ZF 6HP19A tiptronic gearbox (A6 3.0 TDI Quattro)

[MarkTM]

Here's a find

Millers Automatic Transmission and Power Steering Fluid DM 5lt | eBay

Meets ZF ATF M1375.4 which I believe is the standard of our tranny fluid? £5.80 per liter delivered?!!

[gupsterg]

The software update is only applicable to very early gearboxes ...

Audi's TSB does also highlight changing oil twice with new oil ...

[MarkTM]

Weird as they told me there was an update for mine too Does that mean mine can take Lifeguard 8 as is?

Well that's not a problem with the cheapy oil I posted but the cost of Audi fluid makes it prohibitive for many...but of course great for Audi!

[gupsterg]

If a person who thinks TSB is applicable to them and goes to Audi dealer they can check on their system via your VIN if it apply...

Link:- Post 16 contains a rather in depth breakdown of the TSB...

what was not "Optimised ATF" was whatever was used before that in MY05 (2004)/ gearbox numbers lower than: A:4000597, B:95253...

There are two versions of how the serial number will be on plate/VCDS log... A:4000597orB:95253

If your serial is lower then update software & oil is done@Audi ... if your serial is higher then only oil changed@Audi ...

Again this my understanding of looking at this and structure of other TSB's... if issue persists then they would do further investigation...

Weird as they told me there was an update for mine too

Sorry can not comment on this, I only know of this TSB and information contained in it... was it Audi who advise you on update software?

[MarkTM]

Thanks again Gup for the clarification.

No not Audi but ZF specialist, I would think it's ZF that tell Audi when an update is available and probs takes a few months before it gets approval & down to dealers.

[gupsterg]

Thanks for share ... a member who posts less on here had oil changed at a ZF workshop they did 1x fill of new for flushing out old then they did 1x new fill of oil but they wouldn't do update and advised go to Audi for flash update of TCM ...

TCM software/revision after SVM action@Audi is same as latest advised in the TSB/TPI being discussed in this thread...

The member has an Avant 3.0 TDi engine code: BMK trans. code: HKG prod.date: 25/05/2005

Address 02: Auto Trans Labels: 09L-927-760.lbl
Part No SW: 4F1 910 156 B HW: 09L 927 156 A
Component: AG6 09L 3,0 TDI RdW 0050
Revision: --H01--- Serial number: 4032248

Mine is an Avant 3.0 TDi engine code: BMK trans. code: HKG prod.date: 07/03/2005

Address 02: Auto Trans Labels: 09L-927-760.lbl
Part No SW: 4F1 910 156 B HW: 09L 927 156 A
Component: AG6 09L 3.0lTDI RdW 0030
Revision: --H01--- Serial number: 4005962

Red is software part no in TCM
Green is software revision in TCM
Blue is serial number of gearbox

Be great to see what flash update P/N & revision they do for you ...

[_Tazman_]

soz, not had a chance to check in on this thread.

Basically I trawled a LOT OF Other forums ( some info MUST be taken with a pinch of salt ). Then I contacted the local ZF dealer whom retails the actual fluid.

Basically & from my own engineering experience & that of the service manual ( SSP for the box ). The 1st & 1st thing it says is DO NOT MIX the ATF fluid with any other.

Lifeguard 6, is aptly named for the 6 sp, then you have 7, 7+, and now the 8.

All are slightly different, I assume due to churn & shear resistance ( a LOT of moving bits in there ! ).

The engineering justification is very simple. It was the factory fill fluid, that has already done 46k, suffice to say, in this time it would have failed / had problems by now with changes etc.

All that Audi ( and remember that MOST of the dealers, my local one near me too ) don't even nationally acknowledge the exchange of fluid. what this tells you is that their advice is HIT & MISS. If however you speak to a ZF distributor / service dept, they will ADVISE you to leave as is. Afterall, they make the box, NOT AUDI. This is the SAME box supplied to BMW, I know as my mate has a 535d & I'm going to do his ATF fluid soon.

As I said, the Software update is a bodge, as it tells the ECU that the fluid has a different friction co-effiecient. But & this is the thing, most Audi dealers only do a 30% change, that is some just dump the fluid, and don't even change the filter etc..

Hence, how do you KNOW what the fluid composition is now ? If you ask ZF the question, they may say it's possible to mix, but wouldn't advise, else you would just have one brand of Lifeguard.

Use ZF6 on the A6 3.0tdi & you won't go wrong.

I personally would never dream of taking my car to a dealer for such a simple task as a fluid change. But that's just me. I do appreciate, some don't have the time, facilities / may have the confidence to work on a car ( and there's nowt wrong with that ).

BUT, be careful with your choice as if done wrongly WILL cause you to need a new AT. The only benefit of using a *******, is that you have a warranty, thus if they bugger it up, it's ok.

I would suggest that you ask them to just use the factory fill fluid ( IMHO )

[_Tazman_]

just reminded me, a mate on another forum actually is a development engineer for ZF, I'm gonna PM him & see what he has to say.

Adds more info to make an informed decision

[gupsterg]

Lifeguard 6, is aptly named for the 6 sp, then you have 7, 7+, and now the 8.

All are slightly different, I assume due to churn & shear resistance ( a LOT of moving bits in there ! ).

From discussions with another member this is the reason for the software update that the genuine Audi green/blue ATF differ in properties thus the update for older transmissions...

All that Audi ( and remember that MOST of the dealers, my local one near me too ) don't even nationally acknowledge the exchange of fluid. what this tells you is that their advice is HIT & MISS.

The TSB/TPI is created elsewhere within VAG IMO ... probably from data supplied by warranty work done in dealers... for example as this TSB relates to early transmissions they must have been sending info/failed transmission back to VAG to then make production changes ... which company wants loads of warranty claims?

If however you speak to a ZF distributor / service dept, they will ADVISE you to leave as is.

This is the advise given to me when had fluid change but no software update done... at that time I really did not understand the TSB fully and felt workshop was misleading me ...

If you have no issues and are just changing oil like for like is the best IMO... plus adaptation drive should be considered as well Link:- Tiptronic oil change ! - Page 2

[techfreak]

Thanks for replying taz this and what gups is saying makes sense...

Anyone know if A8 Tech is about? Maybe he can shed some light on the subject?

I'm tempted to just do the oil change and leave the rest well alone.