Transmission flush question

notny41 · Post by **notny41** » 25 Dec 2006, 11:42

Add one more to the "Successful Tranny Flush" list!

I just did the:

Drain, Flush, Flush method (went up 1st through 3rd each time - 3rd was as far as it would let me get).

Didn't have enough oil for another flush. I had only 2 quarts left and it looked like it was pumping out about 3 to 3.5 quarts each time I flushed. And I wanted to save a bit anyway to top it off if necessary.

Color was red at that point instead of black, so I'm a happy camper. Hope my car appreciates it!!!

As far as the tube that I used, I went to Home Depot and got a 10' stretch of 5/8" clear nylon tubing. It ended up being a bit too big for the opening in the radiator so I grabbed an old sparkplug wire with a 90 degree elbow, pulled the wire off, and pulled the connector out of the elbow. the tapered end of the elbow fit perfectly into the hole in the radiator. Then I slipped the tubing over the other end of the rubber elbow and zip tied that assembly to the radiator support to keep it from popping out while the car pumped oil up it and down into my empty milk jug. No drips - except when I was done and it was time to pull the tube back out.

Thanks everyone for your help and success stories. I might not have attempted it if there weren't as many people that have done this themselves.

uncletom · Post by **uncletom** » 05 Dec 2007, 21:38

This may be so late that most will not even see it but here goes. My Transmission is about the only part i have not had problems with. It gets used gently as my wife is the major user and when i use the car i do a lot of selective down shifting for saving of brakes and i believe it helps in keeping clutch glazing to a minimum. A friend has a major auto repair shop and i was asking him about a trans flush and was told that i would probably regret it because the new fluid would probably break loose contaminants that would flush into and block some critical components of the unit. Also when i asked Volvo 4 to 5 years ago they recommend no oil changes at all. This to me sounded crazy. I know a full flush may be a major gamble but i plan to at least drain the trans. pull the pan and replace the filter and gasket (Have not heard anyone on these post change the contaminate filled filter ) and top up with new trans fluid. Change just the oil again in the trans maybe again next year.
I can speak from experience the cleaning action of ATF as after my engine was starting to show leeks and was told by Volvo the oil trap was the problem, i simply changed the oil and replaced two of the seven quarts with ATF and within a month there was no more leaks and engine still looks new inside.I now ad one quart at every oil change and will always do so.
Thanks to all, Tom

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 06 Dec 2007, 15:13

Good luck with the transmission oil pan and the "filter" inside. We have not had confirmation that there is a serviceable one. If there is, from several sources I've heard it takes close to a transmission rebuild to get to it. Let us know what you find.

notny41 · Post by **notny41** » 06 Dec 2007, 20:06

uncletom wrote:i simply changed the oil and replaced two of the seven quarts with ATF and within a month there was no more leaks and engine still looks new inside.I now ad one quart at every oil change and will always do so.
Thanks to all, Tom

Are you saying you dump a quart of ATF into your engine oil?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 06 Dec 2007, 20:15

It's an old mechanic's trick. I personally wouldn't do it, or if I did, I would do it and drive it a bit and then dump all of it.

uncletom · Post by **uncletom** » 07 Dec 2007, 01:19

Suite yourself , I am a firm believer in keeping an engine clean and this works for me. Anything from big block chevs with noisy lifters to modern engines that run hotter that have had oil changes neglected and beginning to sludge up. Maybe something else is better but never seen any complications by doing this. In our S80 i may only do this every 3rd change now that it has been cleaned up.133,000 miles. I am a 68 years old retired dirt contractor that still owns and maintains way too many toys, cars and diesel rigs. Have been involved with this great forum shortly after owning the Volvo Flagship S80. So far all electrical issues.The nicest car i have ever hated
Tom

Post by **vegasjetskier** » 16 Dec 2007, 18:55

MadeInJapan wrote:Good luck with the transmission oil pan and the "filter" inside. We have not had confirmation that there is a serviceable one. If there is, from several sources I've heard it takes close to a transmission rebuild to get to it. Let us know what you find.

Hello, Newbie here.
I can confirm that there is a user serviceable filter in the transmission of my 2001 S80 T6. I changed it two days ago, before I found this forum. Since my previous experience was with American made automatic transmissions, I assumed that the trans on my Volvo would be approximately the same: drop the pan to drain the fluid, replace the filter, put the pan back on, refill. Turns out that is exactly how to do it. The filter is easily accessible once the pan is off, and it's a friction fit into a plastic bushing in the housing of the transmission. Just wiggle it downward with your fingers until it comes out and push the new filter into place. The filter kit cost about $37 from an online parts seller. PS, there's no drain plug on this tranny (at least that I can find). Hope this helps.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 16 Dec 2007, 19:10

Of course we are talking about pre-2000 850, S70, V70 and XC-70's on this part of the forum and you're talking about a '01 S80, so....

Post by **vegasjetskier** » 16 Dec 2007, 19:17

MadeInJapan wrote:Of course we are talking about pre-2000 850, S70, V70 and XC-70's on this part of the forum and you're talking about a '01 S80, so....

Sorry about that. I googled "S80 atf change" and wound up on this post, apparently because one of the subject lines says "99 S80 2.9 133,000 Miles, Trans flush." Maybe Uncletoms is the only one this applies to. If it's in the wrong place, feel free to delete or move.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 16 Dec 2007, 20:41

No, it's okay...good to know that yours is different. I'll leave it here so others can see.