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Hi All, I've been away from Audi for a while but looking to rekindle my ownership.
A MY13 3.0ltr Quattro auto is for sale. However, it has been used to tow a horsebox regularly. Full Audi service history is on the car. 75k miles on the clock
How concerned should I be on the towing history? This would be our longterm car so don't want it's towing life to come back to haunt us in a few years.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
If it was me the main concern would be gearbox/transmission.
Is it the stronic, tiptronic or the cvt gearbox?
Hi, yeah main concern here is gearbox. It's Stronic. We had a 2005 A4 CVT previously which cost us some $$$'s so trying to minimise risk (understanding there is always some risk with the autos). Cheers
It'll be fine, if it wasn't they wouldn't fit factory towbars. No difference to towing a caravan, people do it all the time. Just do the usual checks.
No problem at all towing a horse box. Ours gets a FAR gentler drive when towing the horses, as you have to drive smoothly and slowly.
Thanks all for the replies. Took car for a spin today. What a machine. Gear change felt super smooth. Gearbox service was a bit late (first @ 44k and second done yet @ 88k). How regimental should the services be to be somewhat confident in the box?
Also, looks to be a coolant issue. Mentioned on Audi service and the tank was low. More searching needed on this one.
Cheers!
Dsg is meant to be serviced 38k so it’s a little late but not hugely late and if it shift smoothly then I wouldn’t worry too much
I’ll be more concerned about coolant leak.
I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole , late service and S-Tronic is weak compared to a tiptronic .
If it goes **** up it's 10 grand minimum...
Naw, just top it up with two stroke, she'll be beaut.
I wouldn't get hung up about exact mileages for oil changes, as 38,000 is a near approximation to 60,000KM, from which the service schedule is derived.
The reason to change the oil is not because the oil degrades, but due to the wet clutch lining contamination of the oil. So really the need to change the oil should be done on how hard the car is thrashed, (or not), rather than miles.
A hammered car could need an oil change far sooner than 38K, and a gently driven long distance motorway cruiser could be fine after 200K.
My Husqvarna Enduro motorcycle needs the gearbox oil changing no later than 15 hours, or else there is so much clutch lining contamination, the gearbox gets notchy, and I cannot select neutral very easily. Reason- it's a race bike, and it gets hammered!
This +1. Too much scaremongering going around surrounding DSG.Quote:
Originally Posted by bluezie
Then again... Think of 38K as being the absolute maximum like the silly engine oil 18/20k LongLife servicing interval .
There is a direct correlation of late servicing and S-Tronic gearbox issues , good luck .
Thanks again all. The combination of the late service and the coolant leak that was investigated but not fixed means this is one is a no go. Real shame. Will keep looking and hopefully be back in the Audi club in the near future.
How late is late for this correlation? 500miles, 1k, 2k, 3k, 4k?Quote:
Originally Posted by Gazwould
As bluezie stated a DSG that has been driven like its has been stolen and not given due care whilst temperatures are cold will need a service sooner than 38k compared to a DSG that has been treated sensibly, which could go beyond the 38k.
That 6K over is way over .
First gearbox oil was done @ 45k. Second one not done yet. Current mileage is 88k so 12k over recommended. Non-Audi dealer is selling with 6month warranty. But it’s the longterm that’s the concern.
Slightly off topic is the coolant leak. This was checked by Audi. I guess it was pressure tested as they charged for 3hrs. But I popped the bonnet and checked on the test drive and coolant was very low so not fixed.
Each to their own regarding box choice but your gearbox doesn't self destruct if you go over by a couple of thousand. But agree on keeping the services as regular as you can.
The S-tronic isn't your ordinary DSG .
Coolant leak would be a show stopper for me
I have just had to change cars because of a coolant leak. It was down to the oil cooler and effectively filled the gearbox with coolant, a full refurb of the box was needed, I traded the car in and took a hit after spending a grand getting oil cooler replaced and box flushed.
I have since bought a 2015 Allroad which is 3.0TDi and S-Tronic, happily tows my 1775kg caravan around and is stable. I suggest going for the Allroad for towing horse box as you get 100kg towball limit rather than 75kg for the Avant. Also the air suspension is very forgiving on what is being towed whether that is a caravan or your prized horses.
You've done the right thing checking the service history, the gearbox being serviced on correct mileage is an absolute must.
BTW for a multironic gearbox refurb I got quoted at least £3k so it pays to be picky.
Its a dual clutch gearbox, nowt ordinary about any version of them. I do understand their operation.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gazwould
Quote:
Originally Posted by A6S
The coolant leak will just be the egr cooler-very weak system, seen wayyyyy too many fail !!!
So I wonder how Audi decide their service schedule for DSG? As I said in an earlier post, a car that's thrashed from traffic light to traffic light, and sits in 'D' with the clutch slipping, or one hammered up and down twisty mountain passes, is going to suffer a huge amount more clutch wear, (thus oil contamination) than a car pootling along the motorway in 7th, where effectively the DSG oil is doing not a lot of work for long periods.
Presumably, they have to factor the oil change somewhere towards the worst case scenario, so they don't get blown boxes here there and everywhere.
I recently changed my oil at 40K, and as I drained it, I thought, really? This oil is still yellow, I was expecting very contaminated black oil out. (as I get from my motorcycle gearbox) It was only when I poured the oil into a 5 Litre can that the slight blackness showed. Perhaps if our car had been hammered, it would have been black sludge coming out?
I imagen it would be down to the oil's shear point after --whatever milage-ware and tare ??? much like the long life engine oil-haha- ten K oil change dont care what Audi say !!! gearbox- well I have had one or two-- manual tho and never changed oil to date--the autos "might be put under more ware I dont realy know one way or another, so prob not of any help--(I should have read and not replyed-haha)