transmission flush
 

Hi,

I have a V40 from 2003 automatic transmission.. To change the transmission fluid to the dealer I found it expensive ($400 - $500 cdn), so I decided to do this job by myself. I'd appreciate very much if there is someone who can help me in this matter.

Dealers told that they have ‘the special ATF’ and not to use something else because it will be an expensive mistake. Is it an Aisin Warner trans in my V40 ’03? (sold in Canada?). In the manual is said that is a Volvo B 4204 T4 with 170hp at 5500rpm, automatic transmission: AW 55-50, 5-speed automatic. What I see inside the car is P R N D 4 3 L plus W. I am confused, on this site: http://www.nuceng.ca/bill/volvo/data...S40/V40%201.9T says that engine type is B4194T Turbo totally different than owner manual.

I know that I am in not the right forum, but may be somebody has knowledge about V40.


There is someone that can help me with this, please?

Thank you,

PS

RE: transmission flush
 

Does the manual show you the type of transmission fluid?
Ask your dealer or some other dealers what type of tranny fluid they use for your vehicle.

I don't know what's so special about "volvo fluid"

Idid the tranny flush at aamco for 90 dollars.

My vehicle is 96 960 and it uses dextron III.
I heard that some other volvos use some other fluid type.

RE: transmission flush
 

:)I just flushed the ATF on my S60 and I have the AW 55-50 transmission as well. I found that the required fluid for this transmission was JWS 3309 or Mobil 3309 (or possibly other ATF that is compatible with 3309). I flushed mine with Mobil 3309, which I believeto be the same as the Volvo mystery fluid.

This is certainly a widely discussed topic, so youshould be able to get a lot of good advice from this site.

I agree with Volvolove about the fluid.I don't see what isso special about "VolvoATF" other than about $20 a quart?[:'(]

Best of luck to you!

RE: transmission flush
 

Over and Over again.

Aisin Warner trans (yes the S40 has it too), requires JWS 3309 oil specification. There are four to five places to get it at. Easy ones are the Dealer ($20 a quart), or call a Mobil distributor and get Mobil 3309 for about $4 a quart, ($50 a case).

Or get it at Toyota Dealerships (T1-V) and even Ford now carries it (ask the dealer).

Just drain and fill the darn thing three times with the drain plug on the trans pan. No the Volvo fluid is not special and is the Mobil 3309, nothing more. Only Mobil -Esso makes it. Rebadged for Volvo. Why they charge so much is beyond me. And no one buy into the unfact that the fluid is synthetic, it's not, even Volvo says so.

RE: transmission flush
 

Good advice above. If you aren't very mechanically inclined, you might also ask your dealer for labor cost only and if they will do the flush with fluid you bring in. Then purchase the Mobil 3309fluid and take it in. A lot of dealerships have "seen the light" and will perform the labor with the aftermarket fluid.

Thetrans. dipstick is hard to find, but it is there.A drain-and-fill means basically drain the fluid from the bottom plug, measure it, and put the same amount back in through the dipstick.

RE: transmission flush
 

Hi guys,

Thank you very much for input. I will buy this magic ATF (mobil 3309) and I am planing to investigate by Gas Chromatography, this will tell me if the ATF in my car is identical with Mobil 3309. It will be no doubt. It is hard to belive that some dealrs charge from $25 to $32 per quart. It's true that I'm not mechanically inclined, but to save about $400 is worth it. It's good to be a mechanic at Volvo.I am doing a good research before I start, I don't like to pay for stupid mistakes.

Thank you very much, I will let you know about the results next week.

PS

RE: transmission flush
 

Good Luck with the flush and good choice on the Mobil 3309 (better known as rebadged Volvo "magic" fluid:D). Why pay over $20 when you can by the same thing in a different bottle for $4.....[:'(]

It's not that difficult of a process but its a lot easier with an extra hand. Is was messy for me but easy....Of course it was the first time for me witha flush so the next time should be a little cleaner;)

RE: transmission flush
 

Finally I got the results for Gas Chromatography, the profile is the same (Mobil 3309 and the ATF from my transmission. So as FredMc said, Volvo ATF is the same as Mobil 3309.

RE: transmission flush
 

Thank you for doing the Gas chromatography, I always thought the verbiage is gas chromography but whatever. I just always have a bug up the middle hole, with people saying the Volvo fluid is special and synthetic. When all the while Volvo Chemical parts catalog says it's "mineral oil". It's the manual trans fluid that's special and synthetic. DIY's can save real $$ by doing drain and fills themselves with the Mobil 3309 fluid. I have done four drain and fills in one year. And the next engine oil change I will do another. And then one more to follow and then leave it alone for another 50K. Pretty confident that I won't have trans issues related to freshness of the fluid.

RE: transmission flush
 

One more question. After reffiling with new ATF fluid do I have to reset something?


PS

RE: transmission flush
 

No need to reset anything.

RE: transmission flush
 

A little bit confused.
VADIS procedure has this note: "After replacing the gearbox, the adaptation and the "Gearbox oil change"counter must be reset"
Someone can help me to understand what this note means?

Many thanks,

PS

RE: transmission flush
 

Nothing to reset. Change fluid, replace, and while sitting run the gears up and down twice then drive around for 10 minutes, and then do it again, and once more and you are good to go.
I have done6 drain and fills and didn't have to reset anything.
It's only oil.

RE: transmission flush
 

There is an internal oil life monitor for the transmission.Vadisdescribes it somewhere there. AsI recall it takestime at temperature data into account to determine theremaining life of the oil. Once the criteria are reached it will give atrouble code to change the transmission oil. As far as I know, It takes the special Volvo dealersoftware and hardware to reset the counter. If you have the hardware and software, then go for it. For the rest of us, there is nothing to reset until a trouble code is given, which I assume can then be cleared..

RE: transmission flush
 

Super!!! I feel more comfortable now. I will change the ATF next week end.

Thank you very much,

PS

I saw on this post that ford makes or carries this atf fluid does anyone know which 1 it is?thanks