G/box: 140 Auto: Fluid change. Or not.

[Martin Burch]

Hi - I just noticed that the Haynes manual seems to recommend you change your ATF fluid every 18 months or 24,000 miles. My Volvo service manual and two other manuals I have say it is only necessary to change the fluid after a major overhaul/re-build.
I have some history for my car which indicates the autobox was rebuilt including new fluid in 1992.
As the fluid is pinkish red and the autobox seems to work fine I am tempted to leave it alone and just top up as required.
Anyone any thoughts?
Thanks
Martin

imho these extended service intervals for lubricants are more to do with selling cars than anything else, acording to volvo the oil in my manual box will last the life of the car ..bull****, no oil subject to the loads a gearbox imposes can last the life of the car with degrading, no matter how good it is, so i would follow mr haynes advice in this case, its not often he gets it right but here he has

[arcturus]

One thing to take into acount. Unless you do the FULL change as described in "Swedishbricks" http://www.swedishbricks.net/700900F...hift%20Quality you will only be changing the oil in the pan and will still have most of the original oil left in the transmission. Not really worth the while.

[bob13]

If the oil in the box is still red / pink, doesn't smell burnt and the box is changing and pulling how is should i would leave it. I drive a auto and did a little research when i needed to change mine, the oil in my box was a little discoloured so i did change it. However you run the risk of getting small bits of dirt into the box and stiring any dirt which is in there already, and that would be the death of the box.

[classicswede]

If in doubt change

[Martin Burch]

Thanks to all for your input.
Martin