What lubricant for a 240 differential?

Post by **Volvo_240_Atari_2600** » 28 Feb 2007, 19:08

Hello,

Anyone change their differential lubricant?
What weight is best for an 1989 240 with 193k?

The guy at Discount Auto looked it up and sold me 70-90 so I drained what was in there since I never touched it in my three years of driving 70 k on it and added the 70-90 plus I live in Central Florida so it is warmer here than in most of the country if the temperatures have any bearing on what weight lubricant I should use.

I tried to look this up but could not find any refference to this topic here not in the Hanes book.

I really don't like the Hanes book... Havent seen a Chilton book on Volvo but I recal like 15 years ago the Chiltons were informative. I find the Hanes book somewhat incomplete.

Do I want to invest in a Bentley manual?
Thanks!

Eric

Post by **billofdurham** » 01 Mar 2007, 11:50

Volvo recommend SAE 80 - 90 for vehicles without the limited slip rear axle and SAE 90 for those with the limited slip variety.

On vehicles with auto boxes the rear axle capacity is 1.4 quarts. For manual boxes the rear axle capacity is 1.7 quarts.

I agree about the Haynes books. They are steadily going downhill as far as information is concerned. I have no knowledge of the Chilton nor Bentley books. However, as vehicles become more complex and more reliance is placed on electronic diagnosis, DIY manuals will become more limited in their scope.

Bill.

Post by **Volvo_240_Atari_2600** » 01 Mar 2007, 12:32

billofdurham wrote:Volvo recommend SAE 80 - 90 for vehicles without the limited slip rear axle and SAE 90 for those with the limited slip variety.

On vehicles with auto boxes the rear axle capacity is 1.4 quarts. For manual boxes the rear axle capacity is 1.7 quarts.

Bill.

Bill,

Once again... Thank you for the reply and valuable information.
One question though... I have all the original manuals for my car intact in the glove box.

Where in the manuals, or in the vin or vehicle ID plates will I locate the info on the slip or non slip differential?

My car has a automatic box by the way...

Laslty... Do you think the 70-90 not being the Volvo recommended grade, whould that have any bearing on doing damage in there?

When I changed the fluid, the old fluid looked like honey in color and had a foul smell of a salvage yard in the summer... the smell of old automotive grease. and I did not see any metalic flake in there. So I have to say that w/o a change in three years and 70k miles it's doing much better than the rear end in my wife's GMC that I need to rebuild or replace soon as no one around here wanted to open it. (her truck is making noise, sort of that faint humming sound when you are flying in in a commercial jet)

Thanks again!
Eric

Post by **billofdurham** » 01 Mar 2007, 16:37

The limited slip differential is a much bigger unit than the normal one. They were special order so, in all probability, your car won't have one.

I don't think you will have any problems with that oil as the top end is OK and the bottom end is for operation in colder climates. (In Canada the recommended oil is SAE 80.)

When I changed the fluid, the old fluid looked like honey in color

At one time it was not necessary to change the rear axle oil on 240s. I can't remember when it became a service item.

Bill.