New Modified Transmission Flush Method with Pictures

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 10 Nov 2007, 06:52

I suppose that would work fine.....Just thinking though that by doing that, you're diluting the old fluid with new EACH TIME. With my modified flush technique, you only dilute it once. The rest of the time, the old fluid is pushed out ahead of the new, so there is minimal dilution and most if not all of the old fluid leaves the tranny. In reality, it probably doesn't matter much.

Post by **redbrick** » 10 Nov 2007, 12:23

I get your point although I would assume that the fluids will mix either way. They share the same (more or less) viscosity.
Both methods use the same amount of oil so conservancy is not a benefit to either approach.
I think I'll try hose free flush next , on my son's 940

Post by **redbrick** » 17 Nov 2007, 19:59

redbrick wrote:I think I'll try hose free flush next , on my son's 940

I did the simplified flush on my V70 today. All I did was jack up the car, unscrew the drain plug. I got four full quarts out each time. Between drains I put the plug back in quasi tight, put the equal amount that I removed back and then started the car and shifted through the gears, each gear for about five seconds. Then I started over. I repeated until the ATF was clear. I used 12 quarts to do the job.

I think this was the easier method. I plan to use this method from now on. From now on I'll routinely run 4 quarts through every 30 or so thousand miles.
I will do my 940 next.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 17 Nov 2007, 20:37

If I was going to do your "drain and fill" method and not do 12 quarts at once, I would do 4 quarts every other oil change (10K miles for me).

Post by **redbrick** » 18 Nov 2007, 17:14

Makes sense. I grabbed 30K out of the air so keying in on a scheduled PM is probably a really good idea.
Now that my oil is clean (and now that I can remove the dipstick) I'll keep an eye on it. If it starts to look crappy, I'll do the quicky flush.
My son just arrived home for the holiday so the 940 is on for tomorrow. The guys at the auto parts shop will really be wondering what I'm doing with all of this oil.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 18 Nov 2007, 20:10

Tell them you drink oil for breakfast

s60scrub · Post by **s60scrub** » 29 Nov 2007, 15:47

I have a used '02 s60 with 59k miles and I'm having what seems to be (hopefully) a very minor transmission problem, but I've heard horror stories about trannies blowing out at this milage so I want to try some preventative maintanence to delay or avoid the $3000 tranny replacement.

My problem is this: when starting up in the morning there is a short grinding sound when shifting into 2nd gear. It happens once (the first time it hits 2nd gear) and then doesn't reoccur until the next time I start the car.

The transmission fluid is looking fairly dark, so i want to get it flushed anyway, but everywhere I ask, they offer drain and fill jobs, not the complete flush process described here. I'm hesitant to do the work myself even though it sounds fairly simple. Would you reccomend the full flush or a drain and fill followed by a few hundred miles of driving followed by another drain and fill.

Also, an unrelated issue I'm having is clunking that seems to be cause by lateral shaking of the car (not related to rpm or shifTing). I've heard that the transmission mount is a commonly replaced item and may show similar symptoms. What are the chances that this is a transmission issue rather than sway bar, linkage, or just something loose?

Thanks for your help.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 29 Nov 2007, 16:23

Check it all and do it all....transmission linkage, motor mounts and the lower motor/tranny mount as well as a full flush. You can use the procedure outlined...I definitely would do it completely at your mileage. Also, there are some tranny software upgrades. Have the dealer do the latest one (may cost you a bit but suppose to be well worth it).

s60scrub · Post by **s60scrub** » 03 Dec 2007, 11:01

Thanks alot made. FYI, the clunking from the front end is the "spring seat" on one side the bushing is busted. Also, the sway bar linkage is slightly loose, a little worse on that same side.

The shop was too busy to do all the work, but in addition to the tune-up I got the top motor mount replaced because it was worn out and quick to swap out. All said and done, the car drives exactly the same as when I brought it in though.

So I definately still need a flush and some front end work. Still trying to decide whether to do it myself or bite the bullet. How difficult is sway bar linkage to install? And the spring seat?

Also, would a non-dealer volvo shop be able to do the software upgrade? Every thread I've read regarding the software upgrade says that it had no effect....

I've been using the geartronic shifter to try to alleviate the first to second shift to avoid the grinding. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. But when that plan fails, it'll sometimes make the same sound before or after the shift occurs, which has got me thinking that grinding may not be what I thought.....very confusing.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 03 Dec 2007, 15:15

s60scrub wrote: So I definately still need a flush and some front end work. Still trying to decide whether to do it myself or bite the bullet. How difficult is sway bar linkage to install? And the spring seat?

Also, would a non-dealer volvo shop be able to do the software upgrade? Every thread I've read regarding the software upgrade says that it had no effect....

So you checked your fluid and it needs to be flushed? Don't prolong this. You can do it easily...just use the right stuff. The swaybar endlinks are not hard. Now, the spring seat sort of is as you have to compress the spring to get the strut out and then have the car aligned after you swap out the offending part. Only a Volvo shop can do the Volvo software upgrade. I would still get it. You have to remember that those who come on here and complain are those that it did not work for. We don't hear from most of those whom it helped.

Good luck and keep us posted.