2004 S80 T6 ATF

[jennings C70]

when should the transmission fluid be changed and with what type of fluid

[June]

My sister's 2005 S80 T6 transmission got destroyed several months back by her mechanic who put multi vehicle atf in her transmission during a routine service. It did not make it home. To prove a point I had mine done with Dextron III I bought at Walmart which was labeled Dextron III and my 2004 S80 T6 was just fine. While the car was in Osteen Volvo last month I had the Volvo Synthetic fluid flush performed. My transmission shifts smoother with the Volvo Synthetic. The first service which I watched personally the pan come off and new filter installed by her mechanic cost me $200 and my Volvo dealer charged $250 which flushed all the fluid. My S80 T6 has always been serviced by a Volvo dealer except for the first transmission service two months ago at 112,xxx miles and flush at 113,xxx by volvo. Until then the factory fluid was still in place with no problems. So if you are thinking about changing the fluid it takes Dextron III and be aware you may burn the transmission up if you deviate to multiple vehicle label fluid. I learned that our cars use a General Motors transmission and now that I know that I will change the fluid every 3 years or 36 thousand miles like my 1986 Buick Park Avenue service schedule recommended for that car and that 1990 Buick Reatta I owned new back then. Volvo says never change the fluid but Volvo didn't make the transmission. I can tell you that heat was both Buick's enemy and both cars would have burned fluid by changing time. I live in Florida and drive in bad traffic here. The original Volvo fluid still looked good and had no burnt smell after 12 years and 112,xxx miles. Good luck! June

[jbkeene]

change the fluid when it gets dirty
I am set up to extract a quart or 2 from the fill tube every few months
I have slowly transitioned to Castrol Transmax full synthetic