Hmmm I guess the 3.0 version we get in the UK must be a V6. Mine is the 3.7 V8, and my only regret is not waiting out for a good 4.2. Anyway, after some research I've found many testimonials claiming Pentosin ATF1 to be a good substitute for ZF Lifeguard 6. My only worry with this was the mixing of the old and new fluids (since you can't completely drain the old fluid). But there are many people who claim to be running the Pentosil fluid for many thousands of miles without any issues. So I found it on Ebay and paid 70 GBP for 8 litres Now to source the correct filter and pan gasket....Now this is another grey area. A lot of people say the filter is integrated into the pan, but all the kits I have found (again, this is for UK model, for what that's worth) seem to suggest otherwise.
On another note, with the GBP to dollar exchange rate nowadays, maybe I should have considered the kit from Blauparts, if they do deliver to UK, since it has everythong, including the pump...oh well, what's done is done now.

 

My mistake. I thought the 3 liter engines were the V6's. The only V8's I've personally seen are the 4.2's. I think the ATF Fluid that Blauparts sells is the Ravenol stuff and is compatible with what comes in the trans from the factory so no worries there. The stuff is about $12USD per liter but your stuck with having to use it because you risk trashing the transmission by using the wrong fluid. You should be able to source everything via the net though. Just make sure the pan gasket and filter are for the transmission model listed on the data sticker in the spare tire well in the car.

 

That was going to be my next question. Lol. Since there are two filter and gasket kits available online that claim to be for my car, I was wandering how i get my transmission model? Thanks once again.

 

Hmmm that info only confused me further. Lol. Now Monday is a bank holiday so I'll have to call Audi on Tuesday.
There are two "Hans Pries Topran Germany" filter and gasket kits I'm looking at online.
One says it's
"only suitable for gearbox casing/housing numbers 01J301383N or 01J301383R"
with OE ref numbers;
01J 301 517 BS (filter) and 01J 301 463 A (gasket). So I was hoping the gearbox housing number would be written on this label, which isn't the case.
The other available kit says it's for
"6 speed auto transmission up to november 2005 only!"
and gives OE references of 09L 325 429 and 09L 321 371.
The label in the service book and in the trunk states:
"Engine code/gearbox code: BFL 003 385. EYC GQE".
There are no kits I can find that refer to EYC GQE.

 

So far I've confirmed my transmission is just referred to as GQE and fluid spec needs to meet "G 055 005 A2".
So I went online and ordered the Pentosin ATF-1 (the data sheet from Pentosin for their ATF-1 says it meets the above mentioned spec), plus the gasket and filter. But, I had a specialist do the job. As I waited for the mechanic to finish another car though, I noticed the back of the bottle of ATF1 only states spec VW TL521 62 (or in other words G 052 162, which is only for the 5 speeds). So I emailed Pentosin about their data sheet (still waiting for a reply) and called the shop that sold me the oil, since they listed it as being for ZF 5 and 6 speed transmissions. They put me through to their technical guy who was very helpful. He explanied it can be used in the 6 speeds (he said hesitantly), but more suitable for the 5 speeds. He further explained it works fine in the 6 speeds, but it is a slightly thicker viscosity than ZF Lifeguard 6, which is thinner to aid with fuel economy and is the fluid he would actully recommend for the 6 speeds.
This left me a little uncertain, so I did a little more digging to see if I can get the correct fluid locally, and in time before the mechanic is ready for my car. And in the end I decided to bite the bullet and go to Audi where I bought the fluid called "VW Group. G 055 005", which conveniantly had no other specs on the bottle.
Now at Audi, all they could tell me was what was written on their system; its G 055 005 A2, and its 10.4 litres for the whole transmission, but apparently I'll only need 10. At £24.44 each (hopefully it'll end up being less and I can get some refunded).
So anyway, then we conveniently realised the place where I bought the gasket from sent me the wrong gasket...after removing the sump. So now the mechanic will get the correct gasket (and filter) directly from Audi, first thing in the morning. And once the job is finally done, I can report my results.
And finally...the condition of my liquid: as it drained out, the stream of liquid was yellow (as it should be, according to Audi) and when it collected in the pan, it did get black(ish) but only when a lot collected together. Although it did smell just slightly burned. But it wasn't gritty, and the bottom of the oil pan was clean, other than a small to medium amount of grey pastey stuff on the magnets, which apparently is expected. So anyway...moment of truth will be tomorrow when I drive the car home from the garage.

 

So...i have my car back. And not good news. I'm quite stressed by this, since its cost me £440 just for the service.
First of all, the lack of torque from the gearbox has been resolved. The car feels a lot stronger when pulling away from stationary. But now the slightly harsh gear change from 2nd to 3rd is still there, plus going from 1st to 2nd is also now worse than the 2nd to 3rd gear change. And a slight jerk is also noticeable from 3rd to 4th, 4th to 5th and even occasionally, ever so slightly on 5th to 6th. the mechanic had also scanned the car again and there are no codes coming up. I'm really gutted now as you can imagine, and am wondering if anyone has any advice as to the next port of call. My initial thoughts are to get the solenoids and gearbox electronics checked out from a gearbox specialist (which i asked this mechanic to do while the sump pan was off, but the only thing he did to check everything was scan for codes). Any advice/opinions from experience appreciated. Thanks.

 

Since the trans is not slipping like it was, I think you've made some progress. I also think you're on the right track on having the solenoids checked. However, driving it some more may flush any gunky build-up in the valve body may clear itself. IF is does, I'd recommend another fluid and filter change within a few months.

 

Thanks once again dave. I visited 4 automatic transmission specialists today. 2 said that cleaning/servicing the solenoid valves has never made any difference from their experience and that it's always a waste of money to try that with these gearboxes. And the other 2 said we can try that, plus recalibrate the transmission, but there is no guarantee this will work....which has put me off trying this route. And it'll cost ££££ to do this, of course (but still much cheaper than a rebuild or replacement).
Do you have any experience of servicing the solenoids in these transmissions? And if i needed to, do you know if i can buy separate replacement solenoids, or am i looking at a whole new valve body in that case? Thanks again.

 

All I've ever done is change the fluids and filters on them. The one (2003 A8L 4.2 AUX/FUN engine trans combo) I have has been performing flawlessly for the 8 years I've had it. Automatic transmissions are basically hydraulic mazes that depend on clean fluid to function correctly. The closer tolerances of todays, in my opinion, overly complicated transmissions make keeping the fluid clean a priority. Normal wear and tear on the fiber portions of the clutches that make up each clutch packs is normally the debris that ends up getting filtered out. Eventually they do wear to the point to where the clutch packs lose the ability to completely lock up. This causes the slipping or not engaging that occurs. However, since yours is no longer doing this, it seems the clutch packs are fine. The shifting problems you are experiencing sound to me to be some sludge/debris build up in the valve body. There are some small passages in the valve body that can become restricted enough to slow fluid flow through them. Sometimes fresh fluid and driving it will slowly loosen the material that is causing the restrictions and eventually get filtered out once that material makes it back to the pan. I'd just drive it, manually shifting it as to keep the hard shifts to a minimum to protect the clutches. Periodically, let it shift on its own to see if the shifts are smoothing out on their own with the cleaning effect of the fresh fluid. IF, it does finally straighten itself out, do another fluid and filter change to get even more fresh fluid into the trans and valvebody blocking sludge out of it. My A8 has 208K miles (335K Kilometers) on it and is still in excellent shape mechanically and cosmetically. I dread the day something bad happens to the engine or trans.

 

Ok, very welcomed and encouraging input there. Thank you. And i don't know why, but i didn't get an email to say i got a reply on this thread (or maybe i missed it). I've got a long drive to Stansted at the moment. I'll do manual shifting as much as i can and see how it goes. Still can't find anyone who says they can pin point the problem, since there are no gearbox error codes. Off to the car now....trying to tighten the bolts that secure the air suspension compressor. Its obviously been changed recently and bolts are loose and I'm hearing slight noise from that when driving (its normal compressor noise, but apparently you shouldn't be able to hear it)...anyway that's been posted on another thread....I'm just venting my frustration now. Lol