Found AutoZone, Bought Cheap Tool WAS 016 Hex Plug...

[Alex Kowalski]

That's OK, to be honest I was a bit skeptical of it myself given the low mileage of the car, and this is the Quattro list, and what would we be these days without skepticism?  ;-)

Seriously, I did the change for a few reasons:  First, the car is almost 18 years old, and although the mileage is relatively low I felt that 18 years was long enough for all the fluids.  For example, I don't know if the clutch has ever been flushed/bled.  That's my next job.  Secondly, when I first posted about buying the car several months ago, in my list of nits I noted that I was having a small amount of clashing when either upshifting or downshifting into 4th gear -- oddly enough, ONLY 4th gear.  So changing the oil was also done:  

2a) To see if any big pieces, or a large quantity of metal came out with it (answer: no, just a small amount of fine filings on the magnet) and 

2b) In the hope that a flush with Redline MT-90 would ameloriate the situation.  The jury is still out on that one.  I put about 40 miles on the car last night, and the shifting is noticeably less "notchy" in all other gears, but I can still get 4th to clash if I rush the shift.  

If I double-clutch and make an effort to rev-match, however, it now goes in without any protest, and the all-important and admittedly squishy "shift-feel" quality has improved.  My sense is that I am going to have to be gentle with 4th gear and use the double-clutching technique, until I can work up the $1,500 or so that it's going to cost (someone, please tell me that that's a good ballpark figure) to get the synchros. replaced.

The 2b) part was one of those "wing and a prayer" things, but I'm glad I did it for the 2a) part, because now I am fairly sure that at the very least there aren't any big broken bits floating around inside my 016 and at the very least, the oil is now CLEAN, which should help preserve everything else in it until I can work up my inevitable big tithe to the Audi Gods.  

So for $38 (cost of the oil + hex sockets) I have a little peace of mind until I can get that done.  And I'll take a little peace of mind with an 18-year old Audi Type 44 any old day.  ;-)

Cheers,
Alex Kowalski
'87 5KCSTQ






--
"I gargle with gasoline because here in the USA it's cheaper than Listerine and makes me a much hotter kisser, too."


> I can accept that it can be a good idea, IF the oil currently in there is an 
> unknown.  There has been, over the years I've been on this list, a general 
> tone of " "fresh gear oil" or "trick gear oil" is going to make a noticeable 
> improvement in my (fill in the blank)".  I find that belief to be a serious 
> error.  Perhaps I should have explained my comment.  John