Kansas City Tdi & CoolAirVw Repair
01M Fluid
and Filter Maintenance
Volkswagen says the fluid and filter in a
01M never needs changed. What a big
bunch of baloney. Fill for life is a
lie. I would estimate most 01M’s have a
lifespan of approximately 150,000 miles.
I would recommend changing your fluid and filter in a VW 01m transmission
at 60,000 miles. If VW gave a
maintenance interval and owners changed “lifetime fluid” then maybe the 01M
wouldn’t have such a bad reputation.
Changing the fluid and filter seems to be
difficult for the Do-it-yourselfer because of the unusual fill/check procedure
and the necessity for a scan tool that will show you trans temp.
Here’s how dark the fluid gets. When they get this bad the TCC chatters on
apply and you could get chatters on shifts as well.
Here is comparison between new fluid and old
fluid. Ignore the “differential unit”
marking. Its from the transmission
section.
While we are talking differential, the 01M has a separate-fill differential. The differential fluid level needs to be checked and filled as needed also. See also our page on 01m differential service.
.
Here is what happens to a 01m diff that
isn’t full. This was a new install that
someone didn’t fill, but if yours runs low, same thing happens.
The differential bearings spun out inside
the case and destroyed the case. This
unit was not rebuildable.
I always break open the filter, because
they are real good at trapping pieces that could indicate problems
developing.
Here’s a nice clean filter.
And here is one with some
problems developing. Plastic pieces of
thrust washers and metal contamination indicate failure.
Heres some of the pieces I
pulled out of the pan and filter.