Hi all,
I want to change the oil in my auto box in my Volvo S80, but Volvo are saying that the unit is sealed for life.
Now, there is a oil cooler for the gearbox and I was wondering if anyone knows if it's possible to flush the oil through there and get some new stuff in there?
I can't believe that Volvo don't change the oil, is that normal?
Cheers
John
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Not the first time I've heard of a sealed-for-life unit. If I were you, I'd leave it alone. Why do you want to change the ATF?
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It's getting a little clunky on a few changes and I have had this before and when I changed the oil (not in this car of course) it cured it.
Also it's done 113k miles now and I just think that it would be a good thing to do
John
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Of course, we all know 'sealed-for-life' means 'sealed until it fails due to the fluid being degraded!'
Usually, the sump is taken off to replace the oil. Some specialists have equipment that pushes new oil through via the cooler lines. e.g. www.transcentre.co.uk/
There may also be adjustments to band brakes etc.. that will improve things, Good luck!
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Thanks for the link (although if you know any in the Midlands that would be cool). I hate the whole 'sealed for life' rubbish that car makers give us, I would suggest that never replacing the G/Box oil is a bad thing, why don't they make it easy for us, more money off us for parts maybe????????
John
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A new transmission means alot more profit for Volvo than an ATF change...which you might take to an independent or tackle DIY in which case it means no profit at all. I think Porsche also have a "sealed" gearbox.
I can't think of any valid reason to seal the transmission.
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I agree, I'm going to have a dig around and see what I can come up with
John
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Hi John.
From reading many a Volvo forum on the web, I have learned that despite Volvo saying that this unit is sealed for life, both it, and the geartronic version, do indeed benefit from a flush through and oil & filter change. Without this, the normally silky-smooth unit becomes clunky and in extremis, can eventually become troublesome.
Regading somewhere in the Midlands to get it done, my V70 2.4T, brother's V70 D5 auto, and father's S80 2.4 are all serviced at HLM in Bromsgrove. This is a Volvo independent garage, with all the VADIS kit. You can find them on the web as www.VolvoTuning.co.uk. The work has been well done, with my only complaint being over-zealous use of grease on the door hinges and catches the last time my V70 was serviced.
HTH.
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Great!, I work in B'ham, so I have just emailed them for a rough cost etc
Thanks very much
John
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Hello John
I have a S60 D5 auto and recently had a noise problem; to resolve this I was accompanied by the franchised dealer's top technician & whilst driving around town, I asked about ATF change intervals and he told me "despite what the maintenance schedule specifies, change the ATF every 24,000 miles".
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This is the point isn't it? If Volvo made it a little easier to maintain their cars they might not get so much bad press (the new ones arn't as good as the old ones are etc etc)
My S80 is fantastic, it eats miles, sometimes I can do 600 in one day and never do I feel tired or ache, fantastic, but, if you want to look after the car (like changing the ATF) they seem to make it rather difficult, they must mkae some serious money on new parts that all I can think!
John
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There is no such thing as a 'sealed' transmission.
I think these Volvo's use a version of the General Motors 4T60/65 transmission. You could either connect it to a flushing machine via the cooler lines, or take off the oil pan to drain the oil, clean out the oil pan and then refill. You would need a new oil pan gasket - either from the dealer or somewhere like JPAT ( www.jpat.co.uk ). There is also probably a filter on the oil pickup, which you could no doubt replace.
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If I remember correctly, the service schedule for my BMW 320 calls for ATF fluid and diff oil to be changed at each inspection 2. Which equates to every fourth service. Which would approximate to every 30k miles.
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Just had another thought on this - you can actually buy a 'drain plug kit' for these transmissions. Then you can change your fluid every year and make the transmission last a bit longer. Drain plug kit is probably available in the UK, certainly from the US.
Anyway, drop the pan and change the filter every 30k miles.
Note that the 4T65 does not have a good reputation - it is not one of GM's most durable boxes - lots of cost cutting. Solenoid failure is common before 100k and by 150k most boxes will have failed (clutches, VB wear). Clean fluid and no overheating (no towing) are the best ways to make it last.
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PS - use a good fluid too. GM Dex-III(h) or something like Redline D4 ATF.
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Thanks for that, I'll keep my eye on it. I have been in contact with a garage that someone on here suggested and they can do the change for less than £50 which is cool.
I hope it lasts more than 150k miles though!
John
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Whilst I can't confirm the manufacturer of the auto gearbox fitted to the S80, my S60 D5 is fitted with a Japanese 'Aisin Warner' gearbox.
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The AW 50-42 was carried over from the Volvo 850 on the 5-cylinder Volvos. The GM 4T65E and EG (with Geartronic) is used on the 6-cylinder models. They are actually very very similar boxes. I'm not sure of the commercial 'goings on' but Hyramatic (GM) seem to work closely with AW and so I imagine there is a lot of commonality between the two boxes, although the 4T65 has a higher torque rating (280lbsft).
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