Trans oil question
 

So I was talking to the service writer at the Volvo Dealership about doing the timeing belt next week and told him I was going to change the ATF this week end, he tells me to make sure I put the kind that was in it back in. I tell him about I keep reading to put Mobil 3309 in it and he says thats fine and if the car has a short dipstick (about 10 -12 inches) to use synthetic and if it has the longer one (20 -24) use regular dyno.
I have been reading on here and other places about this for quite a while and have never seen this. By the way I have a 2005 and it has a short one and a 2002 that I think it is short too (down in Orlando with my son).
Anyone else ever hear this befor?
Tom
Gulf Breeze Fl.

Never heard of that. Ours is an 08 2.5T...and has a short yellow dipstick. I use the 3309 and have had no problems.

Check out the transmission fluid sticky.. that should answer nearly all questions..

The length of the dipstick should not be what you use to judge, just follow what the manual says..

After much conflicting info from different sources I changed the oil in my transmision over the weekend and used Mobil 1 synth. I have my self convinced that the synthetic oil must be better, and I really want to get the most life as I can out of this car and if I have to spend a little more on fluids, I will. I did make it easy on me by removeing the upper hose and putting my drain hose into the radiator fitting, I evan convinced myself that I was doing a better job of it by flushing out what is in it too.
Also had the dealer here replace the timeing belt today. I didn't think $550 was too bad for that, but noticed they had a special going for $340 to change the transmision oil with synthetic oil.

Please report back in 500/1000 miles and tell us if everything is fine with the transmission. I am asking myself the same question but I read that Volvo's tranny did not like Synthetic ATF. What transmission do you have? Is it the 5 speed tranny?

Something in my mind keeps telling me that your transmission was meant for Mobil 3309 and nothing else...
I don't want to scare you, but as far as I know those 5 speeds can be very picky about what fluid they use..

The whole reason I went with the Mobil 1 was that it says right on the bottle that it meats 3309 specs, and since it is carried by my local Advanced Auto I can get it anytime I need it, (they didnt carry the regular dyno and wouldnt get it for me).
Also went in a 2005 S60 non turbo 5 speed auto.
At Thanksgiveing I when my sons car (2002 S60 non turbo) I will do his.

How many miles do you have on your Volvo? Was the fluid dirty? Also did you the flush by disconnecting the upper hose of the transmission cooling line and plugging your temporary draining hose to the radiator connector side? I understood that on 2003 and upper models this is the way the transmission fluid flows which is the opposite to earlier models.

Not to nit pick, but the Mobil 1 states that it is suitable for use in vehicles requiring jws 3309 which does not really say or mean that it meets the 3309 spec....

I did remove the upper hose and i had a hose that fit perfectly into the larger part of the radiator (after being a diesel mechanic for twenty years I have a variety of hoses) and put into the bucket. If you decide to do it this way just put a rag under the connection to catch about half a cup of oil, then you wont make any mess at all.
The car has 105000 miles and the fluid was pretty dark but didnt smell burt, I dont think it had ever been changed befor. Just prevetative maintanance, that was easy and cheap considering the cost of a new one.

Yes that is the way I am planning to do it too. Thanks

Not to nitpick but......Mobil 1 ATF meets 3309 spec. The transmission is not a volvo unit anyways. Made by Aisin in Japan (Div. of Toyota) Mobil is the OEM oil supplier. I trust they are ok with making syntetic. Anyways, I have been using Toyota T4, Amsoil and Mobil in my two Aisin equiped cars (V70 & Sienna) without any issues. Total of over 250000 miles. I change the trans fluid once a year.

http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lub..._ATF_3309.aspx

http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lub...hetic_ATF.aspx

I don't see where their synthetic states that it meets the 3309/Toyota IV spec....

Jackpot
The Aisin Warner Trany in your car DOES NOT WANT Syn fluid.Like with Coolant in a Volvo (phosphate-free antifreeze) The car is made to run with fluids speced by the make of the part .Synthetic fluid will break down certain materials like seals.Thats just my two cents. My wife had the Trany fluid in my car done with Valvoline and problems started in less that a week(Synthetic fluid) I talk to Valvoline and they said that they ONLY use Syn fluid in cars out of warranty because useing anything but JWS3309(Mobil3309,Toyota IV) WILL VOID VOLVO WARRANTY.

Do whatever you feel comfortable with. See attached pic and read the back of the bottle of Mobil ATF. Decide for yourself. Like I said before, no issues with 2 cars and over 250000 MILES.

I made my final choice too after seeing that on the bottle, with Mobil makeing the original 3309 I just dont think they would slap 3309 on the Mobil 1 bottle without any reason. For the most part I have never been a big advocate of synthetic oil, but if my dealer said thats what they would have put in it (and says they really dont have many issues with the S60 trans) I feel safe with it. I know time will tell, and time is really what I am hopeing to get out of this car, so anything I can do to help is worth it to me.

I had a flush done at an indy... first they used Mercon VI, once I saw what they did, I had them redo it with Mobil 1 ATF. It has been 6k miles and I do notice some different, not necessarily bad behavior with the transmission. BTW I have an 05 S60 GT. The transmission shifts a bit firmer (was told that is a good thing) and downshifting seems to happen sooner. I do notice performance gets better as the fluid gets warmer, syn vs regular oil??? I was thinking about taking it to Volvo and having a software update and the adaptives reset.

BTW Mobil 1 meets or exceeds the JWS 3309 spec which was developed a long time ago. I did a crap load of research on this subject when I was told Dex VI was ok for my car, it is not...

Anyhow OP let me/us know how the tranny is acting.

I would be interested in seeing where it states that Mobil 1 meets or exceeds the 3309 spec.
Thanks

The bottle, website, CSR, and a crap load of research. In any case, JWS 3309 if I remember correctly, is based off of Dex III w/ some additional additives, do some Google searches the whole history behind it. This was all prompted by the indy who put Dex VI in my car, they claimed that this is what the Volvo dealership has been using and he has been using for years. I could not find one thing on the web to back up that claim, but a ton of stuff on ATF and the history of various specs, so I made them reflush it using Mobil 1 AFT as it meets the JWS 3309 spec. There are a couple of other ATF's out there that meet the JWS 3309 spec as well.

Bottom line is that if you want to be safe buy JWS 3309, although it is hard to find, probably have to buy it online, or use something that meets the JWS 3309 spec like Mobil 1 ATF and you should be OK.

Forgot to mention at 72k, my fluid was black, I dunno how legally Volvo claims this lifetime BS.

You can argue suitable, but now your talking semantics.