Transmission Service Requirements

[STEVE DRANCHAK <Dranchak@gnn.com>]

Hi All,

I’m receiving conflicting suggestions on service requirements for my 
automatic transmission.  I have a 92 CSQW  automatic with about 44K miles on 
it.  (I don’t really care for an automatic, but with my wife’s vote factored 
into our purchase decision, it was either an automatic quattro or no 
quattro.)  An independent garage who claimed some experience with Audis told 
me that unless the transmission is causing problems, I should leave it alone. 
 He felt that Audi automatics were "delicate" (his word) and that under 
normal use, changing the fluid wasn’t necessary and might actually cause 
problems.  This agrees with the owner’s manual which  recommends changing the 
fluid only under severe service conditions or if you have a V8.  Of course 
this is the same owners manual that makes no mention of station wagons or 
quattros anywhere.  But  my local Audi store is telling me I should change it 
every 30,000 miles no matter what.  Is there some benefit to this (other than 
extra business for their service department)?

TIA,
Steve