Is my mileage too high for transmission fluid change?

[dutch300zx]

Hey everyone,
My car (2009 A6 3.0t) hasn't been shifting like I think a fine German car should. Car has some clunky/jerky/not smooth gear changes (usually from 1-2 when cold, when stabbing throttle to downshift, etc.). Also has a slight stumbling/hesitation when accelerating at around 3k RPMs, but I feel like that may be more carbon buildup or throttle body related. I feel like a transmission fluid change/flush and filter would do the car good. It has 108k miles, and the previous owner (owned until 103k) gave me a service record of the dealership recommending a transmission service as 96k. I took the car to my local dealer, and they suggested that at 108k a fluid change may do more harm than good (something about sensitive clutch packs). They also quote me $950, so I'll likely be contacting local indy shops that specialize in European cars if I decide to have it done. What are your thoughts on getting it done at this mileage? Thanks!

[SinCityA6]

There are 2 schools of thought here and I am in the same boat as you. Some will say that a fluid FLUSH is a good thing and will only help the transmission perform better and last longer.
Others will say that once there is a build up of metal particles in the fluid on high mileage transmissions, those particles actually help the transmission perform its duties and changing it could negatively impact the performance of the transmission. The thought process is that the particles create needed friction so the transmission does not slip and removing those particle from a worn transmission will cause slippage and poor performance.
I am of the opinion that if the fluid changes have been done regularly, then there is no downside to changing fluid on a high mileage transmission. However, if the transmission has not been serviced, then a change is not recommended. My trusted mechanic pulled a sample of my fluid and advised me not to change it.


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[se.farrell]

Hey everyone,
My car (2009 A6 3.0t) hasn't been shifting like I think a fine German car should. Car has some clunky/jerky/not smooth gear changes (usually from 1-2 when cold, when stabbing throttle to downshift, etc.). Also has a slight stumbling/hesitation when accelerating at around 3k RPMs, but I feel like that may be more carbon buildup or throttle body related. I feel like a transmission fluid change/flush and filter would do the car good. It has 108k miles, and the previous owner (owned until 103k) gave me a service record of the dealership recommending a transmission service as 96k. I took the car to my local dealer, and they suggested that at 108k a fluid change may do more harm than good (something about sensitive clutch packs). They also quote me $950, so I'll likely be contacting local indy shops that specialize in European cars if I decide to have it done. What are your thoughts on getting it done at this mileage? Thanks!

Interested to hear input, as I am in a similar situation.

All during tiptronic shifting, auto/sport is fine:
1->2 – seems hard to me (unless I am flooring it, then its smooth as butter)
2->1 – unless I am doing ~4 mph it’s pretty hard
Slight hesitation @ ~2900 rpm (generally in 2nd (?) gear)
If I baby the throttle (think, in traffic) from 0/1 to 1,2,3,4 mph, I get an abrupt jump/jolt.


I think that my situation has much to do with carbon build-up (possibly low pressure fuel pump) rather than the transmission. I think that if you were sub 100, or replacing the transmission at the same time, it would probably be ok. But, I think that doing a flush now would do more harm than good. (Disclaimer: I have no idea what I am talking about)

[b6onboost]

We changed the tranny fluid on our A6 at 55k per dealer recommendation and shifting went from perfect to crap. Dealer gave us the same explanation SinCityA6 mentioned. So you don't even have to be 'high' mileage for a flush to negatively impact the car.

[SinCityA6]

We changed the tranny fluid on our A6 at 55k per dealer recommendation and shifting went from perfect to crap. Dealer gave us the same explanation SinCityA6 mentioned. So you don't even have to be 'high' mileage for a flush to negatively impact the car.

Surprised the dealer would recommend that considering the transmission is "maintenance free" according to Audi. Sorry to here that.


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[CBR900RRR]

My 07 C6 S6 w 93k has a really bad 1-2 and sometimes 2-3 shift. it feels like trans is slipping off the line under soft acceleration, then bam its almost like a neutral drop grabs a gear and jolts forward. downshifts are very clunky as well, I thought that there was a big difference in S vs D, but today as I was driving around in S in the parking lot, it was really bad, from a stop as I tried to accelerate, the RPMs climbed a bit then bam, I could actually hear the driveshaft clang. happened twice before work, drove home and everything was back to the normal 1-2, 2-3 shifts but no seriously clanging. checked OBD codes and nothing is showing up. not sure if its a TPS or something in the trans. so not sure if I'm going to be R&R the trans or what not.

[LarryJa]

I bought an '06 3.2 C6 with 150k miles. When I got it, the 1-2 shift was always too early & soft, in "D".
After about 3months & 5k miles, the shift improved
.
Then, after l changed the filter & fluid, it got even more solid.
I'm about to change the fluid again, to further flush the trans.
Just my $0.02 on hi-mileage fluid changes.
Note: one thing that i was careful to do was use the absolutely correct fluid. My trans had the software update. So, I saute out LG6+, not the LG8 replacement or any substitute.