Re: atf fluid

["Rex Pedersen" <fega@fega.com>]

Tom,
I understand what you say, but my rack started leaking with the correct oil.
The thing is, the NAPA stuff is not ATF, but a power steering fluid. It
still may not be right, however. A friend of mine has used this stuff for 4
years with no signs of anything going bad. As for the repairs and upkeep,
with 3 of the 5ks, I know well of bushings, blower motors, door handles,
fuel pumps, axle joints, wheel bearings and everything else that dies on
these. I do know of the Kelly Blue Book and because of it is the reason I
own Audis. They seem to take it real bad in resale. My 90 V8q was just
bought for 7500.00. Maybe it is because of people like me. Don't get me
wrong. If I had 1 or 2 year old car, I would use the factory oil. But with
the average resale price of a 85-87 5ks around my area of 500 to 1500, it is
the time to look for alternative ways for repairs. Just as Audi does not
recommend ANYTHING but a complete driveshaft replacement, but for around
150, the shaft can be repaired. If I was an owner of a 60k A8, I would want
a new driveshaft, but as an owner of a 7500 V8, the 150 repair is just fine
thank you.
In closing, I guess my point is some of the things I question in the service
manual. I may be TOTALLY wrong in my opinions, but thought I would trow it
out to the rest for feedback. I haven't done any research, but could the
NAPA power sreering fluid be the same stuff? I doubt it, but who knows?
No, I'm not an engineer. Just a regular guy that works on his own stuff as
much as possible making a normal income and keeping 4 Audis on the road.
That is quite an accomplishment in itself!
Thanks for the input,
Rex Pedersen
855k
865k wagon
875ksQ
90 V8Q



----- Original Message -----
From: Tom Chudzinski
To: Rex Pedersen
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 1999 12:21 AM
Subject: atf fluid


Rex:  The leaky rack and pinion. . . IS. . . the first sign of the wrong
fluid.  Wait till you get the price to fix that!  Using the wrong fluid wont
seem so cheap then. It takes several  years to feel the "full financial
effect" at which point, you, like most Audi owners who pay no attention to
specifications, WILL, sell the car.  AT A SUBSTANTIAL FINANCIAL LOSS.
(HHHmmm, those repair bills) The Kelly Blue Book has been around a lot
longer than you!  In moderate climates,  ATF works fine in the central
hydraulic systems, it just slowly destroys all the hydraulic seals.(leaks)
The engineers who design the car, (I'm an engineer) don't spend years
designing the systems and writing the specifications because they are
morons.

Lets see, subframe mounts, tie rods, timing belt, control arm bushings, rack
and pinion, sway bar bushings,  motor mounts, central hydraulic pump,
hydraulic hoses, hydraulic brake booster, A/C hoses, and the brake pressure
accumulator are now, as you sleep, degrading at a greatly accelerated rate
because of your apparent "economic" decision.  I won't bother to mention the
cost of fixing all of the above. To an intelligent buyer, it is at least
double  what your car is now worth. You deserve to lose every penny.

P.S.  Do what you do and do it well.  What you don't do and don't know,
either learn about it, or delegate the job to someone who knows!

Tom Chudzinski