8 compatible" Valvoline will work. I assume Audi wants a pretty penny for the TCM update?

[vtraudt]

They split it during the B7 years, you need a TCM update to run the ZF8 fluid properly.

Has Audi changed THEIR (who knows what they are using) their fluid specification also to accomodate the "Split"? If so, from what spec to what spec?
Or are they just ignoring the ZF and use the same spec/fluid for both versions without bothering?

[Jay-Bee]

Wow! Wonder how the "ZF8 compatible" Valvoline will work. I assume Audi wants a pretty penny for the TCM update?

It should be covered under a TSB if you ever had it in for service, I asked them to check when i did my airbag recall and they said it was up to date. I then realized you can easily tell your TCM software rev from VCDS as well.

[vtraudt]

It should be covered under a TSB if you ever had it in for service, I asked them to check when i did my airbag recall and they said it was up to date. I then realized you can easily tell your TCM software rev from VCDS as well.

Scan of tranny module:
Tuesday,12,March,2019,20:02:13:03761
VCDS Version: Release 18.9.1 (x64) Running on Windows 7 x64
www.Ross-Tech.com

Address 02: Auto Trans Labels: 09L-927-760.lbl
Control Module Part Number: 8E1 910 156 K HW: 09L 927 156 B
Component and/or Version: AG6 09L 2,0TFSI USA 0080
Software Coding: 0000002
Work Shop Code: WSC 00000 000 00000
VCID: 2F6C9E5BBE13FD3274-807A

[Jay-Bee]

Has Audi changed THEIR (who knows what they are using) their fluid specification also to accomodate the "Split"? If so, from what spec to what spec?
Or are they just ignoring the ZF and use the same spec/fluid for both versions without bothering?

Check Phil's ATF DIY, i'm pretty sure he covered this.

I work in parts sales, honestly some of this stuff is overly complicated for no reason. I'll be running Liquimoly 1800 Toptec ATF, it is a multi spec fluid as well that covers ZF6&8

[Charles.waite]

ZF Lifeguard 8 is good stuff. I used it recently in my wife's ZF 8HP powered Q5 with solid results. That being said, I believe Redline D6 fluid will work for a 6HP and its way cheaper than ZF.

[Audibot]

Oh they have D6 now? Was D4 back in 2014 or 2015 when mine was done.

[aluthman]

I used Vaico ATF 8HP in the 05.5 tip B7 I used to have and it worked great. The trans went from not shifting out of third to working perfectly. This was at about 172k miles.