ATF for Tiptronic

[minny]

The ZF box on my '99 car needs the Esso LT 71141 fluid for a fluid change but assume someone put 4-5 litres of standard manual transaxle oil in by mistake during the change, would I expect to know immediatley or would the box function relatively normally.

I had the fluid changed 6 months and 2k miles ago at the Porsche dealership and I was invoiced for 5 litres of diff oil. Also I overheard the next time I was there the technicians debating what to put in another Tip tronic 996 - standard diff oil or ATF??? Surely anyone who knows any basic mechanics knows that auto boxes today need ATF in some shape or form and that new boxes are becoming more fluid specific, like engine oils.

Its just that I find the cold changes can be jerky especially when just driving off for the first time and the torque converter engages there can occasionally be quite a jolt. This tends to occur at higher loads, e.g trying to join traffic at a t junction. I've connected the car to the PST but there are no fault codes which I assume might be logged if there is abnormal slippage due to the wrong type of fluid used. The box is certainly not slipping, its just that it is jerky when cold. Its fine when warm.

[RFM]

It depends on where the trans axle oil has been gained, ZF Tiptronic use trans axle oil in the differential part of the gearbox, but not 5 litre. If the trans axle oil is gained in the gear box/hydraulic bloc/torque converter/ATF oil cooler part of the Tiptronic, where usually the ATF oil must be filled, then the box should be removed, cleaned and inspected for wear. I can not imagine that this can happen in a (reputable) workshop. If i where you, i would drive the car no longer until everything is checked and corrected.

[minny]

It depends on where the trans axle oil has been gained, ZF Tiptronic use trans axle oil in the differential part of the gearbox, but not 5 litre. If the trans axle oil is gained in the gear box/hydraulic bloc/torque converter/ATF oil cooler part of the Tiptronic, where usually the ATF oil must be filled, then the box should be removed, cleaned and inspected for wear. I can not imagine that this can happen in a (reputable) workshop. If i where you, i would drive the car no longer until everything is checked and corrected.

Thank you, that is what I plan to do. Diff oil is for the diff only. My worry is what I overheard at the delership and then invoiced for 5 litres of diff oil. The service manager assures me that they get ATF delivered in 20 litre drums which is correct and to invoice it they don't have part no for each litre so use the diff oil part no. I checked the parts catalogue on hte Porsche website and its funny they now don't have a part no for each litre of ATF but have one for the 20 litre drum.

[txhokie4life]

It depends on where the trans axle oil has been gained, ZF Tiptronic use trans axle oil in the differential part of the gearbox, but not 5 litre. If the trans axle oil is gained in the gear box/hydraulic bloc/torque converter/ATF oil cooler part of the Tiptronic, where usually the ATF oil must be filled, then the box should be removed, cleaned and inspected for wear. I can not imagine that this can happen in a (reputable) workshop. If i where you, i would drive the car no longer until everything is checked and corrected.

Thank you, that is what I plan to do. Diff oil is for the diff only. My worry is what I overheard at the delership and then invoiced for 5 litres of diff oil. The service manager assures me that they get ATF delivered in 20 litre drums which is correct and to invoice it they don't have part no for each litre so use the diff oil part no. I checked the parts catalogue on hte Porsche website and its funny they now don't have a part no for each litre of ATF but have one for the 20 litre drum.

What should the operating temp be for the ATF fluid under load --- say after a 20 minute drive?

Just changed the ATF -- and want to make sure everything is happy.

I can query the fluid temp with my Duramatic

thanks,

Mike

[RFM]

minny would be sure, in the first place, what exactly is happened. Replacing the total content of ATF, on the conventional way wont work, because the half of it remains in the converter and is not drain able without removing the gearbox.

[minny]

I undid the drain plug a little to get a fluid sample and I think they did use the proper ATF. Most ATF is reddish in colour and fairly thin. The Esso LT71141 ATF is actually quite similar to normal diff oil. The difference is the amount of sulphur in diff oil which gives them the distinctive smell. I mixed 50/50 diff oil and the Esso ATF and the smell is still quite strong. The sample I got from the transmission definitely doesn't smell like diff oil.

Depending on how hard you are driving, after 20 minutes the ATF temp is usually about 50-60 degrees celcius. To check the level, the temp should be between 30 and 40 degrees. Mine reaches 80 degrees in town traffic.