Too much of a good thing - extra tranny fluid?

IslandV70 · Post by **IslandV70** » 02 May 2019, 11:13

My car sometimes shifts harder than I would like. I have 68,000 miles and the fluid was flushed and replaced by the Volvo dealer back around 35,000 miles or so.
I checked the dipstick and the fluid is above the high mark for HOT after driving around 5 miles on a warm day. It also seems red and smells like new fluid does. Just by visual checking it seems nowhere near ready for changing, but since the cold mark is below the hot mark I assume the hotter it gets the more above the full line it will be. Did the idiots back at the dealer just dump in too much? I have a vacuum sucker, should I suck some out?

Post by **vtl** » 02 May 2019, 11:50

Add 1 oz of Lubegard HFM and install an external oil cooler + Magnefine filter.

Post by **abscate** » 02 May 2019, 12:20

Too much is bad and will impact operation. Just crack the drain and let some out. The distance between marks is about 0.5 liter, so use that distance to gauge amount to remove, then do the standard check of oil level (hot ATF, idle,move through all gears, then back to P.

Post by **oragex** » 02 May 2019, 12:32

My take on this, I had a fluid that was expanding too much when warmed up, and was showing way past the hot mark on the dipstick. I've run like that for over 1 year with no issues. There is too much, and then there is way too much. Just 1/2" above the hot mark - in my opinion - is no problem, but of course it's good to stay within the limits

But let's assume it was overfilled (I would really doubt it was, given it was serviced by the main dealer), the fluid would show foaming perhaps even on the dipstick - if instead the fluid shows no tiny bubbles on the dipstick I wouldn't worry. It's the foaming that can affect the transmission, because it introduces air into those passages and may reduce lubrication or have other effects.

As mentioned above, I'd also make sure to measure to use the dipstick the right way, on a perfectly level surface, with engine running, in P, etc. I did suck a little out of mine, takes very long with a small tube, try with the transmission slightly warmed up so the fluid is more 'fluid' and runs easier

Small question, when you say the Volvo dealer replaced the fluid, is this verbally mentioned by a previous owner, or there are receipts showing this ? Just in case it was only mentioned by a PO who instead did himself replace the fluid, for example

Marcobrick · Post by **Marcobrick** » 03 May 2019, 01:26

Mine was more than a quart overfilled when I bought it and had been for a long time by the look of it. No ill effect noticeable, and after a couple of drain and fills and now at the correct level it feels exactly the same, shifts great etc. so I wouldn’t panic, but go ahead and suck a bit out. A Mityvac is great for this.

Post by **abscate** » 03 May 2019, 03:53

oragex wrote: 02 May 2019, 12:32 My take on this, I had a fluid that was expanding too much when warmed up, and was showing way past the hot mark on the dipstick. I've run like that for over 1 year with no issues. There is too much, and then there is way too much. Just 1/2" above the hot mark - in my opinion - is no problem, but of course it's good to stay within the limits

But let's assume it was overfilled (I would really doubt it was, given it was serviced by the main dealer), the fluid would show foaming perhaps even on the dipstick - if instead the fluid shows no tiny bubbles on the dipstick I wouldn't worry. It's the foaming that can affect the transmission, because it introduces air into those passages and may reduce lubrication or have other effects.

As mentioned above, I'd also make sure to measure to use the dipstick the right way, on a perfectly level surface, with engine running, in P, etc. I did suck a little out of mine, takes very long with a small tube, try with the transmission slightly warmed up so the fluid is more 'fluid' and runs easier

Small question, when you say the Volvo dealer replaced the fluid, is this verbally mentioned by a previous owner, or there are receipts showing this ? Just in case it was only mentioned by a PO who instead did himself replace the fluid, for example

Hasn’t your excess fluid made your passenger headlight wiper fall off?

Always like your videos orangex...

IslandV70 · Post by **IslandV70** » 03 May 2019, 05:52

oragex wrote: 02 May 2019, 12:32
Small question, when you say the Volvo dealer replaced the fluid, is this verbally mentioned by a previous owner, or there are receipts showing this ? Just in case it was only mentioned by a PO who instead did himself replace the fluid, for example

From the carfax:
32,340
Martens Volvo Volkswagen
Washington, DC
202-537-3000
martenscars.com
Recommended maintenance performed
7,500 mile service performed
Transmission fluid flushed
Tune-up performed
Power steering reservoir replaced
A/C refrigerant recharged
Computer reprogrammed
Power window computer/module reprogrammed
Tire condition and pressure checked
01/17/2010

The car currently has about 65,000 miles.

Post by **oragex** » 03 May 2019, 07:15

abscate wrote: 03 May 2019, 03:53
Hasn’t your excess fluid made your passenger headlight wiper fall off?

Always like your videos orangex...

One of those wiper motors always get stuck in a weird looking open position making that wiper rest at an angle. I like symmetry so pulled the guy from there and actually even sold them

also disconnected the fluid hose to the headlights Plus now it's easier to clean the snow off the parked car, a bonus

Post by **oragex** » 03 May 2019, 07:21

IslandV70 wrote: 03 May 2019, 05:52
From the carfax:
32,340
Martens Volvo Volkswagen
Washington, DC
202-537-3000
martenscars.com
Recommended maintenance performed
7,500 mile service performed
Transmission fluid flushed
Tune-up performed
Power steering reservoir replaced
A/C refrigerant recharged
Computer reprogrammed
Power window computer/module reprogrammed
Tire condition and pressure checked
01/17/2010

The car currently has about 65,000 miles.

Oh I remember, the well maintained car

Maybe try measuring again with the tips in the video, let us know by how much it's overfilled. Undoing the lower drain plug is now easy because it's a huge nut and may not have a wrench for it plus it may be quite tight. If you decide to suck some fluid out, use a long small transparent hose that fits inside the dipstick (there is not refill hole on this unit, don't try removing some upper bolt), with the transmission a little warm, the end of the tube must basically lay on the ground - careful not to don't touch fluid with your lips. May remove like 1qt, then put back the amount needed.