This Spring I put about 8 to 10 ounces of ARX into my "sealed" 1999 A4's ZF tiptronic transmission. The reason for doing so was that after 108k miles the car started exhibiting torque converter un-lockup, which feels a lot like a slipping torque converter but only on the upshift and between shifting of a couple of gears.
After I dropped the trans. pan and fully let it fully drain, I proceeded to replace the filter with a new gasket. I then proceeded to making sure the car was perfectly level and using my VAG- COM I was able to monitor the transmissions temperature to within spec' of 30 to 45 centigrade. With my home made filler... marine pump fitted with pipe to fit into fill hole... I proceeded to fill until I had about 8 to 9 liters of Pentosin ATF in, along with the 8 or 10 ounces of ARX as well.
Immediately afterwardsduring that day I drove about 30 miles, I was still getting the disconcerting slip-bang sensation however. After letting the car sit overnight and upon driving it the next day the slipping/unlocking torque converter sensation went away and hasn't come back.
I have since put about 4,000 miles on the car and don't feel a need to change the fluid just yet even though instructions say to flush & refill after 1,000 miles.
I'm wondering what your thoughts are on this Frank?
So, you changed the filter when you dropped the pan? Your wording has me a little confused. So the factory fill was in for 108k miles? Wow. You didn't happen to send the oil to a lab for analysis did you? What is the total capacity of the unit?
Yes I replaced the filter when I dropped the pan for draining.
Yes factory fill was 108k miles... no I didn't send it in for analysis.
Total capacity is probably around 11 liters if I had to guestimate. It's hard finding out the exact specifications surrounding the capacity numbers as neither Audi or ZF will publish this for the public. Most people with the 1.8T A4 tiptronic report refilling with about 8 to 9 liters... not counting what's left in the torque converter... which I'm guessing is another liter or two. Why do you ask?
I was fairly sure you had changed the filter. What did it look like? Anything alarming?
With it being the factory fill and still about 20-25% original fluid remaining (which is a pretty good drain), I would probably change it out again at 5k miles.
The analysis would tell you what kind of condition it was in. If it was in bad shape, change out now and you would also get a feel for how often it needs to be changed.
It was dirty, and the fluid smelled pretty disgusting. It smelled a tad burnt. I'll do another flush & fill soon, just don't know when exactly. I totally agree that an analysis would be ideal, but i don't have the time, energy, funds or will at the moment.
I would flush just because you used so much. I'm telling you and everyone else who will listen, what autorx does for transmissions is amazing. I swear if everyone used this in their transmissions half of those crooked tranny shops would fold up.
Auto-Rx can't hurt anything however you can bet your life that transmission is filthy. That can hurt your unit. Auto-Rx is designed to clean the clutch packs & torque converter that composes the primary parts of the transmissions. There can't be much usable life left in your transmission fluid and you sure have overextended the chemistry of Auto-Rx. If you don't flush it and get some fresh fluid in unit, be prepared for a large bill.
No need to flush again for many miles. Have you used Auto-Rx in your engine ? I am sure new engine application instructions save money on oil and will give you perfromance you have not seen.
You sound just like the guy i am looking for to do the engine (to go with the transmission) and post what happens in that performance mode.
I did completely flush & refill with new fluid AND about 8 to 10 ounces of ARX 4k miles ago. So.... yes, I still have ARX in the transmission with 4k miles on it and the new ATF. And I'm realizing that you're saying to flush again. Sorry maybe I wasn't clear.
I actually did treat the engine with ARX about the same time (104k) 108k miles on it now. It's the 1.8T which is notorious for engine failure due to oil clogging up from the combination of turbo+small oil pan = sludge. While I did not detect anyy symptoms of engine sludge, I was being proactive in treating the oil and then following up with a maintenance dose.
The engine is definitely quieter, and I feel better knowing I treated it. I'd say MPG increase by a little bit on the highway too, hard to say how much exactly maybe 1 MPG at best, not a bunch but noticeable to be sure. Around town mileage is about the same (quattro eats up gas around town driving). Most noticeable for me was how the engine ran smoother, quieter.
All in all, with the trans. and engine properly cleaned and tuned up @ 108k the car performs very, very well.
