2007 V70 2.4 Transmission fluid too far gone?

Fantomz · Post by **Fantomz** » 02 Jan 2025, 15:03

Hi all,

Looking for some insights. I'm currently about to pull the trigger on a 2007 V70 2.4 base. He originally had it listed for $4500 but will come to $4000. The car is a two owner vehicle and has decent service history. My only hang-up is that it has 228k miles on it and the transmission fluid is original. I would be traveling a few hours to pick it up so I can't drive it. The owner assures me it shifts perfectly without any issues. He sent a picture of the dipstick with the fluid on it and said it does not smell burnt. Looks brown with a touch of red.

If I purchase I will drain and refill three times to make sure the fluid is fresh from this point forward.

With this info are my fears warranted? Thank you all.

Fantomz · Post by **Fantomz** » 02 Jan 2025, 15:07

Here is the dipstick

Post by **volvolugnut** » 02 Jan 2025, 15:39

That fluid does not look good to me.
Suggestions:
Drive about 100 miles between drain and fills to reduce the shock of introducing clean fluids and allow the new detergents to clean the transmission.
Do about seven drain and fill cycles.
Use the best trans fluid you can afford, like Volvo or Toyota.
volvolugnut

Post by **scot850** » 02 Jan 2025, 16:01

I was watching a video earlier from a guy called the Car Wizard. He was covering a 2001 Chevy 1500 truck.

Part of what he was covering was transmission servicing and the fact he will not touch a trans service on one of those with over 200,000km.

The reason behind that was the only thing keeping the auto trans going was all the clutch particles in the oil. Replacing all the oil at higher mileages removes all those particles which were effectively friction adders to the work clutches. Removing those the clutches immediately would start to slip.

So this is a coin toss, and what volvolugnut suggests is definitely the way to go if you go ahead with the purchase. But I would not pay that price for the car in this circumstance.

Good Luck!

Neil.

Fantomz · Post by **Fantomz** » 02 Jan 2025, 16:12

Thank you both for your wisdom and advice. I'm going to listen to you (and my gut) and pass on it. One of the cleaner examples I have seen so it was tempting, but it's not worth taking a $4,000 risk.

Happy New Year

Post by **br0dy519** » 02 Jan 2025, 19:27

I would have probably taken the risk. 2007 is a great year and if it’s a 2.4 you have no AWD and no turbo complications.

Post by **jonesg** » 02 Jan 2025, 21:26

Fantomz wrote: ↑02 Jan 2025, 15:03 Hi all,

Looking for some insights. I'm currently about to pull the trigger on a 2007 V70 2.4 base. He originally had it listed for $4500 but will come to $4000. The car is a two owner vehicle and has decent service history. My only hang-up is that it has 228k miles on it and the transmission fluid is original. I would be traveling a few hours to pick it up so I can't drive it. The owner assures me it shifts perfectly without any issues. He sent a picture of the dipstick with the fluid on it and said it does not smell burnt. Looks brown with a touch of red.

If I purchase I will drain and refill three times to make sure the fluid is fresh from this point forward.

With this info are my fears warranted? Thank you all.

too many miles for me.
For that lolly I'd want somethiong around 150K miles.

Post by **abscate** » 03 Jan 2025, 03:11

Go out , drive it, if it drives well , make the deal. It’s probably got good NJ highway miles on it and is no where near end of life

Post by **850 LPT** » 03 Jan 2025, 08:55

I would take the risk but at a far lower price point. Hard to believe it's still shifting ok with original fluid.

Post by **vtl** » 03 Jan 2025, 10:02

Fantomz wrote: ↑02 Jan 2025, 15:07 Here is the dipstick

Torque converter clutch is disintegrating. Hard skip.