FTO AUSTRALIA

The other day I took my FTO out for probably the longest continuous drive I have taken it for (about 1.5 hours) and I was going down a pretty steep hill at probably around 30kmph in "Drive" and it down shifted into 2nd from 3rd for the first time which has never happened before.

At first I thought this was normal, now I'm starting to think something might be wrong here, I drive in tiptronic 90% of the time (usually only use D when im eating) so it hasn't really bothered me at all, but basically in drive you take off, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th all good, then when u slow down it will downshift into 3rd then if u keep slowing down it wont ever downshift into 2nd only into 1st when u pretty much come to a complete stop. You can be going 30kmph and floor it, and it wont downshift into 2nd it will just keep limping around in 3rd till its time for 4th gear. It also doesn't downshift into 2nd in tip mode, only 4th to 3rd and 3rd to 1st.

I recently changed my tranny fluid about a month ago hoping for smoother shifts but it hasn't really done much, seems worse actually, the old fluid that was in there looked really red and good when it was flowing out, but when I scooped a bunch into a bottle it looked more brown than red, but wasnt really that bad, didnt see any metalic flakes in it either. I used Castrol Dextron 3 to refill it, if that matters to anyone.

So ye, any ideas? is my box fucked or what?

That is completely normal behaviour for the Tiptronic gear box.

It's fine.

Yup... read up on the invecs II, it's doing its job.

As has been said your car is operating normally.

When you get a chance fit a secondary oil cooler in series with the factory one (not as a replacement) and go for good fluid - a synthetic D4 is better, and do a full flush pumping it out the bottom pipe.
It's overheating and not keeping on top of ATF changes that kills the auto boxes.

Ok that's a relief, thanks guys