99 Volvo s80 2.9 fluid foaming

[silverrat]

A friend of mine has a 1999 Volvo S80 2.9 and initially we changed the ATF by sucking fluid out of the dipstick tube and replenished with Mobil 1 ATF. The fluid started foaming shortly afterwards, and a Volvo parts counter guy told him to not use synthetic ATF in the transmission. So he then did another suck and fill cycle with Mobil Super Multi Vehicle ATF which is a syn blend, and its still foaming.

Any ideas? He plan on towingwith the car so he wants to cover his bases. I call [censored] on no synthetic, what do you guys think?

 

[mopar_monkey]

sounds like the level of fluid is to high, try taking out a quart or so.

 

[tjw7676]

Some of the volvos can be pretty picky with ATF fluid; for example, my 01 takes 3309, anything else will cause it to throw fits. You can also check out volvo forums like swedespeed and volvospeed about this. I wouldn't tow with that car unless you have a cooler, those early S80 like to blow transmissions. Just fill with OEM spec and do a partial change every 30K, otherwise you might get harsh shifting and other weird behavior. I put Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF in mine, but had to put back in a partial fill of 3309 to get the transmission to shift correctly. YMMV

 

[silverrat]

Obviously we checked the fluid level to make sure it wasnt high, and this vehicle has a GM transmission and it specs Dexron 3 unlike the aisin trannny that specs 3309 or = to T-iv

 

[mopar_monkey]

didn't mean to imply that you guys are morons, i had a transmission once that had to be on the add line on the dipstick otherwise it would be over full. so beyond that did you replace to filter? is it possible that something didn't seal well causing air into the system? i saw this with a mazda truck, the engine was rebuilt and after wards the oil would foam come to find out the oil pick up tube had a small crack above the oil line and since it creates a vacuum on that side it was sucking in air and air-rating the oil.

 

[silverrat]

We didn't disconnect any transmission lines or anything, we just put a long tube down the dipstick tube and extracted 6 liters.

 

[unDummy]

What do you define as foaming? a few bubbles on the dipstick? or burping whipped cream?

As long as the level is check correctly, few bubbles on the dipstick means nothing. Its usually over-hyped by clueless diy backyard mechanics over the internet.

If it was truly foaming, you'd have it puking out of the dipstick and wouldn't be able to take an accurate level reading.

Any you can use synthetic in that transmission. Tell the Volvo parts guy to stick with ringing up parts and not give advice.

Another option is DexronVI.

1999? Its due for a pan drop, filter change, magnet cleaning......