Smith and Allan lubricants

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by green van man

While I agree with what's been said here, to my mind the biggest scandal is that these auto boxes get into this state in the first place, due to poor advise from the manufacturer.
At least the auto box has some sort of service schedule, poor as it may be. Try owning a manual and getting volvo to tell you the gearbox change intervals.

All these are fluids volvo make little to no mention of needing changing. Volvo evidently do not expect us to keep our cars past 3 or 4 years of age where of course everything is rosey.

Paul.

The car i learned to drive in Paul was a 1981 registered car. The owners handbook specified the service intervals and for both manual and auto boxes, 24k miles or 2 years, whichever is the sooner. If memory serves, the diff oil was also specified at 48k or 4 years.

Checking the service check sheets for my other beast, (once i figured it out) it specifies new gearbox oil in the manual models every 36k and new ATF every 24k in autos - the diffs are integral with the boxes so no separate instruction.
It also goes into things like antifreeze (every 24k/2 years, it's EG same as the 7/9xx range), timing belt at 96k and so on.

Many of these things don't seem to be listed by Volvo for any models and certainly not past 3 or 4 years as you point out. For a manufacturer that sells on longevity, it's a bit of an own goal!

[madspark01]

done the first round of dump and fill changes yesterday I was surprised that only 2.3L came out as when watching all the YouTube videos over 3L came out of them
I only did 4 drain and fill changes for this round and will do an other 4 in about 4 weeks. I overfilled by about 400ml on the last one and when I done the setting of the level only 300ml came out so seemed to be right.
The gearbox does feel more positive after a short run so should be better after the next set of drain and fills.
The stuff that came out was BLACK but no horrible burnt or pungent smells so also happy about that
cheers for the help and advice guys

[XC90Mk1]

Originally Posted by madspark01

done the first round of dump and fill changes yesterday I was surprised that only 2.3L came out as when watching all the YouTube videos over 3L came out of them
I only did 4 drain and fill changes for this round and will do an other 4 in about 4 weeks. I overfilled by about 400ml on the last one and when I done the setting of the level only 300ml came out so seemed to be right.
The gearbox does feel more positive after a short run so should be better after the next set of drain and fills.
The stuff that came out was BLACK but no horrible burnt or pungent smells so also happy about that
cheers for the help and advice guys

That’s great stuff, I had 2.7l come out of mine each time.

Next time you do it, try driving for a few miles between each change.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by madspark01

done the first round of dump and fill changes yesterday I was surprised that only 2.3L came out as when watching all the YouTube videos over 3L came out of them
I only did 4 drain and fill changes for this round and will do an other 4 in about 4 weeks. I overfilled by about 400ml on the last one and when I done the setting of the level only 300ml came out so seemed to be right.
The gearbox does feel more positive after a short run so should be better after the next set of drain and fills.
The stuff that came out was BLACK but no horrible burnt or pungent smells so also happy about that
cheers for the help and advice guys

What do you mean, " the first round" and "only did 4 drain and fill changes"????

NOT how you do it!

You drain the box via the drain plug in the sump or using a 12V oil extraction pump down the dipstick tube.

Refit sump plug/remove drain pump as appropriate once drained. Refill with correct quantity of fluid, use it for ~month then repeat.

You've gained nothing but wasted ~7-9L of ATF doing it the way you've done it and potentially harmed your gearbox with too much fresh fluid in one go.

[Bonefishblues]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

What do you mean, " the first round" and "only did 4 drain and fill changes"????

NOT how you do it!

You drain the box via the drain plug in the sump or using a 12V oil extraction pump down the dipstick tube.

Refit sump plug/remove drain pump as appropriate once drained. Refill with correct quantity of fluid, use it for ~month then repeat.

You've gained nothing but wasted ~7-9L of ATF doing it the way you've done it and potentially harmed your gearbox with too much fresh fluid in one go.

Harsh, much.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Bonefishblues

Harsh, much.

Maybe but i have typed this out countless times on the forum in various locations, emphasising the need to be GENTLE about the introduction of new fluid and why.
Starting on post #9 i explained the procedure, i then backed it up in subsequent posts as to why and how and the instructions are simple.

[Bonefishblues]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

Maybe but i have typed this out countless times on the forum in various locations, emphasising the need to be GENTLE about the introduction of new fluid and why.
Starting on post #9 i explained the procedure, i then backed it up in subsequent posts as to why and how and the instructions are simple.

Other views are available though, to which I personally subscribe (as does my Indy - one of the best known, and who understands these 'boxes better than most), and which I follow with my own vehicles.

We just put it out there, and OP/others make a choice

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Bonefishblues

Other views are available though, to which I personally subscribe (as does my Indy - one of the best known, and who understands these 'boxes better than most), and which I follow with my own vehicles.

We just put it out there, and OP/others make a choice

True enough and if a vehicle is regularly maintained, even at 100k miles you should be ok with a flushing change. However if maintenance has been skipped on the gearbox or is an unknown quantity, it is always best to proceed with caution.

Once things become a known quantity then proceed as you see fit, before that exercise caution as there is less risk of a big bill for a replacement box that way.

[madspark01]

Originally Posted by XC90Mk1

That’s great stuff, I had 2.7l come out of mine each time.

Next time you do it, try driving for a few miles between each change.

cheers will do

[madspark01]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

What do you mean, " the first round" and "only did 4 drain and fill changes"????

NOT how you do it!

You drain the box via the drain plug in the sump or using a 12V oil extraction pump down the dipstick tube.

Refit sump plug/remove drain pump as appropriate once drained. Refill with correct quantity of fluid, use it for ~month then repeat.

You've gained nothing but wasted ~7-9L of ATF doing it the way you've done it and potentially harmed your gearbox with too much fresh fluid in one go.

car does not have a dipstick on the gearbox the level is set by getting fluid up to between 50 and 60 degrees then removing the t40 bolt from the middle of the drain plug which has a tube about 80mm to set the level ( must be done when engine is running