6Spd Auto flush out.

[Ivo]

So as we all no the auto box is sealed for life LOL. I decided to get my oil changed about 6 months ago. It was starting to shudder when changing between 2nd and 3rd. Not always but often enough to know something needed to be done. As you know they can only get about 4lts out when dropping the pan. My oil was black, I had a new filter and gasket fitted and used penrite oil.

There was no change in shifting and the shudder seemed to be getting worse. When I had my water pump replaced last week the workshop said they had a new machine that could flush the entire auto out but it would require a lot of oil. They disconnect the oil lines that go into the cooler/heat exchanger and connect the machine to that. The car is on the hoist with the wheels off the ground. They then start the car and change gears up and down, while the old oil is coming out new oil goes in. The oil coming out starts to change colour and when clean oil is coming out its done. They used 12lts of oil to flush mine.

Only problem was the cooler is made of aluminium and when the hoses were disconnected it tore the threads up. They had to cut new threads to get it back together.

I did not use Penrite oil this time, I used Fuchs 4400 ATF as there is a Fuchs distributor next to the workshop and according to Fuchs, all though not specified this oil will be suitable. The workshop did the same flush with Fuchs on a transporter that was shuddering a few months ago and there has been no problems with it.

I have only just got the van back but have done about 50kms and it has not faltered once. Even on a steep hill that would always cause it to have shudder badly.

I will update this in a few weeks and let you know how its going.

[Rebuild]

How many km on the auto?

I used a Penrite Dexron 6 equivalent at 75K,but only a partial drain(4 litres).
Data for the Fuchs 4000 suggests it is a Dexron 3 equivalent.
http://portal.fuchs.com.au/images/da...ATF%204000.pdf

[Transporter]

Gee, why I'm not surprised that after the proper transmission flush all the issues are gone?

I know that for many T5er's it's not possible to get oil change in whole driveline, but I say that oil is cheap, the engine or transmission is not. I drain the gear and transmission fluids no later than 20,000km, P/steering fluid every 20,000km in brand new vehicles and the engine oil still at 1,000 - 1,500 km, it doesn't matter that VW is not recommending it. The clean oil can't hurt anything and as long as it is the same oil there is no harm done.
Some may say it's waste of money, not for me. It is cheap insurance, just in case that I need to keep that car for longer than the warranty period.



@Rebuild Penrite no longer recommend any of their fluids for AT in T5 (use VW G 055 025 fluid only - from Penrite site)

[Ivo]

Its done 161k.

[MultiplexMan]

I need to do this too. I have noticed my auto is "rougher" in its low shifts (1-2-1) and it shudders when reversing up my driveway.

Can anyone recommend a shop in Sydney that can do a complete auto fluid change?

[Red Bicycle]

In Sydney and very interested in this procedure as well - anyone?

Cheers

Michael

[Sunny43.5]

So as we all no the auto box is sealed for life LOL. I decided to get my oil changed about 6 months ago. It was starting to shudder when changing between 2nd and 3rd. Not always but often enough to know something needed to be done. As you know they can only get about 4lts out when dropping the pan. My oil was black, I had a new filter and gasket fitted and used penrite oil.

There was no change in shifting and the shudder seemed to be getting worse. When I had my water pump replaced last week the workshop said they had a new machine that could flush the entire auto out but it would require a lot of oil. They disconnect the oil lines that go into the cooler/heat exchanger and connect the machine to that. The car is on the hoist with the wheels off the ground. They then start the car and change gears up and down, while the old oil is coming out new oil goes in. The oil coming out starts to change colour and when clean oil is coming out its done. They used 12lts of oil to flush mine.

Only problem was the cooler is made of aluminium and when the hoses were disconnected it tore the threads up. They had to cut new threads to get it back together.

I did not use Penrite oil this time, I used Fuchs 4400 ATF as there is a Fuchs distributor next to the workshop and according to Fuchs, all though not specified this oil will be suitable. The workshop did the same flush with Fuchs on a transporter that was shuddering a few months ago and there has been no problems with it.

I have only just got the van back but have done about 50kms and it has not faltered once. Even on a steep hill that would always cause it to have shudder badly.

I will update this in a few weeks and let you know how its going.

I have a stupid question I don,t know if any one else with a T5 tranny has thought about this . If VW seal the auto transmission box and it fails or plays up then surely VW should be responsible for any repairs ?? even after warranty has ended . Logic dictates if they claim there is no need to check fluids or adjustments then they should be responsible for any failure because it seems to me that they think it will last forever with out servicing . Our tranny has recently been erratic clunking on down shifts under light braking , when I asked a VW service centre they just reply that they are not servicable and that if it plays up a new box should be fitted , now I don,t know about you guys but a $50000 van with only 115000kms should not require a new tranny worth around $12000 just because VW seal it !!! what do you all reckon ?? Howard

[Ivo]

I totally agree Howard, it should last much longer. Maybe a class action against VW would get there attention.

[Cousin]

It's an issue that goes through my head from time to time, Howard
Particularly with commercial usage, which a lot of VW owners do, because of 'reliability'
A well maintained VW diesel should get a minimum 500,000 ks, but then it's bolted to an auto that in a lot of instances *****$ itself at 150,000
And the best I could find for a 'professional' rebuild was $7,600
I generally cover around 350,000 ks before I move the vans on, so the current T5 I have could cost me another $15,000 on top of it's purchase price. And that's before anything else is spent on it.
I buy Volkswagens because I've found them to be very reliable, and well engineered
The last couple of vans, when I've sold them (360,000 and 400,000 ks) the buyers couldn't comprehend how good the vans were for the ks they'd covered
I looked after them, and they were extremely reliable. It makes me more dependable in my business
I'm looking after this current T5 just as well, but in the last 12 months it's cost me around $10,000 in mechanical repairs, all 'known' problems with these vans. Unfortunately there are a few more 'knowns' I haven't encounted yet!
I still appreciate Vee Dub vans, but I'm starting to wonder if it's still worth paying the premium over other vans
The autos were a known problem in T4's, but it seems VW persisted with them in the T5's, at our expense
Here's hoping this rebuild lasts longer, Geoff at A&B in Dandenong said they do rebuild them better than OEM


M

[Transporter]

If you guys are using the vans for business, why not to put together letter to VW Australia, ...please explain why the transmission and many other components fail so Early? ...and if that's the case that we have to fork out $$$ for the unnecessary repairs incl. transmissions rebuild well before 150,000km, then we ...and the list of businesses signed, will consider buying the Toyota or other brand vans instead.

That could have a better impact than a single letter from one unhappy VW owner.