A8 trans question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 262
Likes: 32
From: elkhorn city ky
A8 trans question
Just wondering if any of you guys that have the automatic 8 speed willl have the new fluid put in there trans even though you dont have a shudder?Maybe a good thing to do,everone that has had it done says it has fixed there problem so far.I guess i will wait a little while longer and see what happens with more fluid exchanges,i dont have a shudder so far it is a 17 and has done very good.one time it felt like a shudder or a vibration happened very quick but not again,and the V8 to V4 is very stable but you can tell a tiny bit of a movement if you look very close on the RPM.
Should we have it changed anyway guys even if we pay for it out of our own pockets to have piece of mind and maybe future problems or not?
Should we have it changed anyway guys even if we pay for it out of our own pockets to have piece of mind and maybe future problems or not?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13,599
Likes: 12,856
From: Virginia
I've got a '17 GS with an A8 and haven't had any of the systems however I do have a range device installed. Best mod you can add for a C7 in my opinion. Have you installed a RD? I'm taking a 'wait and see' position on the fluid change as well.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 4,496
Likes: 856
From: Walhalla South Carolina
I am strongly considering tranny fluid change and MRC upgrade on my dime as well. Most say tranny changes smoother as well as eliminates the shudder so that is another reason. I too have the range for at lest 4-5K miles and no shudder. I think the tranny fluid change is around 350 plus another 350 for MRC so we will see. My hesitation is finding good local dealer to perform the work.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,513
Likes: 1,301
From: Windermere FL
Ok - I'll post something different. I did not have the shudder.
I installed GM's last "new" fluid in November '18 when the magic elixir was the black label stuff. Did the double flush myself in the garage using the procedure here: How To: Tranny Flush with Mobil 1 Synthetic LV ATF HP without dropping the pan
To be honest, I noted no real difference after that.
Then in January GM replaced the black label with the new blue label magic stuff, but I only did a single flush (not the double).
After the blue was done, I really did not notice anything different either. But after about 400 miles, I did notice the shifts were better. Something definately changed.
I'll probably do another flush with the blue stuff again next December once the Florida Inferno dies down.
YRMV
I installed GM's last "new" fluid in November '18 when the magic elixir was the black label stuff. Did the double flush myself in the garage using the procedure here: How To: Tranny Flush with Mobil 1 Synthetic LV ATF HP without dropping the pan
To be honest, I noted no real difference after that.
Then in January GM replaced the black label with the new blue label magic stuff, but I only did a single flush (not the double).
After the blue was done, I really did not notice anything different either. But after about 400 miles, I did notice the shifts were better. Something definately changed.
I'll probably do another flush with the blue stuff again next December once the Florida Inferno dies down.
YRMV
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 7,382
Likes: 3,501
From: Lake Havasu City Arizona
I have had two fluid changes since I have 98,000 plus on the car. My last one was at 90,000 just before the latest fluid with the blue label came out. That was Last February I had that done, or so. But I have never had any trouble with my A8. It's actually the best automatic I have ever had. But I'll wait until the next scheduled maintenance for the next fluid change, which will be at 135,000 miles. I go by the "severe" maintenance schedule. The basic one doesn't even have a fluid change listed!
I think if it gives you piece of mind to get the latest to go ahead and do it since they are spaced out to every 45,000 miles.
By the way I have used the Range device since I have had 43,000 miles on the car. Sometimes I forget and don't use it and don't notice any difference. No shudder, no rpm fluctuations. It is mostly a preventative device for me after hearing all these horror stories.
I think if it gives you piece of mind to get the latest to go ahead and do it since they are spaced out to every 45,000 miles.
By the way I have used the Range device since I have had 43,000 miles on the car. Sometimes I forget and don't use it and don't notice any difference. No shudder, no rpm fluctuations. It is mostly a preventative device for me after hearing all these horror stories.
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13,599
Likes: 12,856
From: Virginia
Racer
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 348
Likes: 175
From: Central Texas
Range keeps the car in V8 so it never goes into V4. The shudder happens as it switches between the two from what I understand. I’ve always driven in manual or with the Range and in almost 10k miles I’ve never experienced it. Manual keeps it in V8 as well. There are threads that explain in mechanical detail and I’m not versed enough to explain it myself. It also really helped the rough shift I had from 1 to 2.
Last edited by TXSteveF; Jun 1, 2019 at 09:46 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,761
Likes: 1,016
From: MOUNTAIN HOME Arkansas
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,597
Likes: 101
From: TN PA
CI 5-6-7-8-9-10-11 Vet
For me, short answer, NO... On my 2017 Camaro SS A8 I went from no shudder one day to severe shudder the next. On the day my shudder started I went home and got my Range out of the Corvette and plugged it in the Camaro. It did not stop the shudder. The new fluid did totally correct the shudder in the Camaro...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,122
Likes: 381
From: Southeastern PA
As many have postulated here, the Range doesn't "CURE" the shudder (once you've got it-time to go to dealer), it MIGHT help prevent it from eventually happening. Supposedly the constant shutting off of 4 cylinders then kicking them back "on" is what causes wear on the transmission parts. The A8 constantly moves from V4 to V8 operation even at low RPM & around town UNLESS you use the paddles (manually shifting) which keeps it from switching back & forth. JMO since I have a '16Z M7 & have never even considered putting it in ECO mode (only time M7 changes to V4) to get better gas mileage
I installed a Range device with less than 100 miles on my vette to potentially reduce the possibility of developing transmission shudder. I’m not concerned with gas mileage and the Range device is a relatively inexpensive preventative tool.
