Atf Fluid

[Bay13]

I edited your post so now it's right.

[montgom]

I edited your post so now it's right.

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Thanks!

Bob

[Guest Travis]

Looks like a good site. I am glad I can post as a guest. Thank you.

We have about 65,000 miles on our 2001 XC70 and we had our valve body replaced at about 30,000 miles due to transmission issues. Our understanding is that they would have replaced the transmission fluid at this time.

We are now considering flushing the transmission because we need this car to go the distance and I understand that this is good practice even though Volvo doesn't say that you should.

We have a local independent shop that wants to use BG atf fluid for the flush. From researching and from what I am reading here it appears that this is not the correct fluid. Should I have concerns that they would recommend this?

[montgom]

Looks like a good site.  I am glad I can post as a guest.  Thank you.

We have about 65,000 miles on our 2001 XC70 and we had our valve body replaced at about 30,000 miles due to transmission issues.  Our understanding is that they would have replaced the transmission fluid at this time.

We are now considering flushing the transmission because we need this car to go the distance and I understand that this is good practice even though Volvo doesn't say that you should.

We have a local independent shop that wants to use BG atf fluid for the flush.  From researching and from what I am reading here it appears that this is not the correct fluid.  Should I have concerns that they would recommend this?

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What is BG? Yes, flush it! My guess is that you want Mobil 3309 if you desire synthetic. Or Volvo synthetic.

The online manual states

AW5: Only Volvo gearbox oil (1161540-8). Do not mix with other oils.

Volume: 7.9 US qts (7.5 liters)

Someone else will have to tell you if there is some source of fluid for you tranny. There is a thread ion how to determine what fluid type you need.

Bob

[PGevanthor]

What is BG? Yes, flush it! My guess is that you want Mobil 3309 if you desire synthetic. Or Volvo synthetic.

The online manual states

AW5: Only Volvo gearbox oil (1161540-8). Do not mix with other oils.

Volume: 7.9 US qts (7.5 liters)

Someone else will have to tell you if there is some source of fluid for you tranny. There is a thread ion how to determine what fluid type you need.

Bob

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I looked at the Mobile website. I didn't find in the description of Mobil 3309 ATF that it was a synthetic oil. Did I miss something?.

[montgom]

I lookked at the Mobile website.  I didn't find in the description of Mobil 3309 ATF that it was a synthetic oil.  Did I miss something?.

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Yes, it is synthetic. What is BG?

Bob

[Bay13]

This is going to open up a can of worms so everyone be patient with me cause I don't have all the facts and don't want to speak out of school or up set (on purpose) Volvo or BG.

BG is a company that makes additives that many shops add to the car when they are in for service. Mainly an OIL additive, and one in the gas tank. At one time Volvo inforced a Letter sent to shops that said in short "NO ADDITIVES" or warranty claims would be turned down. Now This letter is at various stages of inforcement across the country at Volvo dealers. Read some use additives and get away with it, some don't use additives.

In the mean time BG has come out with a synthetic transmission fluid that they claim can be used as a substitute for the Volvo Synthetic fluid. This BG transmission fluid would be sold at the dealer and is suppose to be cheaper than the Volvo synthetic fluid.

Now here is what I don't know. 1) Dones that fluid in fact meet the 3309 specs or not. BG says yes but I haven't seen that in writing. 2) Volvo of North America, the ones that back the Volvo Warranty, has not officially endorced the BG fluid.

If it was my car, I wouldn't use it until I found out for sure that The BG fluid does in fact meet or exceed the 3309 specs for the fluid and Volvo of North America stated such.

[montgom]

This is going to open up a can of worms so everyone be patient with me cause I don't have all the facts and don't want to speak out of school or up set (on purpose) Volvo or BG.

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No problem here. Enjoy your opinions. Anyone who ignores another point of view does so at their own peril.

Bob

[Guest Guest]

Thanks for the info on BG. I will stick with the 3309.

?--Is there a risk associated with flushing? I spoke to an independent shop today that seemed to want to stay away from flushing it and said that he like to drain/refill 4 quarts every 20,000 miles or so in lieu of flushing every 35,000 miles.

Also, do you need to use VADIS when you perform a flush to adapt the transmission or reset?

[Bay13]

To those that like to do a drain and fill, if you have a mud puddle and put a gallon of distilled water in there, you still have a mud puddle.

Adding new clean fluid to dirty fluid, in fact causes the new fluid to oxidize (turn brown) faster. So I'm not in favor of any drain/fill procedure. Another thing to consider is that if you start with all fresh pink fluid, you can get an idea how long you have to go before you need a change. (when it turns brown) If all of a sudden you notice you are only getting a few thousand miles on the fluid and it's turning brown, that is a clue to start saving for a rebuilt transmission.

I spoke with a Volvo rep today and he confirmed my above statements about the BG synthetic fluid, it is not endorsed as a suitable substitute at this time. Volvo and BG are at the table, it seems BG won't put it in writting that the BG fluid, meets or exceeds the 3309 specs. (yet) they are working on this as we read.

[montgom]

Adding new clean fluid to dirty fluid, in fact causes the new fluid to oxidize (turn brown) faster. So I'm not in favor of any drain/fill procedure.  Another thing to consider is that if you start with all fresh pink fluid, you can get an idea how long you have to go before you need a change. (when it turns brown)  If all of a sudden you notice you are only getting a few thousand miles on the fluid and it's turning brown, that is a clue to start saving for a rebuilt transmission.

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Mud puddle, I like it

I often thought that doing a partial drain and partial fill would renew exhausted "stuff"? Sort of like when you put in some new motor oil, that that bit of new oil helps freshen the entire batch.

Bob

[dtlayman]

Are Volvo dealers using the Mobil 3309 or are they only using the Volvo branded 3309? It seems they are charging for the Volvo brand. My dealer mentioned once that they would use synthetic engine oil if I provided it. I am wondering if I could order th Mobil 3309 and provide it when I get a transmission flush. I think we would save a bunch based on what I am hearing I can buy the Mobil 3309 from the the distributor.

[dtlayman]

I ask the dealer specifically about the mobil 3309 fluid and they are faxing me something that that apparently says you should only use the Volvo fluid. I will get it tomorrow on the fax machine and let you know how it reads.

I am hoping I can work something out because I don't really need to spend the extra money just to have a Volvo label.

Can someone clarify whether the owner's manuals for the newer V70XCs (2002-2005) call out the the 3309 spec in lieu of the volvo reference? Our car is a 2001 V70XC so it only calls out Volvo gearbox oil and the part #.

Also, we are still wondering if a VADIS update is required with the flush/fill.

[Bay13]

That fax will be intresting to hear about. The master tech meeting in my area said 3309 is 3309, Volvo label or not. Of course The dealer doen't have any mobil 1 3309, they only have the Volvo label, so I can understand their desire to skew the data or information to suit their needs.

You don't need an interaction with VADIS (now know as VIDA) after flushing your transmission. The adaptive will adjust on their own.

[dtlayman]

The fax I received only addressed additives in general and engine oil that can be used but didn't say that only Volvo brand oil can be used.

I contacted the dealer by email and told them this and ask if I was missing something and I haven't heard from them yet. Maybe I will hear first of this week.

I may just contact the dealer owner and ask them if they have looked into providing this less expensive alternative. They may give a small amount of profit, but maybe they would schedule more tranmission flushes and have more happy Volvo owner's in the long term because of better operating tranmissions and a dealer that is trying to look for cost effective solutions.

If not, I may have to take to independent shop. Although this shop is the one that said I needed to replace our control arms in lieu of replacing the bushings only - maybe the car just needs an alignment.

?-I don't think I have ask this before - Are the methods of flushing employed by the shop - dealer, etc. better than the methods I hear described by do-it-yourselfers?