transmission whine after trans oil change- the dreaded torque converter?

[aussie rs6]

At 55,000 miles changed the auto trans oil and filter - oil and filter came out clean. Checked trans oil level ok as per vagcom after trans oil change at correct temperature. last changed trans oil at 40,000 miles.

Before driving into work shop, no trans shift problems, prior to trans oil change, vag com check threw no codes for trans or torque converter. On driving out of shop after service, whining in each gear like a supercharger whine. No slipping or clunks, just whine. No trans vagcom errors. Filter installed ok and oil pump pick up ok. trans oil and filter on draining still clean.

Have I fallen prey to the dreaded new oil stirred up sludge and blocked pump or torque converter or in torque converter bearings or similar?

I recall there were other posts which argued the pros and cons of changing trans oil regularly. I am still a supporter of regualar 12 month trans oil and filter change.

It appears when you flush new trans oil through trans that any underlying problems with excessive wear of clutch plates in the torque converter and accumulating sludge are unmasked

Beast is APR ECU tuned with MTM TCU.

Now sending the beast to specialist to have the trans and torque converter overhauled. As tozo does it, specialist does not need to pull the engine to remove and install trans.

Any suggestions from forum members appreciated.

such is life.

[Chung]

I had issues with my transmission after a tran oil change and new filter. It turns out with the new Audi pan the filter pickup pipe is too long and almost touches the bottom of the pan. This restricted the fluid so that the transmission was not getting enough. TozoM8 recommended trimming the pickup pick and for me all was better.

[aussie rs6]

I had issues with my transmission after a tran oil change and new filter. It turns out with the new Audi pan the filter pickup pipe is too long and almost touches the bottom of the pan. This restricted the fluid so that the transmission was not getting enough. TozoM8 recommended trimming the pickup pick and for me all was better.

Thanks Chung.

I will have the shop try this.

regards,
john

[hahnmgh63]

I bet it is the oil pickup starvation issue Chung mentioned. There is a variety of filters and pans out there and you need to install the filter and measure the pickup against the depth of your pan and trim if necessary. Of course it should be just as easy as comparing closely against the filter that came out of the car too while you have them both there on the bench.

[kday]

If you had an experienced shop do the work it's probably not this, but for what it's worth the first time I changed the trans fluid in an Audi automatic I overlooked a key detail of the procedure: the fluid level must be checked with the engine running. Otherwise it will be really low. (I guess this probably applies to all automatics, but without a dipstick it's easier to make this mistake I think.)

[4everRS]

Make sure you didn't forget to install a new oring seal for the filter.

[johnnie27]

At 55,000 miles changed the auto trans oil and filter - oil and filter came out clean. Checked trans oil level ok as per vagcom after trans oil change at correct temperature. last changed trans oil at 40,000 miles.

Before driving into work shop, no trans shift problems, prior to trans oil change, vag com check threw no codes for trans or torque converter. On driving out of shop after service, whining in each gear like a supercharger whine. No slipping or clunks, just whine. No trans vagcom errors. Filter installed ok and oil pump pick up ok. trans oil and filter on draining still clean.

Have I fallen prey to the dreaded new oil stirred up sludge and blocked pump or torque converter or in torque converter bearings or similar?

I recall there were other posts which argued the pros and cons of changing trans oil regularly. I am still a supporter of regualar 12 month trans oil and filter change.

It appears when you flush new trans oil through trans that any underlying problems with excessive wear of clutch plates in the torque converter and accumulating sludge are unmasked

Beast is APR ECU tuned with MTM TCU.

Now sending the beast to specialist to have the trans and torque converter overhauled. As tozo does it, specialist does not need to pull the engine to remove and install trans.

Any suggestions from forum members appreciated.

such is life.

geez john, i have had my trans oil done twice here in melb..car has done 38,000 miles

APR tune on car for 6 years, no issues...hope its something simple or silly

johnnie

www.abautomatics.com.au/ (they are the gods of the industry) so i am told they have done all my cars in the past too

[aussie rs6]

Hi fellow posters,

many thanks for the inputs.

much appreciated and why this forum is such a useful site. for Erik and moderators

The independent shop I am using has a lot of good experience with Audis, but does not have a lot of experience with C5 RS6 as there are only three here in Perth and only one C6 RS6.

I will let you know how the check on the pick up pipe goes.
john

Male Insensitive joke for the day:

My girlfriend says she thinks that I might be a stalker. Well... she's not
exactly my girlfriend yet.

[hahnmgh63]

Most in the past have felt that changing it every 30~40K miles (50~60K Kilometers) is good for the tranny. But if it hasn't been changed before and getting high mileage then don't change it as high mileage trannies with old fluid may have a bit of sludge built up that may become dislodged and plug up the valve body.

[aussie rs6]

The 'new' trans filter and pan was too shallow and starving the trans pickup of oil.

As another poster has said in the past "winner, winner , chicken dinner" for chung & hahnmgh63

Installed correct depth filter, filled to correct level for pick up and hey presto-supercharger whine in each gear vanished.

Then ran vagcom check:

Address 02: Auto Trans Labels: 01L-927-156.lbl
Part No: 4B0 927 156 FB
Component: AG5 01L 4.2l5VT RdW 1214
Coding: 00001
Shop #: WSC 00000
VCID: 6CDDBB5B1C90E8E
No fault code found.

Another fault showed up but thats another thread.

Thanks all posters for their prompt reply and advice that saved me a $7,000 trans out and in and rebuild!

shows the real value of the forum and Erik's and the members dedication to it.

[aussie rs6]

geez john, i have had my trans oil done twice here in melb..car has done 38,000 miles

APR tune on car for 6 years, no issues...hope its something simple or silly

johnnie

www.abautomatics.com.au/ (they are the gods of the industry) so i am told they have done all my cars in the past too

Hi Johnnie,

thanks for the advice on trans rebuild shop in Melbourne. Thankfully did not need it, but will keep in mind for future if I don't get 6 years trans reliability like you have experienced.

john

[johnnie27]

Hi Johnnie,

thanks for the advice on trans rebuild shop in Melbourne. Thankfully did not need it, but will keep in mind for future if I don't get 6 years trans reliability like you have experienced.

john

your welcome, its were VW, AUDI, BMW , LandRover etc all send there problem cars

i am sure you can order filters , oils etc from them...they love my ride and would be happy to help another Rs owner i'm sure as we are a rare breed in oz...

when the mech took my car around the block, after the last tranny fluid change...he came back , got out the car with a big smile and said ..what farking motor is in that! there good guys...he even drove with me w/ some computer screen device thing plugged into the car and showed me when the TC releases grabs etc, i'm no mech (as you know) but it was intereting to learn, and nice of them to take the time to show me...around $550 for a tranny service from them..john

[mik15]

when should the whining be heard? all the time or at some speed? i think i can hear something like a whining but only after i pass 35-40mph and it looks like it's going away after i hit 50mph, or maybe i don't hear it anymore due to wind noise, i am not sure...i have been driving close to the walls at different speeds and can't hear it, it looks like it comes only on open road, could be just some kind of wind noise? what's the best way to check if the transmission is whining or is it that obvious that you really can't mistake it with some other noise? or am i paranoiac?

[4everRS]

From a stop, stepping on the brakes, hit the gas and release the brake. Floor it. If it's being starved for fluid, it will have a whine. Open the windows. It's noticeable even with the windows closed. You can almost hear the tranny say to the cosworth "fffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuckyyyyooooouuuuuuu"

[Tom Sawyer]

From a stop, stepping on the brakes, hit the gas and release the brake. Floor it. If it's being starved for fluid, it will have a whine. Open the windows. It's noticeable even with the windows closed. You can almost hear the tranny say to the cosworth "fffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuckyyyyooooouuuuuuu"

Definitely LOL on that one.... Nice! Will share the trim recommendation with my mechanic on my upcoming TC swap.

[lswing]

If you had an experienced shop do the work it's probably not this, but for what it's worth the first time I changed the trans fluid in an Audi automatic I overlooked a key detail of the procedure: the fluid level must be checked with the engine running. Otherwise it will be really low. (I guess this probably applies to all automatics, but without a dipstick it's easier to make this mistake I think.)

How much lower might it be? Been wondering about this, and jumped a shift from third to fourth without me shifting, under load. Will be trying to add fluid with engine running this week.

[905084]

How much lower might it be? Been wondering about this, and jumped a shift from third to fourth without me shifting, under load. Will be trying to add fluid with engine running this week.

Engine running, A/C on, Vag temp between 30 and 50c (it's stamped on your pan).

[lswing]

Engine running, A/C on, Vag temp between 30 and 50c (it's stamped on your pan).

That's what I was thinking, will post up how much it's low (assuming it is) in a week or two...

Same exact symptom as last year after work and was a quart low, jumped 3rd to 4th under full load.