Am I playing with fire?

[GrahamBrown1]

I’m just thinking, my car has never had a fluid change, it’s done 34,000. So if I follow your method of sucking the fluid out and replacing it I won’t need to worry about resetting the level as I’m only replacing what I’ve taken out. I take it your car is driving fine in between these fluid changes where you have just replaced what was sucked out? Just saves a whole lot of fuss this way

Or perhaps I just need to do the job properly 😂

[al dm]

Originally Posted by GrahamBrown1

I’m just thinking, my car has never had a fluid change, it’s done 34,000. So if I follow your method of sucking the fluid out and replacing it I won’t need to worry about resetting the level as I’m only replacing what I’ve taken out. I take it your car is driving fine in between these fluid changes where you have just replaced what was sucked out? Just saves a whole lot of fuss this way

Or perhaps I just need to do the job properly 😂

I would say that at 34K miles, there's no need to change the fluid. It wouldn't hurt to do a drain and replace as part of an annual service, but I wouldn't bother about trying to refresh the whole lot.

Mine has 120K miles, so it's a different beast.

It is definitely easier just to suck the fluid out from the top - but it's not hard to do it from the bottom either. Setting the level properly is easy too - although I haven't done it yet, it simply a matter of opening the small drain plug with the car level, engine running and the fluid at the correct temp. Luckily, the XC70 is high enough that I will be able to slide underneath to do this.

Mine is driving just great between the fluid cycles. No codes, no issues at all. It's super smooth.

[bananarama]

Yesterday I did the penultimate drop and replace, but the drop was so "clean" and nice smelling, that I've decided to stop for now. I've got enough oil for one more session, which I'll do in 8/9 months time before the summer road trip

[al dm]

:-) I also did my final one yesterday - and just did the level set this morning.

I used the Car Scanner app to see when the ATF temp got to 50C, then crawled underneath the car with it sat on the drive.

It's pretty damn tight to get under there when the car isn't on ramps, but I managed it with a bit of squirming around.

Opened the level plug, with the engine running and very little fluid came out. Maybe 100ml or so. So I am quite pleased with that, it means I was very accurate with replacing exactly what came out.

Shroud back on and we are finally done with the ATF refresh.

I ended up doing 5 cycles with approx 3.5 litres each - so around 17.5 litres of fresh fluid in total. The fluid is much nicer looking and smelling now. It even has a tinge of red to it.

I might add one cycle of drain/replace from the top of the engine every time I service the car, which wont be until the spring now.

Happy Days!

[bananarama]

Originally Posted by al dm

I might add one cycle of drain/replace from the top of the engine every time I service the car, which wont be until the spring now.

Good plan! This way you wont have to buy another O-ring and washer.

[al dm]

Originally Posted by bananarama

Good plan! This way you wont have to buy another O-ring and washer.

Indeed. I do have a spare set as I always tend to buy multiples of seals. But nice not to need any more.

I did change the 0-ring and the washer yesterday.

If I was really OCD (instead of only mildly), I would change the level plug itself as it got a little bit chewed up this morning while I was wriggling about under the car. But seeing as I will hopefully never need to use it again, I shall just leave it....

[al dm]

So, on to the next car for transmission fluid refresh. This time my new to me 2013 XC70 D5 AWD. She's got 70K miles on her now, no transmission issues, but I may as well refresh it.

I have 10L of Westway AW-1 fluid arriving today, I have a vacuum extractor, and a fresh drain plug washer and o-ring. I am feeling dangerous....

A different question though. I have ordered a VIDA/DICE setup, which will arrive next week, so I will have the ability to reset the transmission adaptation.

So....should I do that? And if so, should I do it after each partial drain/fill cycle, or only once I have completed them?

[Simmy]

if your car has no transmission problems i would not do the adaptations just reset the fluid counter .

[c1800]

Here’s what Aisin says.

http://www.aisinaftermarket.jp/en/pr..._CFEx_AFW+.pdf

[monkeh]

Chaps, I actually HAVE to do this on my uncles c30 - Naturally I've been greeted with silence in that area of the forum.

Would anyone have an idea where the fill plug is for the transmission is?
I was told to "Fill via vent" from another source, But being as compact as the c30 is, It looks like I may have to pull the battery to find the plug.