After a long trip lost almost 3 qts, when on hoist noticed the fluid [with wind] covered most of the under-body.
The mechanic kept on hoist with engine running, not much could be seen, granted engine was idling.
After that check, when mech couldnot point to the leak, I ve not seen any leak on the driveway, though trans housing quite wet, was wiped.But there is no major dripping is seen in the last one week after the long trip, and having added 3 qts. So there is some leak quite profuse maybe at high speed like 70/75 mph ....and not at the 50/55 ?
And wherefrom this leak be coming...
Have seen very slight wetness around front right axle but not to justify a loss of 3 qts. Any one with such experience with S70/1999 FWD ?, or any help someone can offer

Thnx

 

If you lost that much fluid, I'd expect to see some dripping and wetness. I doubt that much could leak out of seal (ie axle or prop shaft) so I'd be looking around the hoses and the transmission cooler (part of the radiator set up in the front). To get a good idea where those lines are and what they look like, try searching for a youtube video of doing the transmission fluid change procedure where you remove the cooler hoses to pump in/out the fluid.

 

I doubt the car could even drive with it being low 3 quarts.

 

I felt loss of fluid when the torque converter felt struggling to start the car from stop to just moving. Poured 1.5 qt, still didnot see the level touch the tip of d-stick. Took another full quart to get to the lowest level of the cold range, with engine running ...so I can add half qt to get to the top of this range on stick.I'm avoiding that last half qt addition.
Have not seen the drops on driveway, am sure leak is there which might ve gotten quite worse at 75mph.
I will ve a mechanic put on lift and recheck the lines. Cooler lines to the rad are dry.Where is the pump and pump seal ?
The leak occurred a few months after Trans fluid was changed to full synthetic

Wonder if S70 has some common issues of leak at other places than axle seal...which was minor before oil change and still does.

Thnx

 

The pump is at the input of the transmission, so the seal for that is between the engine and the transmission, basically. The torque converter fits into that seal. It would be leaking in there where the torque converter is.

 

what exactlty is the proper Trans fluid for S70 ?
the manual says Dexron III/Mercon. Does it mean not to use synthetic ?
If not synthetic then how about non synthetic Castrol Transmax, Import multi vehicles. The container says All Volvo specifications.
And then there is Mobil 3309...

appreciate your experience and recommnedations

 

There are different transmission vendors (GM Borg Warners and Aisen Toyota etc) in different models so I'd stick with the Dextron III/Mercon (note that the two specs are the proprietary GM and Ford/Toyota standards for electronically controlled transmissions) which is readily available in Walmart etc or your auto parts store. Nothing says you can't use a synthetic that meets those specs.

 

Thnx,

Donot understand why Castrol Transmax, multi import vehicles will not mention Dexron grade or Mercon yet it says meets all Volvo specifications.

Have you experienced or heard of synthetic fluids causing leaks in older vehicles ?