E Showell's new V70 R Sonic Blue OMG

[XC70Rider]

I am going to do drain and fills on the transmission, so we will be going incrementally.

+1

Do a few inclined sump drains first. That's what I did with the XC70 I got last May. She had 120k miles and the ATF still had good color. After draining out the sump twice I then did a non pressurized flush using the trans cooler return hose.

Since your AT only has 150k I would feel safe doing the same.

Good luck with her.

[abscate]

I need to get a straight story on the fluid though. Owner's manual says JWS3309 but web says the 6 speed autobox needs "AW-1" fluid, which is pretty hard to find.

Jimmy57 any thoughts there?

I think I would stick with the manual on this one. The printed manual.

Automatic Transmission Fluid
Type: JWS 3309
AW5: 7.6 US qts (7.2 liters)
TF-80SC (V70 R): 7.4 US qts (7.0 liters)

Do not mix with other oils.

[jimmy57]

I need to get a straight story on the fluid though. Owner's manual says JWS3309 but web says the 6 speed autobox needs "AW-1" fluid, which is pretty hard to find.

Jimmy57 any thoughts there?

Valvoline Maxlife ATF Dex/Merc, Mercon LV is what I use. It lists 4 volvo equivalencies. It lists the ones for Toy and Lexus. Toyota/Lexus low viscosity newest spec is WS and it lists that. It is a full synthetic fluid

I have poured gallons and gallons of this fluid into 5 and 6 speeds and they all work fine.
My 255K mile V70R aw55-50 had some wonky shifts and TC lock was shuddering. I did three drain and fills with this fluid over 3 oil changes and the trans shifts PERFECT. Not one flare or abrupt shift and a firm TC lock.
Volvo changed to the AW-1 spec and made it backwards recommendation for all 6 speeds. AW-1 is the lower viscosity ATF. Ford had a Mercon SP an they also have abandoned it and changed to Mercon LV.

[E Showell]

And since you are doing drain and fills, I am assuming you added the Maxlife to whatever fluid was in there already so that the Maxlife was mixing with the original fill?

[jimmy57]

Yes.
I am not a flush fan unless its flushing a radiator cooler when changing or repairing a trans or things like that.
A major part of the filtration on transaxles without serviceable filters is to provide a still area for stuff to settle. If you drive it then drain it you'll get some of that stuff out. Cooler line attachment flushing doesn't let that settled crap out.

It is certainly safe to stick to factory fluids. Fear is a great motivation. There are certainly chances of harm when the wrong fluids with real compatibility are used. The great risk is if you pull a dipstick or a drain plug on an auto trans and find a gummy residue. If that trans gets a small dose of new fluid then it will usually be OK. If it gets a flush then the gummy stuff may go away en masse and the hardened from age and neglect seals, both o ring and lip seal types, can fail to contact the surface that previously had the gummy sludge layer. This is what I have seen make a car get a fluid service and then fail to leave the workshop. I have seen that get fixed by letting the car sit idling in park for a couple of hours where the new fluid could work at softening the seals. In other cases the seals were too hard or worn and a complete repair or replacement was needed.
Back to fluid: I do not know about all multi-vehicle fluids. I have used the Valvoline Max Life fluid for many years and it has not let me down. The bulk of ATF is oil. Additive package tailors it for some desired behavior. The BIG one is additives that will allow the friction materials to slip without chatter. CVT type gearboxes have a major difference due to driving car via stack of V plates.

On my own vehicles I do drain and fills a few times over a few oil changes. I did it on the 180K mile 2004 V70r with GREAT results, now has 255K on it. It had some shift flare when cold and the first TC lock when it passed the qualifying temp was always slow and sometimes chattered. Every drain and fill improved it. After a third one there was no improper operation. The trans shifts in all cases exactly as designed. I bought a 108K mile XC60 and I've done one flush n fill on it so far but it had no noted issues to begin with. I have used that fluid in the 6 speed ZF BMWs where, in strong language, you should only pour in expensive ZF fluid or you, your transmission, and your family will suffer bad luck or even death. I think the only negative effects have been to ZF stockholders. By the way, that same ZF gearbox family (6HP26/8) with the same part number friction parts uses Mercon SP or LV in a Lincoln Navigator and many other manufacturer specific fluids in others using it.
If you have paid for a flush machine trans service you had a great chance that a universal base oil was filled with a fluid type specific bottle of additive poured in to give it the additives needed.

[erikv11]

Great buy!

I did a full flush when I picked up my 06 R 16 months ago but it had no issues prior to the flush. Trans shifted much smoother after the flush, it really improves the overall ride. I also reset the fluid counter a the time. I used 3309 at $6.50 a quart (https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... 10106-042k), but after reading jimm57's posts it will be Valvoline Max Life ATF for the drain and fills that are to come.

[E Showell]

So, I have not owned an AWD vehicle prior to the R. Last night's commute home from Newark was a 7.5 hour ordeal to go 45 miles (4 hours of which was just getting out of the parking garage). Once I got to the highway, Geartronic to 2nd and slow and steady past many other vehicles off the road including probably at least a dozen tractor trailers. The State Police really should have closed the highway.

Well, the AWD was nothing short of amazing in the ice/snow (and I am running Eagle Sports -- hardly a snow tire). Still can't make it up my driveway though.

Combined city/ highway MPG is up to 25.3 with auto/AWD/turbo on 93 octane gas. I'll take it for the AWD alone.

[abscate]

Holy Crap, looks like I picked a good week to be in CA...

[E Showell]

Exceptional timing on your part.

[matthew1]

Great to hear, Evan! Not great about the commute times, but great to hear you like her. I loved my V70 R, and how she drove in snow.