Atf Fluid

[MoeB]

After reading all the posts, here is what the Volvo dealership in Charlotte NC told me. I have a 99 S70 AWD. They said that my transmission took synthetic (everything on this post says dextron), but that the transmission doesn't ever need to be serviced. I said my fluid was looking dirty and he said that didn't matter. Can you believe that they are giving out that info?

Easy to believe. Bottom line: pull out your manual and read maintenance chart. Mine shows a big "I" every 15k for the transmission fluid. Above the chart it says I = Inspect (Correct or Replace if necessary). The key words here are INSPECT, CORRECT, and REPLACE. Show that to your dealer, then ask them if "doesn't ever need to be serviced" is the same as INSPECT, CORRECT, and REPLACE.

Better yet, don't go back to that dealer. :monkey:

[Alfredo]

After reading all the posts, here is what the Volvo dealership in Charlotte NC told me. I have a 99 S70 AWD. They said that my transmission took synthetic (everything on this post says dextron), but that the transmission doesn't ever need to be serviced. I said my fluid was looking dirty and he said that didn't matter. Can you believe that they are giving out that info?

Just my two cents.

do not believe this joke

saludos

.

.

[FredMc]

this will forever dispel the myth that the AW 5 speed trannys are running on "synthetic Volvo dealer fluid". to repeat only the manual transmissions use what Volvo calls "synthetic" Part number ends in a 45. the automatic Volvo trans fluid which P/N ends in 40 is described by Volvo itself in it's Chemicall Parts catalog (go to dealer and see for yourself) as "mineral based". And not synthetic.

Those trans using Dexron (not Dextron), should remain on Dexron and are usually vintage 99 and older. Exceptions nonwithstanding.

Wants facts on the "Volvo flluids"? here you go... No one else has provided this.

this ebay store http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VOLVO-TRANS...Z270002445484is selling Volvo OEM fluids among other items that are OEM.

Interesting and finally provides some data that we have lacked on trans fluids.

the manual trans fluid is synthetic and lists the base oil as synthetic

the automatic trans fluid is not synthetic (as I have said all along) and lists the base oil as mineral.

Look at the flash point temps to prove it. The automatic trans fluid is like 388F and the manual fluid is 453F.

Of even more interest is that they are selling Semi-synthetic motor oil for over $15 per quart as well. I am sure it's better than Mobil 1 at $5 per quart, LOL.

NEW DEALER STOCK, VOLVO TRANSMISSION FLUID - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. A MINERAL OIL SUITABLE FOR AW55-50SN AND AW50-42LE. THE OIL PROVIDES AN EASY GEAR CHANGE AT LOW TEMPERATURES AND OPTIMUM PROTECTION AT HIGH TEMPERATURES.

IMPORTANT: THE OIL IS NOT TESTED OR SPECIFIED UNDER STANDARDS OTHER THAN THOSE INDICATED IN THIS LISTING. IN ORDER TO SPECIFY THE CORRECT OIL FOR THE CAR, ALWAYS CHECK THE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR THE CAR

TECHNICAL DATA:

DENSITY: 870 Kg/ cu M

BASE: MINERAL OIL

LOWEST FLOW POINT: -65.2F

FLASH POINT: 388F

VISCOSITY @ 104F: 40 sq mm/sec

VISCOSITY @ 212F: 7.5 sq mm/sec

VOLVO PART NUMBER 1161640.

This is the Manual trans fluid data sheet

NEW DEALER STOCK, VOLVO TRANSMISSION FLUID - SYNTHETIC. A MULTIGRADE SYNTHETIC OIL INTENDED FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS IN PASSENGER CARS. THE OIL HAS VERY GOOD LOW TEMPERATURE PROPERTIES AND ENABLES SMOOTH GEAR CHANGES DOWN TO -40F.THE LOW FRICTION CONTRIBUTES TO LOW FUEL CONSUMPTION. RECOMMENDED FOR ENGINES SUCH AS M56, M58, M90 AND M5M52. THE FLUID HAS BEEN SPECIALLY DEVELOPED FOR THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND HAS NO EQUAL ON THE MARKET. IT OFFERS VERY GOOD GEAR CHANGING AND LOW TEMPERATURE PERFORMANCE.

IMPORTANT: THE OIL IS NOT TESTED OR SPECIFIED UNDER STANDARDS OTHER THAN THOSE INDICATED IN THIS LISTING. IN ORDER TO SPECIFY THE CORRECT OIL FOR THE CAR, ALWAYS CHECK THE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR THE CAR

TECHNICAL DATA:

QUALITY: API GL-4, VOLVO STD. 97308, 10; SAE 5W - 30, (SAE 75W)

DENSITY: 890 Kg/ cu M

BASE: SYNTHETIC

LOWEST FLOW POINT: -54.4F

FLASH POINT: 453F

VISCOSITY @ 104F: NE

VISCOSITY @ 212F: 10.5 sq mm/sec

VOLVO PART NUMBER 1161645.

[MadeInJapan]

Everyone:

Use whatever it says to use in your owners' manual.

Some say Dexron III, others say JWS3309 equivalent and yet others (rare, but there are a few Volvo's out there with GM transmissions) say something different than these.

Just read your manual for gosh sakes.

[MoeB]

Everyone:

Use whatever it says to use in your owners' manual.

Some say Dexron III, others say JWS3309 equivalent and yet others (rare, but there are a few Volvo's out there with GM transmissions) say something different than these.

Just read your manual for gosh sakes.

Therein lies the problem. The manual for my '01 XC says "only Volvo gearbox oil (1161540-8)" (which btw does not match what fredmc posted above) without any mention that it's a JWS 3309 spec fluid. In fact, it even recommends that you NOT check your own trans fluid.

[Chilled man]

3309 or volvo labeled thats it

[MadeInJapan]

Therein lies the problem. The manual for my '01 XC says "only Volvo gearbox oil (1161540-8)" (which btw does not match what fredmc posted above) without any mention that it's a JWS 3309 spec fluid. In fact, it even recommends that you NOT check your own trans fluid.

But at least that can be looked up.

By doing so, you'll find that 1161540-8 indeed is JWS3309 fluid.

So that's what I meant by following your owner's manual.

[FredMc]

Therein lies the problem. The manual for my '01 XC says "only Volvo gearbox oil (1161540-8)" (which btw does not match what fredmc posted above) without any mention that it's a JWS 3309 spec fluid. In fact, it even recommends that you NOT check your own trans fluid.

It matches up to what I said. Don't spread misinformation about what I posted.

drop the -8. I said those part numbers ending in 40 (like 540 (quart bottles) and 640 (gallon jugs), are the Volvo 5 speed auto fluid. Again, this is NON synthetic and proved to be so. Same as Mobil 3309.

If you have a 5speed automatic transmission it's using the Mobil 3309.

If you don't want to change your fluid, then don't. That decision is yours.

[BillAileo]

I would speculate that the reason Volvo doesn't recommend that the typical owner check the level of the ATF is because, for a typical owner, checking the fluid would be difficult (finding the dipstick, knowing to keep the car running, having the ATF hot, etc) and "dangerous" (being burned by hot fluid on the dipstick). FredMc is absolutely correct on the description of the ATF required for the five speed automatics.

Bill

[MadeInJapan]

I would speculate that the reason Volvo doesn't recommend that the typical owner check the level of the ATF is because, for a typical owner, checking the fluid would be difficult (finding the dipstick, knowing to keep the car running, having the ATF hot, etc) and "dangerous" (being burned by hot fluid on the dipstick). FredMc is absolutely correct on the description of the ATF required for the five speed automatics.

Bill

The reason they made the dipstick short and difficult and possibly even dangerous to check (as you have posted about so well) is so that they can:

1. Charge the owner for their outrageously priced ATF that they claim is so special (but actually is the same as Mobil-3309). and

2. Allow you to go way beyond the point of no return on your tranny and claim that it's shot, so then they charge the owner a new one- at thousands of dollars.

[MoeB]

It matches up to what I said. Don't spread misinformation about what I posted.

drop the -8. I said those part numbers ending in 40 (like 540 (quart bottles) and 640 (gallon jugs), are the Volvo 5 speed auto fluid. Again, this is NON synthetic and proved to be so. Same as Mobil 3309.

If you have a 5speed automatic transmission it's using the Mobil 3309.

If you don't want to change your fluid, then don't. That decision is yours.

FredMc, I didn't spread any misinformation about your post. I said that the part number in my manual, which is 1161540, did not match the part number you posted, which is 1161640. I was not aware, and your post made no mention, that Volvo had different part numbers for quart and gallon containers of the same stuff, and I made no comments about the "ending in 40" thing. Sorry for not making that clearer, and thanks for clarifying your own post.

I also do not dispute that Volvo's "special fuild" is the same as Mobil 3309, or that it's not synthetic (although the latter is essentially a semantic debate). I also don't understand the reason for your comment about not wanting to change my fluid. In fact, I just put Mobil 3309 in mine about 4000 miles ago, and I'll be changing it again soon, depending on what the next trans OA shows.

Just to clarifly further, the point of my previous post is that Volvo's manuals for '01+ XCs are misleading about the kind of ATF fluid that can be used in the AW 55-50. Mine says that "ONLY" their "special Volvo fuild" (which they mark up about 500%) is acceptable, when in fact that's not true.

BTW, dunno what makes a person a "typical" Volvo owner, but I check my ATF fluid regularly without injury. :rolleyes:

[FredMc]

I also do not dispute that Volvo's "special fuild" is the same as Mobil 3309, or that it's not synthetic (although the latter is essentially a semantic debate). I also don't understand the reason for your comment about not wanting to change my fluid. In fact, I just put Mobil 3309 in mine about 4000 miles ago, and I'll be changing it again soon, depending on what the next trans OA shows.

Moe, sorry, you were not the one that was vacillating about changing the trans fluid. Apologies

There is no debate whether Volvo is calling their own trans fluid synthetic, they are not.

The purpose of my copying the data on the fluids was to copy Volvo's own words on their own Chemical Parts catalog in which they call the fluid (540 or 640) "mineral base". They do however, as I proved call the 545 or 645 fluid "synthetic" and that's the manual trans fluid.

Hence Volvo techs, dealer people, service people and so on that call it synthetic (540 or 640) for 5 speed automatics are doing so on a myth and are wrong, since their own company calls it mineral fluid. Whether someone can use symantics or not to say "hey well company B calls this type of fluid synthetic" is irrevelant to me. I frankly don't care about that. I only cared whether Volvo is calling it synthetic or not. And they are not.

It just proves my original thought months ago that because of the artifically high price ($20 per quart) that someone thinks it should be a synthetic and it should be special. And it is neither.

Regards

[Guest Guest_Rick_*]

Guest,

A quick net search comes up with Shell, Valvoline, Castrol & Amsoil each offering an equivalent of Dextron IIIG (or Dexron as some mfrs call it).

FYI, I got a case of Mobil 3309 from Boncosky Oil (got their number from their website) for $47.94/case of 12, $25.00 to ship it to me. Did the flush on our '01 T5 today.

You can also order Mobil 3309 from Grangers and have it delivered at your door.

[Guest Guest]

You can also order Mobil 3309 from Grangers and have it delivered at your door.

Good catch...

Looking at the comments from 2005 and what is known now, this thread should be blown up.

At least people are using the proper fluid Mobil 3309. The references to BG fluids are really scarey.

And of course references to Mobil 3309 and the Volvo fluid being synthetic are plain myths. Just stick with the facts, and the myths cannot perpetuate.