My wife drives V8 mostly in city for short distances, w/ frequent stops.
Anyone has an idea when to change/flush tranny fluid?
As V8 owners know, we cannot even get to the dipstick from the top of the car.

PS
in 6 months we put almost 9000 miles on the car -about 2000-2500 highway miles, the rest in city traffic.

 

I change all fluids every two years irrespective of mileage. That includes brake, trans, and coolant. It is inexpensive insurance!
R.
p.s. Let Volvo do it rather than an independant as the Volvo uses DOT 4 brake fluid, special coolant, and ditto with the trans fluid. If you are going to perform the changes yourself you should visit the dealer for "parts".

 

Reg, thanks for reply. According to you, the transmission fluid should be changed every 24-30K miles? Also, I wonder if there is any better transmission fluids than OEM. Amsoil claims their fluid is superior to OEM, I e-mailed w/ question if using Amsoil fluid would void warranty - no answer yet.

PS
I always use Volvo antifreeze, but in my "95 850 I use Dexron Synthetic fluid -it seems to hold better, does not smell burnt as quickly. I have been changing the transmission fluid in this "95 850 almost annually, and now have 160000 miles. I "changed" brake fluid when accidently pressed brake pedal and pushed a lot of fliud out w/ pads out of the caliper. I also always bleed the brakes when changing pads.

 

Help me out. I asked the local Volvo dealer to change the tranny fluid at 25k miles. The service manager told me that the transmission is sealed and the fluid cannot be changed. Volvo put synthetic fluid in to start with. Any truth to what the service manager said? By the way, our XC90 is a 2004, two wheel drive.

 

Last I knew they are not sealed units.

 

I was told by a service manager that "the transmission fluid is being checked" during the service every 7500 miles. It is NOT a sealed unit then.

PS
I'm somewhat sceptical the fluid is checked during every service.
Tech or any one else: is there anyway to check tranny fluid without lifting the car up?

 

Yes it can be checked without lifting the Vehicle.
Look towards the bottom of the Trans in the front for a Yellow Dipstick.

 

Tech, I cannot see the dipstick from the top -it is a V8 motor. Is it accessible from the bottom only?

Thanks.