Volvo RWD 1800 Forum

INDEX FOR 2/2026(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 8/2008 1800 INDEX

[<<]  [>>]


THREADED THREADED EXPANDED FLAT PRINT ALL
MESSAGES IN THIS THREAD




  REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

1800 Transmission Oil Flush 1800

posted by  Volvo_geek on  Tue Apr 26 21:48 CST 2005
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] [RELATED]

I have a 1971 1800E with the M40 transmission with electric O/D. The car has been running great recently, but the transmission is a little noisy (just a whine) and has been a bit more difficult to shift recently. She has an estimated 90K miles on her and no tansmission rebuild that I am aware of. The transmission has had a worn syncromesh going from 3rd to 4th as long as I've owned it. Not a huge deal if you let the engine rev down before engaging 4th. Tends to grind a bit going into 4th, but is fine once engaged. I have trained myself to use the clutch when going in and out of overdrive and it seems to be in good operating condition.

However, it's better to be safe than sorry...

I have decided that I should probably change the fluid in the tranny as I have no idea when it was done last (only owned the car about 6 months). However I have some questions and was hoping that I could find answers here.

What type of oil have you guys had good experience with? I was planning on going to a synthetic of some variety. The red Workshop manual that I have for that car states that I should use 30 weight motor oil. Would some 10W-30 Mobil 1 engine oil (which is what I use in the engine) work well in this case? I have also considered the Redline series of products that ipd sells because they have a synthetic designed for manual transmissions. However, the weight seems a bit high for this application (70W-80 GL-4 in this case).

Also, what kind of funnel do you use to get the oil in there with a minimal of mess? Looks like the fill plug is on the side of the trasmission.

Thanks ahead of time. I look forward to your always informative replies.
--
1994 Volvo 940 n/a Wagon; 1971 Volvo 1800E;








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    1800 Transmission Oil Flush 1800

    uid 779's pic
    posted by  matt b on  Wed Apr 27 06:15 CST 2005
    Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
    last visit: Tue Oct 14 16:33 CST 2014
    [RELATED]

    YOu can buy pumps at parts stores for filling... about $20 or so. They fit directly on gear oil bottles. They don't fit on engine oil bottles.

    I've used them, and they are fine. But I loaned it out never to see it again, so now I just run a hose of some sort past the firewall next to the tranny, tape the top end to my oil bottle, stick the other end in the filler hole, and hang the bottle upside down from the hood catch or whatever you find. Works fine, though when its full, it'll leave a puddle in your driveway. Just have something down there to catch the extra...
    --
    -Matt I ♥ my ♂








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    1800 Transmission Oil Flush 1800

    posted by  Royo on  Wed Apr 27 01:47 CST 2005
    Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
    last visit: Thu Jul 19 04:12 CST 2007
    [RELATED]

    30W NON-detergent engine oil is what's called for in these gearboxes. There are lots of opinions and choices and apparently there is much success with a variety of lubricants. I've been using 30W in my '66 for the eleven years I've owned it with no problems at all.
    --
    Roy Olson








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    1800 Transmission Oil Flush 1800

    uid 4846's pic
    posted by  JohnMc on  Wed Apr 27 01:37 CST 2005
    Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
    last visit: Thu Oct 23 07:42 CST 2014
    [RELATED]

    As for the oil: http://www.brickboard.com/RWD/index.htm?id=952254
    We were just talking about that in the PV section. I personally use some Mobil 1, but anything is fine apparently. I'd have to agree with that last post in the thread about the transmission not needing any of the fancy additives that a motor needs. Also, AFAIK gear oils and motors oils have their viscosity checked at different temp ranges and there isn't that much real difference between your average motor oil and your average gear oil.

    As for filling it - you need a slurp gun. A sort of large syringe, looks a lot like a grease gun. I'm not sure of the proper term for one, I'm not finding a lot of images searching on the terms I'm tyring to use, but they look like the picture I linked. Just fill until you can't fill anymore and oil comes out the fill hole. My 1800E has A/C and the condensation drain tube was right there - so I used to be able to take the plug off, insert the tube, and fill from the inside using a funnel on the tube too.
    --
    I'm JohnMc, and I approved this message.









    •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

      1800 Transmission Oil Flush 1800

      posted by  Dave B on  Fri Apr 29 16:06 CST 2005
      Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
      last visit: Fri Sep 26 19:07 CST 2014
      [RELATED]

      Don't forget to drain both the transmisison and the OD. They are interconnected and use the same oil. The former has an obvious drain plug at the bottom, the latter requires removing the rectangular plate on the bottom with the six (or is it eight?) bolts. Generally you can reuse the gasket if you are careful. (Be careful, those gaskets are hard to find.) Clean the screen in there while you have it off.And when you refull, make sure the car is level.








      •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

        1800 Transmission Oil Flush 1800

        posted by  mjamgb on  Thu May 12 07:25 CST 2005
        Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
        last visit: Tue Sep 4 14:53 CST 2012
        [RELATED]

        Clean the magnet in the sump too. I'd get myself a bit of gasket material to make a new gasket should I bust (likely) the old one.

        I second the cheapo oil pumps. Have several I've acquired over the years and they keep on workin' Tough part is tube on suction side tends to want to drop out of pump after a few years!

        I use the redline GL-4 but not in an OD tranny so... Don't see why not, however.



        --
        Mike!







<< < > >>



©Jarrod Stenberg 1997-2022. All material except where indicated.


All participants agree to these terms.

Brickboard.com is not affiliated with nor sponsored by AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corporation, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. or Ford Motor Company. Brickboard.com is a Volvo owner/enthusiast site, similar to a club, and does not intend to pose as an official Volvo site. The official Volvo site can be found here.