The Audi 0AN, or Multitronic VL-380, continuously variable transmission was produced by the German company from 2004 to 2011 and installed on front-wheel-drive versions of the A4 B7 and A6 C6, paired with 2.5 TDI and 2.7 TDI diesel engines. It is a reinforced version of the 01J transmission and is considered a first-generation CVT.
Specifications
| Type | CVT (continuously variable transmission) |
| Number of gears | ∞ |
| Type of drive | front |
| Engine volume, l | up to 2.7 |
| Torque output, Nm | up to 380 |
| Recommended oil | G 052 180 A2 |
| Oil capacity, liter | 7.5 |
| Partial replacement, liter | 5.0 |
| Maintenance | every 60 000 km |
| Gearbox lifespan, km | ~300 000 km |
| Weight, kg | 112 |
In 2004, engineers at the German company LuK introduced a reinforced version of the 01J CVT, designed for powerful 2.5 TDI and 2.7 TDI diesel engines with 380 Nm of torque. Otherwise, it’s the same continuously variable transmission for longitudinally mounted engines, with a pull chain instead of a belt and a clutch pack instead of a conventional torque converter.
Gear ratios Audi VL380
Using the example of a 2007 Audi A6 with a 2.7 TDI diesel engine:
| Main | 5.297 |
| Range | 2.510 — 0.382 |
| Reverse | 2.510 |
Using
The transmission was installed on:
- Audi A4 B7 (8E) in 2004 – 2008;
- Audi A6 C6 (4F) in 2004 – 2011.
Disadvantages of the VW VL380 gearbox
- A well-known weakness of this family of CVTs is their short chain life. It depends on driving style and, for active owners, is less than 150,000 km.
- Sharp starts also wear out the clutch pack, which acts as a clutch, and wear debris is then distributed throughout the system, ending up in the solenoids and oil pump.
- Owners of cars with this transmission must keep the cooling radiators clean, as the control unit and its sensors are very sensitive to overheating and easily fail.
- Weaknesses of this transmission also include short-lived cooling pipes and the driven cone bearing, which can start humming after 100,000 to 120,000 km. Towing a car with the engine off often results in costly repairs.
