2006 Audi A4 2.0t fsi multitronic fluid leak?

[audiglenn]

I took my car for a trip to Arizona the past week. Temperatures were in the high 20's, low 30's. When I returned, I noticed some fluid underneath the vehicle which I think is transmission fluid. The temperature here is in the low to mid 50's. The leak occurs just forward of the cross bar between the 2 under belly covers under the transmission. There is also 2 small metal tubes running across. I attempted to tighten the bolts on the transmission around the leak. They are already very tight. The slow leak doesn't seem to happen while the car is idling. After a long drive, I also don't observe any leak/wetness. However, I observe a leak/wetness between the 2 under belly covers and small oil puddles underneath the following morning.

I am not observing any driving issues with the transmission but I do notice slipping under heavy acceleration going up a steep hill. I have not got any warnings of low transmission fluid. Will the ECU warn me when the fluid is low?

Not sure what the CVT fluid looks like. The liquid under the vehicle is clear and slippery and sort of pinkish.

Would appreciate guide any guidance/suggestions.

[B-Time]

Check your coolant level.

[Phaxmohdem]

CVT fluid is greenish. Used CVT fluid looks closer to dirty oil. Pink fluid would be coolant or potentially rainwater diluted hydraulic fluid from a leaky engine mount.

Edit: I would almost bet it's motor mount fluid. I had the same thought when I first saw the red-ish fluid on my belly pan (before I found out CVT fluid isn't red like normal ATF) To check you can take off the belly pan and look at the underside of the mounts to see if they're looking leaky/rusty... or I could kinda tell just by shining a flashlight at them from the engine bay and seeing the red puddles beneath them in the belly pan.

[80sGuy]

....

I am not observing any driving issues with the transmission but I do notice slipping under heavy acceleration going up a steep hill. I have not got any warnings of low transmission fluid. Will the ECU warn me when the fluid is low?

....Would appreciate guide any guidance/suggestions.

Change your motor mounts and stub mount, it will help your car shift much better and runs smoother. CVT fluid will not run low but only gets dirty within time and you will not get any reminders. The only warning you'll get is when your transmission starts to act up such as hesitating, bucking, slipping, surging, etc..

[audiglenn]

The fluid seems to slippery to be coolant. I will check my coolant level. Thanks.

[audiglenn]

CVT fluid is greenish. Used CVT fluid looks closer to dirty oil. Pink fluid would be coolant or potentially rainwater diluted hydraulic fluid from a leaky engine mount.

Edit: I would almost bet it's motor mount fluid. I had the same thought when I first saw the red-ish fluid on my belly pan (before I found out CVT fluid isn't red like normal ATF) To check you can take off the belly pan and look at the underside of the mounts to see if they're looking leaky/rusty... or I could kinda tell just by shining a flashlight at them from the engine bay and seeing the red puddles beneath them in the belly pan.

Yes, the fluid wasn't recognizable. I had thought it could be power steering fluid. I will check out the motor mounts. Thanks.

[audiglenn]

Change your motor mounts and stub mount, it will help your car shift much better and runs smoother. CVT fluid will not run low but only gets dirty within time and you will not get any reminders. The only warning you'll get is when your transmission starts to act up such as hesitating, bucking, slipping, surging, etc..

Appreciate your response here. I'll see if I can change the motor mounts and stub mount myself.

[Phaxmohdem]

Feel free to pm me if you need and tips on that process... I just went through it all myself very recently. There are some good DIYs here if you haven't found them already.

[audiglenn]

Feel free to pm me if you need and tips on that process... I just went through it all myself very recently. There are some good DIYs here if you haven't found them already.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think the mount everybody here is referring to is the multitronic gearbox subframe mount bracket. Anyway, I will take a look today or tomorrow to see what mounts are above/near the transmission. I assume these are hydraulic mounts.

[Phaxmohdem]

The motor mounts I replaced were forward of the transmission on each side of the block... But the fluid would most likely drain backwards to the point that where the two belly pans meet up if there was enough of it. I didn't mess with transmission mounts on my adventure, just the two motor mounts on the sides and the snub mount up front.

[audiglenn]

I assume you had the same leak where the two belly pans meet. I'll go ahead and look at the two motor mounts and snub mount up front and see if I can see an oil trace. Is there a DIY instructions/video for performing the replacement?

[Phaxmohdem]

I assume you had the same leak where the two belly pans meet. I'll go ahead and look at the two motor mounts and snub mount up front and see if I can see an oil trace. Is there a DIY instructions/video for performing the replacement?

Yeah check out the b7 tech sub forum for the DIYs. Motor mount one should be near the top. Not sure if there is a snub specific DIY but it's easy to figure out.

[audiglenn]

Yeah check out the b7 tech sub forum for the DIYs. Motor mount one should be near the top. Not sure if there is a snub specific DIY but it's easy to figure out.

Okay. Thanks.

[audiglenn]

I checked all the motor mounts and observed no leaks. Its difficult to tell where the leak is coming from. I believe it is coming from one of 2 brake lines running under the transmission. The brake fluid reservoir is just below the min mark. I will attempt to tighten the bolts on the brake line close to the leak. Thanks.

[Okedokey]

All of this wouldn't explain the under load slippage though. You may still have issues such as the tcm

[audiglenn]

All of this wouldn't explain the under load slippage though. You may still have issues such as the tcm

I was wondering about the TCM. Is there a TSB/recall for the 2006 multitronic?

[audiglenn]

As it turns out, it is the power steering reservoir that is below min and not the brake fluid reservoir. Brake fluid reservoir is full. My coolant level is also below min. I went ahead and filled the power steering reservoir to the max mark. I notice the pentosin power steering fluid was greenish. The coolant color more closely matches the fluid on the ground. I will also observe the coolant level for the next couple of miles.

[audiglenn]

My 2006 audi a4 may not be covered by the 2013 class action suit for multitronic transmissions from 2002 thru 2006. I am at 122k miles and 10 years. Not sure if it is slippage. Could it be the turbo bypass valve?

[B72011]

How do you get to the top bolt/nut holding in the motor mount on the pass side......it looks unreachable!

[Okedokey]

How do you get to the top bolt/nut holding in the motor mount on the pass side......it looks unreachable!

Leverage the heat shield up and out of the way and then use a 13 mm flexible head ratchet ring spanner. I used a socket extension to push it down on the top of the nut while turning. It wont be very tight, just crack it and then you should be able to get two fingers to take it off if you put your hand upside down with your thumb facing the cabin.

[Phaxmohdem]

How do you get to the top bolt/nut holding in the motor mount on the pass side......it looks unreachable!

I had to unmount the air cleaner box and move it out of the way to have enough room to get my hands in there with the flex-head 13mm ratcheting wrench. To remove the air box, undo the intake ducting like you would if you're trying to get at the air filter, then there is a plastic tab near the fender that holds the box to the side of the car. Pull that out carefully then you should be able to give the whole airbox a good yank upwards to dislodge its feet from the bottom push-mounts. You don't have to remove the heat-shield that is on the right side of the box, it is only attached to the air cleaner box itself.

I just moved the box out of the way and held it there with some mechanics wire while I did the motor mount business.

Getting the motor mount top nut off isn't too bad, it's blindly getting it back on that is the real PITA.

[audiglenn]

Check your coolant level.

l
My coolant reservoir is getting lower and lower. It was very cold last night. I had 2 puddles under the front underbelly, and 1 puddle under the rear underbelly. Will get some G12 coolant tomorrow. Since I just did an oil change and it was a little messy, it made it difficult to tell if it was coolant. I got a message on the vortex forum that it is the rear coolant flange that is leaking. I am hearing it is very difficult to change.