I've read on this site that Volvo fluid and Mobile 3309 ATF are the only acceptable fluids for the 5 speed auto in my '99 V70 NA. When I tried to find it at Autozone, their computer says Dexron III is specified. Can you set me straight? Thanks.

Don't trust the handy-dandy computers at the car parts places because there may be errors in the databases. I have experienced several examples of where they specified the wrong spark plugs. I suggest you go to the Volvo dealer and buy the ATF from him. That's where I buy the manual trans. oil for the 5-speed manual in my wife's V70.

Well, trouble is that both of you are talking about 2 different kinds of flud. One is talking of ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid) and the other of manual transmission "oil." Yeah, the amount that goes in a manual Volvo can be bought at the Volvo dealer for not much $$, because the torque convertor doesn't take much to begin with. The problem is that the "special" Volvo ATF is about $20 a quart at the dealer and you need what, 8 quarts of this to fill up the transmission, or if you're wanting to do a full flush, at least 12 quarts of this stuff. It gets expensive. You can buy the same stuff for $50 a case mail-order (it's called Mobil-3309 ATF and it's the same stuff) plus about $10 for shipping. I couldn't find it where I live either and ended up buying it from an on-line vendor here for our '04 V70 (best price I could find): http://store.avlube.com/mobilatf3309.html

Just make sure your '99 Volvo is TRULY an Automatic 5 speed. This means that on your shift knob you go from "4" to "D" for Drive. Some '99's were "3" to "D" like my '98. If this is the case then you have a 4 speed Auto and don't need the special 3309 fluid but instead the Dextron III/Mercron. In this case, you can use the regular Mobil-1 Synthetic ATF (found at almost all Autozones, Petboys, etc. these days for about $6.00 a quart) and still you'll be doing your transmission a big favor.

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1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic (125K), 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red (45K), Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon (Sold at 140K and miss her). My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.

I find the sure fire way to tell which trans is which and which fluid to use is to check the dipstick. If you have the usual one with the rectangular yellow handle that is easy to find, right beside the air intake for the airbox then you have the old school stuff. If you have to dig around for it and find a little short one all the way down under the airintake hoses and the like and it is short with a knob on the end then you have the later style and will need to put the appropriate fluid in it. The factory stuff runs about $65.00 a gallon, yes you can buy it in the quarts or litres as well. We run the Mobil 3309 and just flush one case, 12 quarts, through it at a time.

Mark