Tranny Flush?

Post by **kelvin6** » 07 Jul 2005, 23:48

A week ago, when I bought my 850, I had my mechanic inspect it and he found that the ATF Fluid is 'dirty' (whatever the hell that means) and burnt. My mechanic actually doesn't recommend a flush to clean it out. His reason is that you could wash out the gunk that was keeping it shifting. I know that risk, but isn't it low? Instead of the flush, we decided on a drain and replace method, and technically still dirty. Either way, if I didn't change the fluid, it would eventually kill the tranny anyhow, so even if I change it and it dies (won't shift), the tranny is doomed anyhow. Now I'm thinking would a ATF flush kill the tranny? My 850 is now at 165K miles and I drive primarily city stop and go.

Reason why I ask, is that I have no experience with Volvo trannys (obviously there are more experienced people here). My old car had a horrible tranny record, but I always changed the fluid w/ a new filter each time and even installed a large tranny cooler. That tranny could have lasted forever...

Since I now have a volvo, any ideas, go with the flush (and maybe even install a tranny cooler) and clean out the tranny or leave it as-is now?

BTW where is the tranny filter (DOES IT EVEN HAVE ONE?)? Is it in-line or is some sort of pan?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 08 Jul 2005, 05:51

Definitely flush it if its dirty, burnt looking or burnt smelling. Volvo and other car manufacturers often consider their NEW transmissions "sealed" units and don't recommend flushing them unless something is wrong or the fluid looks bad. Unless your mechanic knows something he's not letting on, you need new fluid. Like you said, flush it, don't just drain it.

You can do it yourself:
http://www.ipdusa.com/ProductsCat.aspx? ... RootID=629

spdykat · Post by **spdykat** » 08 Jul 2005, 12:01

I was told the exact same thing, not by my mechanic but by a guy at Quality Tuneup where I took it to get an oil change. He said word for word what you were told, that there was so much gunk in there it would probably damage it if he were to completely flush it, that the slow drain/replace method was safer. I have had the oil changed by my regular mechanic since then and he didn't mention it but then again they might not have looked. I am going to ask him about it.
So where is this drain/replace theory coming from if it's not true? I've been afraid to have it flushed ever since then, but I am after all not a mechanic.

Jot · Post by **Jot** » 08 Jul 2005, 13:56

There is NO filter in the transmission. Many dealers do a drain and fill of about 4 quarts or 1/3 of the complete flush. If you do the flush useing a hose connnected near the cooler do NOT pump the system dry but only a couple of quarts at a time then refill.

Post by **kelvin6** » 08 Jul 2005, 21:24

[quote="Jot"]There is NO filter in the transmission.quote]

Well at least we have some protection from magnetic drain plug (just for magnetic particles). Seriously, it doesn't even have one in-line (ie. on the tranny fluid line)?

I guess I could add one, as well as a tranny cooler. I find it important, because I live in San Francisco and drive up and down these hills like crazy (with stop-and-go traffic) and it must be hell on the tranny. I installed one for my old car (Mazda 626) and it shifted perfectly (original tranny for 140K)until the car got wrecked. Reason why I put it on, was the Mazda used notoriously bad trannys that tend to overheat (particularly the model years that used the Ford Trannys), plus that fact of my driving conditions.

I'm just worried about what my mechanic said about the risk of a flush: It may not shift afterwards.

Then again if I do the flush and it still shifts, are my problems are over?

Another Guest · Post by **Another Guest** » 11 Jul 2005, 07:39

Perhaps the drain instead of flush and add an inline filter? Replace the filter after 20K or so. You can get them from IPD. I'm planning on adding one to my V70 instead of flushing or draining because I have no apparent problems.