Well, I'm really perplexed about what is the proper thing to do for my S60T5. By next year I'll have 90K on the clock, and although I'm having Zero problems with my 8 speed automatic transmission, it shifts really smooth, even on ECO mode. There is a part of me, that wants to take it to Master Tech down the road from my house and have them flush it out and put new fluid in it. But when I was in my favorite volvo dealer couple months ago and did my big 80K service , I got the impression nobody was really that interested in it. They just said, " it's fine". I changed out my ATF in my 240's and 940's every 50K religiously, so it's hard to accept that it's a "lifetime" fluid. I'm really interested in knowing what a Master Volvo Tech's opinion is. Or someone who does their own repairs and really knows these cars. But the urge to change it is there...... lurking in the back of my mind.

 

Just to note, your technician needs to have access to a diagnostics tool like VIDA DICE to do a transmission drain fill on the newer transmissions. The process is to measure the fill level with the fluid at 55C, which means you need to read the tranny oil temp from the computer and use the drain port to release any overflow (check your transmission to see if you have a two bolt drain port. The inner bolt drains only to the fill level, the outer bolt removes the fill level tube and lets the tranny drain fully. Fun fact - VW/Audi DSGs use the same method... WIth that said, assuming you use the correct fluid, there's no harm in doing a drain/fill at 100K miles. Usually the stories begin when somebody does a drain fill on a wounded transmission that already has burnt clutch bits floating around in black, smelly fluid.

 

Who is "Master Tech" - what do they work on? What's the experience of the employees/techs/oil changers/floor sweeper/just out of prison porter- car wash guy? Or do they just have a name that breeds confidence? Are they actually ASE certified Master Techs? Who do they hire/employ - entry level, just out of trade school or master techs? (as their name implies ) Do they work on everything that drives on the lot? (not a good sign, it's hard to "specialize" or know a lot about a specific marque that way)

Transmission fluid does get ugly looking . Changing it might/should help things last longer (sounds reasonable right?) And everyone wants that to happen.

The problem is choosing a service provider that will use correct methods and correct fluids to do that. Ever wonder why there's no change interval on trans, no drain plugs on differentials/transfer cases, no grease fittings on suspension stuff? Did the manufacturer's figure out that service personnel were screwing things up trying to change fluids and lubricate stuff?

Personally I do believe in trans/diff/transfer case oil changes.

 

thanks I appreciate your reply. I will copy and print it so when the time comes I'll know what to ask for. I did notice you said Audi did it the same way. I live right down the road from a big Audi dealer. I will see if they can do maintenance on Volvos. Might save me a 200 mile drive. thanks again.

 

Master Tech is a company in Richland, WA that claims to specialize in maintaining European made cars. I do see Volvos, Mercedes and Beemers parked there, as it is on the way to the post office. I haven't used their services yet.