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I went to my well informed NAPA parts guy to get some transmission fluid. I was going to change the fluid in my 91 240 wagon with 165,000 miles on it. He asked if the fluid was ever changed before, and I told him I had no clue. I just bought the car a few months ago, and the service history is sketchy.
He warned me that if the car has over 120k, you might not want to change the fluid. He explained that changing the fluid, with all the crap that is inside now, might just cause the transmission to fail once all the crap is stirred up, drained out. It happened to him with a Lincoln he had... cost him a couple of grand... after changing the fluid he could only get into reverse.
Now, I really don't have a problem with the tranny, I just don't want to have a problem in the future. I certainly don't want to risk the transmission failing if I do what I think is preventative maitenance.
So... To change, or not to change?
Thanks in advance,
Larry
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I have the AW71 on the 940 and did the total fluid change after buying it at 135,000mi. The fluid in there did not look good - kind of brownish. I bought the pan gasket and filter, but could not get the dipstick tube off at the amount of torque I was willing to put on the nut. I've since seen postings here quoting a Volvo service bulletin advising not to pull the pan for filter replacement.
So - I just drained the pan, then filled back to proper level (about 2 qts) , then did the flush through the cooling line at the radiator. It was about 12 qts before clean fluid appeared. Took about an hour, and $25.
Now, I WANT to believe that I was feeling smoother shifts etc., but seat of the pants is an unsure method. Anyhow, there's little doubt that fresh clean fluid is what the trans needs and simply has to extend its life. I'm fairly sure the trans feels better and I know I do.
--
Bob (son's 81-244GL B21F, dtr's 83-244DL B23F, 'my' 94-944 B230FD; plus grocery-getter Dodge minivan, hobbycar 77 MGB, and a few old motorcycles)
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posted by
someone claiming to be jorrell
on
Sun May 22 16:42 CST 2005 [ RELATED]
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Here is how you give your AW-70 / AW-71 a few more zillion miles of life:
1: Drain the fluid.
2: Pull the pan.
3: Wipe everything out of the pan.
4: Pull the magnet off the pan, wipe it off, clean it, and put it back in the pan.
5a: If you are cheap, pull the filter screen and clean it with brake cleaner and put it back in.
5b: If you can spare single digit dollars, replace the filter screen.
6: Put the pan back on and use the "IPD" method to flush a dozen quarts through the tranny.
7: Drive the crap out of the car and repeat the above steps every 30K to 50K miles.
8: When the tranny hits 500K miles, pull it out and replace it... assuming there is anything left of the rest of the car!
In short, be nice to your AW-7X tranny and it just might outlive you!
Jorrell
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I went to my well informed NAPA parts guy to get some transmission fluid.
If I eat my vegetables today and then die tomorrow, it doesn't mean that vegetables are bad for me.
I think you might need to reconsider as to whether this guy is "well informed." Or at the very least, challenge him to explain technically just how it is an older transmission benefits from broken down and oxidized fluid, varnishing, metal flakes, and general sludge. If all he has to go on is one anecdotal experience where he leaps to this assumption without having any basis for putting cause and effect together, he's not a very intelligent car man in any case.
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posted by
someone claiming to be phuk-u
on
Sun May 22 15:40 CST 2005 [ RELATED]
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Could you be anymore of an assHOLE !?!
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I have seen that the "quality" of your postings pretty much matches your username. Perhaps there are other forums that would more appreciate your insight, knowledge and experience.
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David Hunter
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Change the fluid, that urban legend is well spread, even the local Volvo only yard/shop told me not to change the fluid on old trannys I have done it anyway on Bricks with 120 to 200+ thousand on them and never had an issue. Shifting is always improved.
Volvo no longer recomends changing the filter. In fact when I first got my '88 almost 8 years ago the parts counter guy told me not to buy the filter I wanted, said it was a waste of time and money. When's the last time a dealer parts guy told you not to buy a part?
--
Dave Shannon
Spring Valley, California
'67 1800s
'73 1800ES
'88-240
my pages
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I agree, change the fluid. I've done so with "new" cars that I buy with anywhere from 130,000 to 200,000 miles on them, and never had a problem.
And I don't touch the pan or the strainer (it's a screen inside, not a true small particle filter like for engine oil). I just use the "IPD method" of hooking up a hose to where the line comes out of the radiator (the top one).
And, for me, I always use about 18 to 20 quarts of AmsOil ATF, a full-synthetic, for the flush to new fluid.
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I always get a big smile when I hear the horror stories about changing the atf after certain miles. You eventually hear the little tidbit about the tranny acting 'funny' just before the flush and dying after new atf was introduced.
It's always the chicken and the egg story - it ran great until I changed it, then it died!
I would pull the tranny pan, replace the filter and gasket, top off with new fluid, and flush about 1K miles later. The real purpose is to get rid off all of that "junk" laying at the bottom of the tranny. Make sure it is spotless before re-installing filter and pan - no cloth lint either.
Your tranny will run cooler with new atf and live longer.
Klaus
--
98 V70Rawd(108Kmi), 95 854T(88K mi), 75 164E(173K mi)
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I'm skeptical:
...might just cause the transmission to fail once all the crap is stirred up, drained out.
That "crap" is getting stirred up anyway as the pump circulates this fluid.
Also, your trans would have a screen and not a paper element which also could be a difference.
I'd change it but let other experts chime in on this one.
--
Norm Cook; Vancouver BC; 1989 745T 206,000KM
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