Transmission Fluid Level, Checking: Notes

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2025 Audi S3 and 2025 Audi A3 Quattro. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Special tools and workshop equipment required

Refer to TOOLS FOR TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE

Procedure

Pay attention to Refer to REPAIR INFORMATION .
Pay attention to Refer to GUIDELINES FOR CLEAN WORKING CONDITIONS .
Read the "Oil, Environmental and Disposal Regulations" general information. Refer to GENERAL REPAIR INFORMATION .

CAUTION:

Risk of injury due to the radiator fan turning on automatically.

- Maintain distance to the fan when working near the radiator.

Test Conditions

Transmission not in emergency operation mode.
Move the vehicle onto a four-column workshop hoist or over a work pit so it is completely level.
"P" position is engaged.
The parking brake button is pulled on to activate the electromechanical parking brake.
Suction hoses from an exhaust extracting system are connected.
Engine running at idle.
The A/C system and the heater are off.

Transmission Fluid Temperature, Reading

The transmission fluid level changes with the transmission fluid temperature: too low of a transmission fluid temperature leads to overfilling, and too high of a transmission fluid temperature leads to underfilling.
An incorrect transmission fluid filling impairs the transmission function.
The oil temperature must be approximately 30 °C (86 °F) when starting the procedure.

-- Connect the Vehicle Diagnostic Tester -arrow- and select Individual test .

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Diagnostic-capable systems
0002 - Transmission electronics
0002 - Transmission electronics functions
0002 - Fluid level, checking

Transmission Fluid Level, Checking

-- Bring the transmission fluid temperature to approximately 30 °C (86 °F).

The transmission has an inner fluid container, which must be ran dry before checking.

-- Wait approximately four minutes until the inner fluid container has run dry.

-- Remove the noise insulation. Refer to OVERVIEW - NOISE INSULATION .

CAUTION:

Risk of injury to the eyes and hands by escaping oil.

- Wear protective eyewear.

- Wear acid-resistant safety gloves.

-- Place the Used Oil Collection and Extraction Unit :SMN372500 under the transmission.

Engine is idling and the "P" position is engaged.

Fig 1: Tightening The Check Plug
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-- Remove the check plug -arrow-.

The collected transmission fluid runs out of the overflow pipe -arrow 2-.

Fig 2: Identifying Overflow Pipe And Plug
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Some gear oil always leaks out when opening the inspection plug -arrow 1-, regardless of the gear oil level.

If some transmission fluid still leaks out at a transmission fluid temperature between 35 and 45 °C (95 and 113 °F) (due to additional warming), the transmission fluid level is OK.
Regardless of the gear oil level, a small wave of fluid comes out of the overflow tube every 30 seconds due to the multi-plate clutch cooling oil pulse. This procedure is irrelevant for checking the transmission fluid level.
Leaked gear oil must not be reused.

-- If necessary fill the transmission fluid. Refer to Transmission Fluid, Filling .

-- If the transmission fluid level is OK, tighten the overflow pipe and then perform a measurement. Refer to Final Procedures .