1995 850 GLT Transmission Fluid Service

[kw1999]

Can anyone tell me if it is safe to go ahead and replace the automatic transmission fluid in my '95 850? The car is now pushing 300,000 miles (nothing out of the ordinary for a Volvo), with the original transmission fluid still in the car. I know the owner's manual doesn't call for any tampering with the transmission fluid (which I attribute to giving 300,000 miles of driving with the original transmission), but after 20 years and that amount of driving the transmission fluid has to wear out at some point. The fluid is of a brown hue; new fluid should be red. My question is: is it safe to replace the transmission fluid, or is the current transmission fluid "holding it together," so to speak? Thanks for any clarification!

[Ozark Lee]

You can (and should) change it but do it as a series of drain and fills rather than as a flush.

Given that you have 300k on it I think I would stick with a standard Dexron rather than a synthetic and I would avoid Dexron VI. All Dexron is supposed to be backwards compatible but Chevy has specifically said to not use Dex VI in the transfer case on the older trucks which tells me that it is not totally backwards compatible. Dex IV would be what I would look for if I were you. The car shipped with Dex III but that isn't licensed anymore so there is really no such thing.

...Lee

[misha]

I don't know....opinions are divided on this.Volvo doesn't recommend changing fluid in automatic transmissions if there wasn't some kind of intervention on transmission.That's in owner manual and that is official.
I'm around 300k+km,bought the car almost brand new and i had never replaced fluid in my auto transmission.Shifts like a 1st day i bought it.

Original/factory auto transmission fluid is not red like replacement fluid is.

[kw1999]

You can (and should) change it but do it as a series of drain and fills rather than as a flush.

Given that you have 300k on it I think I would stick with a standard Dexron rather than a synthetic and I would avoid Dexron VI. All Dexron is supposed to be backwards compatible but Chevy has specifically said to not use Dex VI in the transfer case on the older trucks which tells me that it is not totally backwards compatible. Dex IV would be what I would look for if I were you. The car shipped with Dex III but that isn't licensed anymore so there is really no such thing.

...Lee

Lee,

Thank you very much for the response. I will stick with Dex III. Just a few questions: If the transmission fluid can/should be changed, why does the owner's manual call for no servicing of the fluid? Is the old fluid actually keeping the transmission going longer? When you are talking about a series of drains rather than one big flush, how much should come out, and how frequently? What is the reason for this, and what does it do for the transmission that a big flush wouldn't do? Thank you very much for your response.

[kw1999]

I don't know....opinions are divided on this.Volvo doesn't recommend changing fluid in automatic transmissions if there wasn't some kind of intervention on transmission.That's in owner manual and that is official.
I'm around 300k+km,bought the car almost brand new and i had never replaced fluid in my auto transmission.Shifts like a 1st day i bought it.

Original/factory auto transmission fluid is not red like replacement fluid is.

Thank you for that clarification... I did not know factory fluid was a different colour. As far as shifting in my car is concerned, the transmission is still strong, but 1st to 2nd can jolt you around a little bit. I don't know why the owner's manual would call for no replacement, though, as all lubricants eventually lose their lubricity, which is problematic.

[combatkarl]

Drain and Fills consist of draining the fluid from the automatic transmission by removing the drain bolt. Approximately 3 quarts of fluid will drain. Fill with the amount that is drained out. Then drive the vehicle awhile before performing another drain and fill. Some suggest driving 500-1000 miles before performing another drain and fill. The drain and fill procedure could be repeated 3-4 times, if desired. Here's a tutorial from the site (there are likely others, but this is the first I found) https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =9&t=26863

And a discussion about Drain and Fills Vs ATF Flushes - Atf flush vs drain and fill and frequency

[kw1999]

Thank you very much! In other words, remove the drain bolt and just let it go until it stops? Doing that will only let out approx. 3 quarts? What's stopping the whole transmission fluid from draining through the drain bolt?

[erikv11]

Correct, just pull the drain plug and about 3.5 quarts will drain out. You don't need to wait until it stops, that may take a very long time because it continues to seek, just wait until it slows way down.

Measure how much you drain and put exactly that much back in, this step is key. If you try to blindly fill until the trans fluid hits the right spot on the stick then you end up doing a lot of guessing and it can be tough to get it right.

[kw1999]

Thank you very much for all of that information. No need for a filter change?

[misha]

I don't know why the owner's manual would call for no replacement, though, as all lubricants eventually lose their lubricity, which is problematic.

Transmission fluid can't be contaminated like engine oil since it's closed system.
Official Volvo statement is that auto transmission fluid is good for the life of the car and they DO NOT recommend replacement,IF there was no intervention of any kind to transmission.That said....IF system is never opened or contaminated,there is no need for fluid change.

Volvo does not recommend for timing belt parts to be changed every 2nd replacement if they are good,but owners replace them anyway as a safety precaution.

Transmission oil can only be contaminated IF chamber for transmission fluid in radiator blows and contaminate it with coolant.