My local dealership says that Volvo has no factory recommendation on how often to change/flush the transmission. A local independent Volvo shop says it should be changed the first time @ 60k mi and then every 30k mi afterwards.

What should I follow? Thanks.

 

Have you checked the owners manual? https://www.customers.volvocars.com/...intenance.html

 

there isn't a maintainence schedule for trans. fluid replacement. but if you play attention to the letter below, it saids depending on the condition of the weather or driving. so really, it is up to the owners to decide. i personally recommend to change it every 48k (KM) since it is my tranny. but most important is that you are using volvo oem trans. fluid

 

So I don't need to change the transmission fluid if I don't do towing or unless a message tells me to? Hmmm... or I guess when it starts to look burnt or smells bad. But how can I check the fluid? There's no dipstick for it.

 

Well, I've gone hundreds of thousands of miles without checking or changing mine. I have been thinking about changing mine every 100k or 10 years. That's the recent plan I have come up with.

 

there is a dipstick, it's smaller than the oil dipstick and it is yellow you will have to look toward the bottom of your engine, it might be sitting behind a hose which will make it difficult for you to see but it is there!!!! my tranny dipstick if your looking at the engine is located on the right side, I hope this helps

 

I found the dipstick. Just like you described, it's yellow, on the right side, and hidden underneath a hose. Looks like they really don't want the car owner to mess with it much. Thanks.