V50 2.4i Auto transmission flush/fluid?
Discussion
My 2005 V50 2.4i auto (I'm in the US) is going in for it's 127.5k service tomorrow. Previously they recommended a transmission fluid flush/replace but reading up, it seems this is a sealed unit and doesn't need replacing? If I can get away with it I would prefer not to at $223 to do it. Also looked at the official Volvo service schedule and it doesn't mention it at all?
I've got the AW 50/55 auto box on my 2003 S80 which had done 138k on the original fluid. The gearbox was 'flaring' in between 2-3 and 3-4 which isn't a good sign or feeling.
The general consensus is to either swap out the fluid in one go using the 'gibbons' method (plenty of instructions on google) but I've been doing gradual swaps (box holds around 7 litres of which 3 are in the auto box sump). Dropping the sump fluid every 1000 miles or so and replacing the exact same amount through the dipstick 4 times should leave only around 12% of the original fluid whilst not 'shocking' the clutches by providing 100% new fluid giving the computer time to adapt.
2 changes in and my box is shifting seamlessly. 3 litres of JWS 3309 fluid is around £36. Much cheaper than a new box.
The general consensus is to either swap out the fluid in one go using the 'gibbons' method (plenty of instructions on google) but I've been doing gradual swaps (box holds around 7 litres of which 3 are in the auto box sump). Dropping the sump fluid every 1000 miles or so and replacing the exact same amount through the dipstick 4 times should leave only around 12% of the original fluid whilst not 'shocking' the clutches by providing 100% new fluid giving the computer time to adapt.
2 changes in and my box is shifting seamlessly. 3 litres of JWS 3309 fluid is around £36. Much cheaper than a new box.
Do it yourself - You'll need a fair bit of tranmission fluid for the change.
Simply drain the box from the trans-cooler union -
remove the hose, place it in a bucket and start the car. the fluid will be pumped out into the bucket, Don't leave the car running with no trans fluid in it though - it will empty out in around 20seconds - cycle through the gears to empty it completely.
Don't bother with a filter change as Aisin Warner filters are a) very expensive b) difficult to change and c) hard to get hold of.
Once empty, my advice is fill it up from the dip stick using a long funnel with cheapish fluid, start the car and cycle the gears to fully fill the torque converter, run for 50 miles or so and repeat the change process a couple of times - then, fill with the correct Volvo/Toyota spec oil (which is expensive) once the oil is running through clean - The cheap fluid will not damage the gearbox for the purposes of cleaning it out and before the internet pundits say anything, cheap new fluid is still better for the gearbox than the 127k/10year old oil currently in it.
It really isn't that difficult to do the high price will more than likely cover a filter change and the vast amount of oil used to do it properly.
Simply drain the box from the trans-cooler union -
remove the hose, place it in a bucket and start the car. the fluid will be pumped out into the bucket, Don't leave the car running with no trans fluid in it though - it will empty out in around 20seconds - cycle through the gears to empty it completely.
Don't bother with a filter change as Aisin Warner filters are a) very expensive b) difficult to change and c) hard to get hold of.
Once empty, my advice is fill it up from the dip stick using a long funnel with cheapish fluid, start the car and cycle the gears to fully fill the torque converter, run for 50 miles or so and repeat the change process a couple of times - then, fill with the correct Volvo/Toyota spec oil (which is expensive) once the oil is running through clean - The cheap fluid will not damage the gearbox for the purposes of cleaning it out and before the internet pundits say anything, cheap new fluid is still better for the gearbox than the 127k/10year old oil currently in it.
It really isn't that difficult to do the high price will more than likely cover a filter change and the vast amount of oil used to do it properly.
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