Checking gear oil level and topping up: Audi A3

🧭 Before you start

Fits: Audi A3 (8P, 2003–2012)

• Opens: gearbox oil
• Also covered elsewhere: Electronic parts catalogue

Don't miss

• Depending on version, different types of noise insulation may be fitted.
• The inspection plug (B) is located next to the pendulum support.
• If the overflow pipe is not correctly secured, the oil level cannot be correctly read.
• Always renew the seal (arrow) for the gear oil inspection plug.

📋 Procedure

1. ⚠ The engine must not be started if significant oil loss has occurred (e.g. during repairs) and there is little or no oil left in the gearbox.In this case, you must pre-fill the gearbox with a suitable quantity of gear oil for the direct shift gearbox.Only the gear oil for the direct shift gearbox (available as a replacement part) may be used for the direct shift gearbox 02E. Other types of oil will cause malfunctions and/or failure of the gearbox; for part number refer to Electronic parts catalogue. — From menu (1), select function Measured values and advance by pressing → button.
2. Using keypad (1) press buttons 19 for "“Display group 19”" and confirm entry by pressing Q button.
3. Read off gearbox oil temperature in display zone (1).
4. Remove noise insulation General body repairs, exterior50. [Note: Depending on version, different types of noise insulation may be fitted.]
5. Press and hold brake pedal.

6. With brake pressed, select all gear positions "“P, R, N, D, S”" one after the other at idling speed, maintaining each position for at least 3 seconds.
7. Place used oil collection and extraction unitV.A.G 1782 below gearbox.
8. Read off gearbox oil temperature in display zone (1).
9. Unscrew oil inspection plug (B) when gear oil reaches a temperature of 35°C. [Note: The inspection plug (B) is located next to the pendulum support.] [Note: Even when the gear oil level is too low a small amount of oil will first drain out of the overflow pipe, as it fills up during operation.]
10. Check that the overflow pipe is correctly screwed into the gearbox; tighten if necessary. [Note: If the overflow pipe is not correctly secured, the oil level cannot be correctly read.]
11. Allow excess gear oil to drain off. [Note: Every 30 seconds a small surge of oil will come out of the oil level pipe regardless of the oil level (cause: intermittent cooling oil supply to the clutch). The surge of oil is no indication for the correct oil level and should therefore be disregarded.Gear oil that has drained off must not be refilled or reused. Dispose of the gear oil properly.]
12. Always renew the seal (arrow) for the gear oil inspection plug.
13. Fit inspection plug (B) with new seal and tighten. The gear oil check is now completed.
14. Exit from function Measured values by pressing ← button.
15. Press End output.
16. Switch off ignition and unplug diagnostic connector.
17. Read off gearbox oil temperature in display zone (1).
18. ⚠ The adapter for oil fillingVAS 6262 A must be clean; the gear oil must not be mixed with any other types of oil. — Screw container of gear oil for direct shift gearbox onto adapter for oil fillingVAS 6262 A; for part number refer to Electronic parts catalogue.
19. Screw adapter for oil fillingVAS 6262 A hand-tight into hole for inspection plug (B).
20. Hold container with gear oil as high as possible over gearbox and let gear oil run into gearbox.
21. Detach quick-release coupling on adapter for oil fillingVAS 6262 A and plug the hose using a clean plug or a finger.
22. Allow excess gear oil to drain off. [Note: Every 30 seconds a small surge of oil will come out of the oil level pipe regardless of the oil level (cause: intermittent cooling oil supply to the clutch). The surge of oil is no indication for the correct oil level and should therefore be disregarded.Gear oil that has drained off must not be refilled or reused. Dispose of the gear oil properly.]
23. Unscrew the adapter for oil fillingVAS 6262 A from gearbox.
24. Always renew the seal (arrow) for the gear oil inspection plug.
25. Fit inspection plug (B) with new seal and tighten. The gear oil check is now completed.
26. Exit from function Measured values by pressing ← button.
27. Press End output.
28. Switch off ignition and unplug diagnostic connector.

Other AUDI procedures

• Removing and installing toothed belt – Audi · 56 torque figures
• Removing engine – Audi A8 D3 · 41 torque figures
• Removing camshaft timing chain from camshafts – Audi A6/A7 C7 · 38 torque figures
• Installing engine – Audi A8 D4 · 36 torque figures
• Removing and installing camshaft timing chain · 29 torque figures
• Removing and installing turbocharger (left-side) – Audi A8 D3 · 5 torque figures
• Removing and installing drive shaft – Audi A8 D3 · 5 torque figures
• Removing and installing brake servo · 5 torque figures
• Removing and installing high-voltage wiring harness for high-voltage battery · 6 torque figures
• Checking timing chain – Audi A3 · 5 torque figures