I have a 2001 Volvo V70 XC with 120,000 mi. I read most places that one should replace the fluid in your auto trans at certain intervals. However, my service maintenance schedule does not indicate this. When I asked the service manager at the Volvo dealership about it, he said that they do routinely do this unless there is some specific problem with the transmission. Have any Volvo owners here received similar advise?
Transmission Fluid Flush
- Thread starter thiggy
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Kestas
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Reading between the lines, it sounds like your transmission has what the manufacturer calls "lifetime" fluid. The dealer is simply following the company line.
Here at BITOG, we call that fluid something that should be changed every 50-80K. Your next challenge is to find somebody who can exchange the fluid. If you want the dealer to do it, you may have to be insistent.
Here at BITOG, we call that fluid something that should be changed every 50-80K. Your next challenge is to find somebody who can exchange the fluid. If you want the dealer to do it, you may have to be insistent.
Look at volvospeed.com in the front wheel drive maintenance section. They emphasize that regular ATF changes are very important for longest transmission life. A Volvo tech at a dealership told me that he drains and refills the transmission sump on his own Volvo at each oil change...every other oil change is likely fine.
So, for your car...I'd drain and refill the transmission sump, add 6 ounces of Auto-Rx, drive for 1500 miles, and do a complete transmission fluid flush and renewal. I'd also add an ounce of Auto-Rx to your power steering and flush and renew the fluid (ATF) in that when you do the transmission. If your Volvo calls for Volvo's own ATF, Redline D4 is a synthetic ATF that does an excellent job. If your Volvo calls for Dexron-III ATF, use your choice...I prefer the synthetic, and Mobil 1, Redline, or Amsoil are excellent. After the cleaning and refill with conventional ATF you're good for at least 30,000 miles or 50k with synthetic. I'd send a sample to a testing lab then to find the remaining life in the fluid.
My Volvo 850T runs better, gets better gas mileage, and consumes less oil after an Auto-Rx cleaning of the engine.
I also renew the brake fluid every two years, the coolant every two years, and have almost no repair costs.
Has your ABS controller failed yet? It will. There is a guy, Victor Rocha, that does an excellent job of rebuilding them stouter than new.
http://home.earthlink.net/~vicrocha/Volvo_Parts/Volvo_V70_ABS.htm
Ken
So, for your car...I'd drain and refill the transmission sump, add 6 ounces of Auto-Rx, drive for 1500 miles, and do a complete transmission fluid flush and renewal. I'd also add an ounce of Auto-Rx to your power steering and flush and renew the fluid (ATF) in that when you do the transmission. If your Volvo calls for Volvo's own ATF, Redline D4 is a synthetic ATF that does an excellent job. If your Volvo calls for Dexron-III ATF, use your choice...I prefer the synthetic, and Mobil 1, Redline, or Amsoil are excellent. After the cleaning and refill with conventional ATF you're good for at least 30,000 miles or 50k with synthetic. I'd send a sample to a testing lab then to find the remaining life in the fluid.
My Volvo 850T runs better, gets better gas mileage, and consumes less oil after an Auto-Rx cleaning of the engine.
I also renew the brake fluid every two years, the coolant every two years, and have almost no repair costs.
Has your ABS controller failed yet? It will. There is a guy, Victor Rocha, that does an excellent job of rebuilding them stouter than new.
http://home.earthlink.net/~vicrocha/Volvo_Parts/Volvo_V70_ABS.htm
Ken
I flushed my transmission in my 97 960 at 66K miles and couldn't believe the garbage in the pan. The fluid was a nice dark brown and smelled just as bad as it looked. It made a huge difference in the quality of the shifts. Remember life time fill means life time of the manufactures warranty. I would at least do a complete flush, including a pan drop and new filter now. Then do transmission services every 30K (pan drop and clean filter and top off) then do a complete flush every 60K. The Asian/Warner transmissions are great units but still need to be cared for.
When I was a Volvo service manager we noted that the Asian Warner tranxaxle use on the S70 (850) lasted a long time if it had a fluid change every 30,000 miles and attempted to sell such a servide with every 30,000 mile service. Many customers wanted to do only what Volvo called for and no more.
On Turbo cars, the trans would usually fail at about 60,000 to 80,000 miles if the fluid was never changed and the non turbos would go about 20,000 to 30,000 miles further. I never saw one fail that had regular fluid changes.
Since they failed past warranty, Volvo wasn't there to to help. Never. Truly a tightwad company.
On Turbo cars, the trans would usually fail at about 60,000 to 80,000 miles if the fluid was never changed and the non turbos would go about 20,000 to 30,000 miles further. I never saw one fail that had regular fluid changes.
Since they failed past warranty, Volvo wasn't there to to help. Never. Truly a tightwad company.
The others nailed it. But here's my .02$ - I'm the rare bird with a manual 850, but over the years the number stories of AT issues in FWD Volvos confirms my good choice....however when I start asking for the details on these AT "issues", most frequently is a total lack of fluid changes. Change the fluid.
GM says the trans fluid is good for life under normal driving conditions as well. I don't agree with this, but in the majority of GM's car, at least Sunfires and Grand AM's, etc. they rarely ever have problems and if they did fail a certain while after the warranty there's a good chance GM will help out with the repairs as I've seen them help out with other large repairs either by paying 50% or 100%.
I dumped the factory fill in my 86 Caprice with 125k and it was just starting to get slightly burnt, mostly from heat buildup during brakes stands and tire spinning. Gone about 25k since then and changed it again cause it got really hot trying to get through deep snow spinning the engine at over 5-5500rpm continuously for a couple minutes. Still no crap in the pan at either change, fluid was still red but had gotten slightly burnt so I probably saved it by changing it and flushing it. I was worried that it wasn't going to last much longer but now after seeing in the pan I think I might go another 25k and then put the expensive Amsoil stuff. Our local tranny shop puts Amsoil in everyone of their fresh rebuilds cause they have a 5 year 60k warranty and its extra insurance.
I dumped the factory fill in my 86 Caprice with 125k and it was just starting to get slightly burnt, mostly from heat buildup during brakes stands and tire spinning. Gone about 25k since then and changed it again cause it got really hot trying to get through deep snow spinning the engine at over 5-5500rpm continuously for a couple minutes. Still no crap in the pan at either change, fluid was still red but had gotten slightly burnt so I probably saved it by changing it and flushing it. I was worried that it wasn't going to last much longer but now after seeing in the pan I think I might go another 25k and then put the expensive Amsoil stuff. Our local tranny shop puts Amsoil in everyone of their fresh rebuilds cause they have a 5 year 60k warranty and its extra insurance.
fwiw
I was looking at info on Allison trans sites and found this statement. Several trans pro's also have told me a similar thing.
I was looking at info on Allison trans sites and found this statement. Several trans pro's also have told me a similar thing.
Mike,
Is that recommendation taken out of context? Many just do a pan drop/filter change which only removes about half the old fluid.
Maybe it refers to a pressurized machine with chemical flushes?
Also, which house is your's in this photo:
http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?T=1&S=15&Z=16&X=60&Y=796&W=1
Merry Christmas everyone....and get off the net!
Is that recommendation taken out of context? Many just do a pan drop/filter change which only removes about half the old fluid.
Maybe it refers to a pressurized machine with chemical flushes?
Also, which house is your's in this photo:
http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?T=1&S=15&Z=16&X=60&Y=796&W=1
Merry Christmas everyone....and get off the net!
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