Hi Mike,

Like you, I am new to V70.

I am using Valvoline Maxlife ATF (full synthetic). It's affordable and works all for my family cars; 240, V70, & Toyota car/truck. Now, I have one type of trans fluid, keeps my storage clean and simple.

My V70 had a dirty transmission fluid, so I used 4 gallons to flush out the entire system by tapping into the cooling line. I bought a long 1" ID clear tube from Homedepot and hooked it up on the cooling return line by the driver side radiator. I drove about 500 miles and now I can feel the difference. It's less coarse, shifting points and revving make sense.

Starting the next transmission change, I think I can do drain and fill.

Thank you as always.

I have been reading this board for 19 years RWD and AWD. I have read multiple car magazines for almost 50 years, and Popular Mechanics before that.

65 years ago I heard that a full ATF change some times leads to transmission woes.

I suggest what is termed a slow ATF change - drain and replace what you can - do this every oil change until you like the appearance of the fluid. Then every few years after that

After we got our '96 855R I had our dealer do an ATF flush - the fluid still looked a bit dark. They flushed it again because they found the tech did not drain the pan first.

The flushes did no harm - we drove that tremendous car for 11 years after that.

I guess that we were gentile to the car, as the fluid never looked poorly again.

You can probably find 3309 ATF at Walmart. If the car sits overnight and you drain the tranny before starting, you will get more fluid out. Yes, check the fluid level before starting, you want the same level after the flush. Measuring the dumped fluid is also good.

Buy at least 5 quarts, just to be on the safe side. You will need a funnel designed with a long and narrow spout. It takes longer to re-fill than it takes to drain.

After the drain/fill, drive the car for 15 minutes to get the fluid up to operating temperature, then check the level with the engine running. It should be at the top mark of the 'hot' side of the dip stick.

--
Keeping it running is better than buying new

“... I may need to drain half and do the other half in a few weeks to get 100% exchange...”

Actually two drain and fills will achieve a 75% fluid replacement. Three D&Ds will get you an 87.5% replacement. Four times = 93+% replacement.

1) It's Mobil 3309. There are many substitutes to use if you so desire.

2) 3.5 to 3.75 quarts will drain out when unscrewing the plug.

It's best to measure your fluid's level on the dipstick before doing this job. Many an instruction says to measure what drains out and match that volume when refilling. You need to determine that the sump was at the FULL mark.

Many need time to get used to the dipstick location.

You want to be in the acceptable zone on the dipstick of a car at operating temp. Go through the gear positions P down to L and back up to P. Measure promptly.

When I do drain & fills I raise the driver's side ramp higher. I feel more dirt drains out.

3) Will you be doing this soon? You'll need a 24mm wrench, an 18mm aluminum gasket washer and all the usual oil drain supplies.

Post how red and new looking or how black and foul the drained fluid is.