Feels like clutch slipping, but I have an automatic. What?

hanseich · Post by **hanseich** » 07 May 2013, 19:12

well, I'm more than happy to use the cheaper fluid if that's recommended. What advantages do you get from completely replacing with synthetic (ie: 3309)?

Post by **jblackburn** » 07 May 2013, 19:15

3309 is not a synthetic fluid, but it can help to smooth out harsh shifts or shift flares (where it revs up in between gears). Same goes for Mobil-1 ATF, which is a full synthetic fluid (but really, really expensive).

hanseich · Post by **hanseich** » 07 May 2013, 19:21

Dexron III is just your average "Walmart ATF" as far a I understand. I would never pick that, don't ask me why

I'll do a few changes, it would be nice if it fixed it.

(I have a few other repairs outstanding: valve stem seals, PCV, timing belt, CV boot. It will be a messy time.)

Post by **jblackburn** » 07 May 2013, 19:23

I would recommend the Valvoline MaxLife Dex/Merc fluid.

But here's a whole lot of people that know their oils:
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ub ... 736&page=1

Post by **wheelsup** » 07 May 2013, 20:59

Personally I had better luck with the Wal-Mart supertech Dex III over the name brand Castrol stuff.

Marcobrick · Post by **Marcobrick** » 07 May 2013, 22:26

Clutch packs do wear with miles, in cases where the trans has been overheated the linings of the clutch discs can break down. If there are dark non-metallic particles in the fluid this could be friction material. In a powerful car with worn clutch packs, slippage can occur. I'm not suggesting that your transmission has worn out clutch packs, but it's possible. What is your total mileage? Do you tow? Drive in town a lot?

hanseich · Post by **hanseich** » 08 May 2013, 05:06

@Marcobrick you just reminded me, that I did toe a pretty oversized trailer last winter for around 600 miles (1000km). Slippage started happening after that, not immediately, but some time after that. I generally don't do a lot of city driving, but I like to "play" with the turbo every now and then. It was after one of those instances that I could smell the burn and since then I can really feel some slippage.

Overall mileage is 136t mi, 220 tkm right now.

I take it pretty easy on the car these days, not to make the problem any worse, since I don't really want to do an overhaul of the clutch right now.

Post by **JRL** » 08 May 2013, 05:22

So, the truth comes out!
Towing with these cars (for that matter, almost any car) for long periods with no extra, aftermarket trans cooler installed is a recipe for disaster.
You can listen to all the hypotheses, your tranny is shot, sorry.

hanseich · Post by **hanseich** » 08 May 2013, 06:31

I always knew that something was wrong, I'm a pretty decent tech, and I know that something does not lock up properly. For now, I'll just do a fluid change and take it easy on the car.

Can I not change the plates in my tranny? Then I'd know at least that they are new. In a used tranny I never know how the condition all the parts are.

hanseich · Post by **hanseich** » 08 May 2013, 07:29

So this was the culprit. There was not much weight in the trailer, and it was in the deepest of winter, so I'm not sure how much overheating of the transmission oil would have happened. The tow went fine, although the roads were iced over, a heck of a machine that 850. (I actually think that kicking my the drive mode into Sport and enjoying the turbo was the main issue.)

: volvotow.jpg (106 KiB) Viewed 1502 times

(PS, yes, I know the hitch was set up wrong, but that's because of all those darn F150 on the road)

Feels like clutch slipping, but I have an automatic. What?

Re: Feels like clutch slipping, but I have an automatic. Wha