Hi old duke,

I am not sure if I have figured it out but I can tell you what I have observed and learned from 3 years of owning a 240. I have learned that 240 is very durable, reliable and extremely forgiving. This car sat on a driveway for a long time before I bought it. I think the fluid was bad even though the fluid color appeared to be fine. Based on the Brickboard posts and threads, there were some cases where they got great results by flushing their transmission. So I did a drain/fill method and hoped for the best. I didn't know how to loosen the transmission cooling line from the radiator at that time. In the beginning, I didn't feel any difference but I noticed the smooth shifting as time went by. I changed the transmission fluid every 30,000 miles, that's only 2 quarts, the car now runs really smooth and it's almost unbelievable. I know I should flush the system using a long hose. Besides changing the fluid regularly, I bypass the overdrive, put 2 new rubber grommets for the shift linkage and replaced the tail shaft seal.

I read somewhere that our transmission will last about 250k so maybe it's time. Who knows?

If I am in the market for a 240, I would try to find one with a good maintenance record and wouldn't mind buying one with an automatic transmission. One thing I have observed, 240 is over 20 years old now and it needs a lot of care regardless.