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Volvo 850 Transmission oil Topic is solved

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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Brandon

Volvo 850 Transmission oil

Post by Brandon »

is it true that I should not change my transmission oil since my volv0 850 milage is 225k miles? My local mechanic said that I could do more damage to it than good.

White850Turbo
Posts: 923
Joined: 11 April 2004
Year and Model:
Location: Plano, TX

Post by White850Turbo »

It's tough to say. Is that 225k miles on the original transmission? I changed the transmission fluid on my car at 105k and my transmission went out at 108k. Coincidence? Maybe... maybe not. The reasoning behind this statement made by many mechanics is that over time, a lot of gunk can get built up in the crevices of the transmission. By flushing it, you're flushing a lot of that junk out thus causing slippage or other abnormal behavior. So, I couldn't really tell ya either way. Some mechanics will tell you that it's not going to hurt anything and others will tell you not do it. It's kinda one of those unsolved mystery things. Anyways... If you've managed to get 225k out of that transmission, I see no reason to mess with a good thing.

turbotim2
Posts: 708
Joined: 4 February 2005
Year and Model:
Location: Maine

Post by turbotim2 »

You should really only need to change it if it is discolored (brown rather than red) or if it smells burnt. I changed out mine at about 110,000 because it was brown and didn't smell quite right. I have had no problems since. I did not have it flushed, I did it the old fashioned way, and Volvo makes that easy by having a drain plug in the transmission pan. I would check the dipstick look closely at the fluid and smell it and then make the determination.
2004 XC70

2005 S60 2.5T AWD (gone)

1996 850 GLT Wagon in Blue (gone)

1996 850 GLT Wagon in Green (gone)

Jot
Posts: 593
Joined: 24 January 2005
Year and Model: C30 2010
Location: Orr's Island, Maine

Post by Jot »

How about a drain and fill it is about a third of the transmissions contents. It won't be a complete cleaning of the tranny but shouldn't hurt.

turbotim2
Posts: 708
Joined: 4 February 2005
Year and Model:
Location: Maine

Post by turbotim2 »

You actually can get most of it out by going through the process 2 or 3 times and run the torque converter out. It is not as easy as the pump out but its a lot cheaper.
2004 XC70

2005 S60 2.5T AWD (gone)

1996 850 GLT Wagon in Blue (gone)

1996 850 GLT Wagon in Green (gone)

steve
Posts: 126
Joined: 27 September 2003
Year and Model:
Location: Broadway, Virginia

Post by steve »

Change it!!!!!!
2007 XC70 21,000 Miles



Previous:

1993 850GLT, bought new

133,500 Miles & 15 great years of service

tina
Posts: 78
Joined: 13 March 2005
Year and Model: 1998 S70, 2001 S40
Location: California
Been thanked: 2 times

Post by tina »

I had the transmission flushed and filled on my 1994 840 at about 210,000 miles and it was a good thing - smoothed out shifting a bit and the transmission is still going great at 237,000 miles.

Too bad I blew a valve in the engine :(

KLS

Post by KLS »

I bought Auto-Rx to clean my transmission before I flushed the fluid. It worked very well for me. I recommend both the cleaning and the flush. Do the same for your power steering.


Ken

Jaxx
Posts: 12
Joined: 1 April 2005
Year and Model:
Location: Durham, NC

Post by Jaxx »

see if your tranny's oil has little bits of metal in it, if it does DO NOT CHANGE IT!!! OR YOUR TRANNY WILL FAIL right then. be ready for it to fail soon though.

I need to flush/change mine very soon. 160k, and not counting, the odometer stopped LOL, so i think i have around 170-75

-jaxx
1995 850 T5

...K&N airfilter...upped boost...Joy Life Alarm...

143,000 and some.

Luther White
Posts: 20
Joined: 26 March 2005
Year and Model:
Location:

Post by Luther White »

Took my 94 850T with 145,000 about a month ago to the dealer to have it flushed, the fluid was a little brown and burnt smelling. Have not had any problems to date. Knock on wood.
Luther White

1994 Volvo 850 Turbo

170,000 miles

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