Transmission Flush not recommended for 850's

firestarterpro · Post by **firestarterpro** » 16 Mar 2015, 05:49

I'm assuming this applies to automatic and standard? I have a stick with a new transmission at about 100,000 miles on it.

94 850 NA

Post by **rspi** » 16 Mar 2015, 06:43

Manuals have a lower drain hole and upper fill/level check hole. They also use different fluid. So, get the proper fluid and drain and fill it. It also is NOT connected to the radiator.

Post by **E Showell** » 16 Mar 2015, 06:45

Auto only. Stick has its own transmission oil which is quoted as being "lifetime." With replacement of the original clutch at 229,500 miles, I asked my mechanic to change the transmission oil. I used the ferociously expensive Volvo transmission oil. He said the stuff he drained out looked perfect and he wouldn't have changed it on his own car. I think you're ok leaving well enough alone on a standard.

Post by **abscate** » 16 Mar 2015, 08:22

I did my first manual transmission oil change on the 1999 at 165k miles, using Valvoline synthetic, and I suspect the only benefit was padding my thread and post count on MVS. No particles, corrosion, or nasties evident. Car shifted exactly as same as before AFAIK.

Not counting the benefit of gloating about having a stick to Matt again...

Redneck · Post by **Redneck** » 16 Mar 2015, 13:56

At around 60-70K miles oil change service "scammed" the owner into transmission flush. Years later when I looked at the service record, I thought.. Wow..that was the best "scam" ever. I never had to worry about flushing the transmission myself later. I do it every 2-3 years now. Transmission works very well. Sometimes it is worth it to get "scammed":)

I would pour seafoam transtune in and drive with it for 2 weeks, then drain and flush (home method. Don't do the power flush) it yourself no matter what. Take the risk. If it failed, I would buy a new car. The gears must not be switching properly if it has never been flushed. Why drive a car like that. If the transmission is so bad that fails from changing fluid, it is already on a borrowed time and will fail in the middle of the road somewhere.

The non synthetic fluid becomes brown after 3-4 years. If it has never been changed, it must be black and burnt after 18-20 years.

Before doing any other repairs, the transmission should be taken care of first, otherwise all other work will be a waste of money if the car needs to go to the junk yard due to transmission replacement cost.

Post by **theWIFES_S70** » 06 Nov 2015, 23:08

Is there any way of knowing what sort of fluid is in a transmission, short of sending it away for analysis?

If you were going to drain a transmission, whose contents are ultimately unknown, would you drain and fill over a few weekends/weeks (with the same fluid) to get all the old stuff out? Is that the process?

Post by **shiloh51933** » 10 Nov 2015, 08:56

theWIFES_S70 wrote:Is there any way of knowing what sort of fluid is in a transmission, short of sending it away for analysis?

If you were going to drain a transmission, whose contents are ultimately unknown, would you drain and fill over a few weekends/weeks (with the same fluid) to get all the old stuff out? Is that the process?

I personally would go with the factory recommended ATF type, Valvoline Maxlife ATF is good for the price. Aisin Warner makes good ATF and they just happen to manufactor transmissions on Volvo vehicles.

Post by **theWIFES_S70** » 10 Nov 2015, 09:20

Thanks, Shiloh!

sk55 · Post by **sk55** » 10 Nov 2015, 20:01

i just replaced mine on my s70....

i used a mity vac sucked out 2 quarts... put in 2quarts of valvoline max life red bottle...drive it 50 miles. did this 7x...

i plan to do replace 4qt next year good way to replenish additive pack in the oil.

she runs great!!!....

dreiduke · Post by **dreiduke** » 02 Dec 2019, 17:39

i owned many automatic cars.
2 Mercedes MJ 1990 (about)
Volvo S80 MJ 2000
BMW MJ 1999
F150 MJ 1999
XC90 MJ 2004

and i flushed every Transmission, as soon as i got the car.
everytime, it leads in a smoother Tranny

last week i installed a new/used Torque converter, because mine was cracked on the XC, i filled the tranny with new but wrong oil, drove two days, and flushed it, and this was good, the used converter was full of old black oil and particles.
now its smooth again.

its not the metallic particles, which ruin your transmission, its the particles from the frictions and brakes in it. microscopic metallic particles act more like a kind of lubrication (colodial), but particles from frictions act like sandpaper, and they should be removed from transmissions.
and then there is a point.... additives.
each tranny, needs special additives in its oil, which have more ore less friction characterisics

my opinion

Transmission Flush not recommended for 850's

Re: Transmission Flush not recommended for 850's