Gearbox DSG Maintenance

My local Indy shop recommends 5 year replacement for both trans and hydraulic fluid. Supposed to reduce the DCT issues. I have no data points other than I respect their knowledge on the cars.


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I have a 2015 458 spider with 20K miles and I have had NO gearbox or performance issues with the car. I bought it in 2021 with 7K miles and it has been under the Ferrari 7 year maintence until recently. I just completed the full annual maintenance and I wanted to also do the first gearbox flush on the car. I flushed both fluids and they were noticeably darker than the new Motul fluids I put in. Based on that I plan to flush them both every 2-3 years as a precaution. If the fluids worn I figure it's heat wicking properties are probably reduced and I want to protect the internal gearbox sensors as much as possible. Just my plan and 2 cents figuring a couple hundred bucks of fluid is cheap insurance.
Frank

 

Thanks, Frank. Like you, I am a fan of fluids flushes, even those that are "lifetime". Maybe especially those. I have had sensor systems reset themselves after a flush due to the old fluid viscosity having degraded out of spec, but I'm pretty sure this Clutch Overheated light will not self-correct with a fluid flush (not that you were suggesting it might). Best I can tell from lots of research and discussion, it is a common problem with several F models, is only a sensor problem and so, under my assumption that this is the condition with my car, I have chosen to leave it alone, drive it, deal with an occasional light and not worry about it. If that comes back to bite me, I can always have the box rebuilt or replaced, but after driving the car for several years with this infrequent light, there is no indication of it actually being a mechanical or degenerative problem. In the meantime, I'll keep having fun. Maybe even convert it to a manual one day, if anyone ever figures out how to do it, which is doubtful at this point. Thanks again for your comments. .

 

Did you switch the car on again and disappear? If yes then its fine

 

At this point drive it an enjoy it. If it bites the dust it’s a lot less of a hassle to have repaired than say 10 years ago.


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F485 The light comes on while underway, and very rarely, and when it does, immediately goes back out after 1-3 seconds and that’s it. If I was riding around with a light on, I would definitely get it remedied immediately, but this is not that. Further, as many others have said on this thread, it’s an inaudible thing. Just a warning, then it’s gone. I even talked dirty to her, but it didn’t fix the problem.

ejarcy I agree with you. And actually, that’s what I have been doing. I have to address it though because I want to sell the car and get into an Italia for the track.

 

With the passage of another year and more collective mileage, I'm reviving this thread to see whether advice has changed on whether DCT gearbox and clutch fluid changes are advisable. My dealer continues to advise that the fluids are a lifetime fill. Their quoted price of $1600 to replace the fluids is not inconsequential. FWIW my 2014 458 Spider now has approximately 24K miles. I am the original owner so I know that the car was properly broken-in and has always been properly warmed up before driven with spirit.

 

That's an interesting thing to say, especially when Gearbox is not ferrari made. Same gearbox on amg gt coupe series & SLS requires maintenance every 4y cycle. As stated before in this topic, every fluid has its own lifetime.
Thats a good topic with pictures to look at.

 

^^^
Agreed, given the AMG maintenance schedule for its cars using Getrag boxes, I'm curious if 458 owners are coming to the view that their fluids should also be changed.

 

I will never believe to all these "livetime" claims. And on top of that oil changes on this gearbox are not too hard, so I don't see why someone should risk anything, instead replacing the fluids once in a while.

 

I changed both fluids on my 2014 with around 25,000 miles at the time. Lifetime - nah.

 

That's concerns all other models with 7DCL750 gearbox. I have recently bought 16' 488gtb with 730km mileage , and during check up my dealer insisted on trans oil change.

 

Thank you for your replies.

 

It’s always cheaper to change fluid

 

I just had my DCT fluid changed at my local dealership as they said Ferrari recommends changeling the fluid at the 10 year mark or at XX miles (can't remember). I personally have no heard that Ferrari has listed the fluid as lifetime, but that may simply be my ignorance. Regardless, cheap insurance to change as others have said.

 

I was gonna change the fluids in the clutch and transmission myself, but they’re actually is a process where they actuate the valves and flush out everything similar to an ABS flush so well worth it at the dealer 1200 bucks cheap insurance and then they reflash the software for a learning mode for the new viscosity of the Fluids

 

The WSM mentions none of that and it is dubious that dealers are using a 2nd set of instructions. The only gear that is engaged is reverse.

 

I do my own maintenance. The Gearbox and DCT should be changed and is not for life. I try to stay with original factory Shell fluids:


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It’s the procedure they follow on their challenge team