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transmission and differential fluid changes[850/1995] posted by Jack Paltell on
Tuesday, 17 March 1998, at 12:25 p.m.
I own a 1987 245 with the M47 5 speed manual transmission. The car
has 220K and is running just fine. How often do you veteran 240
owners change your transmission and differential fluids? Any specific recommendations for fluid types or brands for this model?
How bout brake fluid? I changed it a few years ago when I replaced the master cylinder. Any need to change it again?
By the way, I would like to add a small tach and a real temperature
guage in the 2 blank square spaces next to the radio. Anyone else
done that to your 240? Where did you purchase your guages? What kind did you
use? Is the installation something a mere mortal could handle on the
weekend?
Re: transmission and differential fluid changes[850/1995] posted by Tim Evans on
Thursday, 19 March 1998, at 10:05 a.m.
I have a volvo service manual that says 48K or 4 years on both rear axle and transmission fluid. I use Valvoline 85-140 synthetic in the rear, and I highly recommend Mobil 1 synthetic 5W-30 engine oil as a replacement for the type-F ATF in the transmission. I'm not sure your transmission takes type-F like my 4 spd w/ OD M46. If it takes 80-90 gear oil, just use the 85-140 same as the rear axle. The synthetic works great!! More consistent viscosity over a large temperature range eliminates that tight feeling in the gearbox on cold winter mornings, and gives clean shifts at high temperatures, even on a tranny with worn syncros (like mine at 175K mi.) I even noticed a fuel mileage difference on the highway of about 0.5 mpg with the synthetic!!!
DEFINATELY!!!! CHANGE YOUR BRAKE FLUID EVERY TWO YEARS OR LESS. water is the enemy of all hydraulic systems. brake fluid contains dessicants to absorb that water, but over time that capability is diminished. water in the system makes rust which gets into the brake piston seals and destroys them. If you pull off the reservoir, empty and clean it, replace and refill; your done, no need to even bleed the system. The fresh new fluid will dilute the old and you are set for another two years. If you want to be REALLY complete, you can bleed the system to remove ALL the old fluid. First, change the fluid in the reservoir, then bleed the system until you have clean fluid comming out. DON'T use the master cylinder to bleed!!! Some rust may have developed in the portion of your master cylinder over which the pistons do not normally travel. Scraping the pistons across that portion of the cylinder may damage the seals. For this reason Volvo recommends that you bleed using a vaccume bleeder. you can get one from ipd at www.ipdusa.com/volvo.html, i think it is about 10 or 15 bucks. Volvo's have the best braking system of any car on the road, it also happens to be one of the most complex and therefore expensive; it is well worth taking good care of. if you couldn't tell, the mentioning of this subject is a kind of invitation for me to get on my soapbox. sorry to chew your ear so long. good luck.
ipd
Re: transmission and differential fluid changes[850/1995] posted by Jack paltell on
Thursday, 19 March 1998, at 11:00 a.m.
Tim, that was a very informative message. I appreciate it.
Do you have any concerns about switching over to synthetic tranny and differential fluids after many years and miles on the old petroleum based products, i.e., leaking seals or gaskets resulting from the super slippery lubricants?
By the way, the m-47 5 speed gearbox uses type f, just like the m-46.
Re: transmission and differential fluid changes[850/1995] posted by shatz on
Thursday, 19 March 1998, at 5:05 p.m.
I would recommend fluid changes every 30K for tranny, differential and brakes. It's not that expensive for petroleum-based lubricants and not real hard to do.
I know that schedule appeared to stave off any problems to my first Volvo. It was an auto, but had a burnt smell to the fliud at 45K when I bought it. Thereafter, I changed it every 30K and the transmission never failed me.
As for the addition of a tach and temp guage, I would have guessed that a temp guage is standard. It has been on every Volvo I've every owned. There is no alternator guage, but I've always had a temp guage. The tach may even be prewired since everything on that dash is electronic, including the speedo.
You may want to look for a big tach to replace the clock (standard on GLs) and put a (smaller) clock over in one of the blanks. Just a suggestion.