With all due respect to your retired mechanic friend but he couldn't be more wrong. The fluid in your transmission was worn out and needed replacing 50k miles ago. Flush it completely.

To convince yourself, pull the dipstick and wipe it with something /really/ white like a piece of printer paper. If the fluid on the paper has any black or brown on it at ALL than the fluid is burnt and needs to be changed. At your mileage on the original fluid I personally wouldn't even check - I'd just replace it.

Mobil 3309 fluid, or Toyota T-IV fluid is OEM. There are some synthetic fluids that meet the spec as well.

Bevel gear also needs a fluid change ASAP. Fully synthetic 75W-90 GL-5. AMSOIL makes a great one called Severe Gear.



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1998 V70 AWD->FWD->AWD Turbo 215k+

A Volvo mechanic thinks 136K is high mileage? 236K or 336K would sound better in my yard. Your car takes 3309 fluid, sold at Toyota and other places. If you are hesitant about a full flush, then at least drain the sump and bring the level back up to the original mark on the dipstick. Drain when cold, that will have the most sediment at the bottom

If you flush (12 quarts), your cooler line from the tranny might be the bottom line, 2005 for sure - I don't understand why Volvo changed it.

You have flushed your bevel gear box, right?

Go ahead and use Bilstein HD, but check the rear shocks first in case they are Nivomats. You will want to replace the spring seats with XC90 seats.

Klau
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Always willing to listen, just not able to take direction.