I got a relatively good deal on VW/Audi ATF for my '04 Tiptronic Jetta, but notice that the bottle gives it a 3 year shelf life, referring to the carton it came in for a date, which I didn't get. Figuring this could be old stock, what's the issue with ATF shelf life?
ATF Shelf Life?
- Thread starter SamSnyder
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Good point. This stuff is supposed to be "permanent," although the factory juice that came out at 30k miles looked and smelled slightly cooked like you'd expect with any ATF. The idea that you'd go 100k miles on it seems #@$%! to me.
Yeah I don't get how the ATF with 3 year shelf life in a VW or Audi magically become lifetime. It seems to hint that changing the ATF every 3 years is a good thing. I don't think that ATF is as sensitive as brake fluid. It should have the same shelf life like any other ATF. Last time I checked the ATF level in my 02 Jetta it still looked golden color.
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I think the main concern with storing ATF on the shelf is moisture, especially if the cap was completely tight. There's also the issue of additive fallout. At least in the transmission, the various warm-up cycles would raise the fluid temperature enough to eliminate any moisture and the pumping action would eliminate any issue of additive fallout.
Smell and color is rapidly becoming a thing of a past for determining fluid condition. DC has stated for years that the color and odor of their OEM ATF+4 is irrelevant to fluid condition, and Honda/Hyundai have picked up the same statements. Toyota still recommends a fluid change at the first sign of discoloration, sediment, or odor, however. While GM makes no official statement, I was told by their engineers that the color of the fluid (darkening) is actually normal and is showing that it's doing its job.
Smell and color is rapidly becoming a thing of a past for determining fluid condition. DC has stated for years that the color and odor of their OEM ATF+4 is irrelevant to fluid condition, and Honda/Hyundai have picked up the same statements. Toyota still recommends a fluid change at the first sign of discoloration, sediment, or odor, however. While GM makes no official statement, I was told by their engineers that the color of the fluid (darkening) is actually normal and is showing that it's doing its job.
Yeah, but we haven't seen too many good ATF UOAs.
And, I do understand that smell/color was even out-lawed in certain states because quicklubes use smell/color to sell an ATF flush.
I will still use smell/color, along with odometer, as a simple method. Sorry, but I don't care what the automakers, lawmakers,.... say.
Its almost impossible to overmaintain a vehicle. If you have more then 30k opn ATF, IMO, regardless of the fluid used, you are overdue for a flush. If you want to prove me wrong, simple spend the money for a UOA.
And, I do understand that smell/color was even out-lawed in certain states because quicklubes use smell/color to sell an ATF flush.
I will still use smell/color, along with odometer, as a simple method. Sorry, but I don't care what the automakers, lawmakers,.... say.
Its almost impossible to overmaintain a vehicle. If you have more then 30k opn ATF, IMO, regardless of the fluid used, you are overdue for a flush. If you want to prove me wrong, simple spend the money for a UOA.
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