Just got the 105,000 mi checkup done. They said the ATF fluid is black and they recommended against changing any ATF. They said the transmission could fail instantly if we did. Is this true?? Volvo says it's optional to change ATF at 100k "if used for towing." That's an aggressive long time, and it turns out Volvo may have been dead wrong. Isn't that crazy?

Also, there is a rumbly noise that sounds like a drivetrain gear rumbling from 30-50 mph (it exists at all speeds). At 60-70mph you can still hear it but it's medium pitched and masked by road noise. Is this the bevel gear, am I screwed? Just replaced the tires today, so it's not uneven tire wear or anything.... any thoughts??

Thanks for your help...

Flush the tranny oil, do not drain it. Besides, flushing is easier! Get 2 gallon jugs and mark the 2 quart level on each. Remove the top tranny line from the radiator (driver's side) and route the tranny oil into a jug. Turn on the car for a little while and when the level in the jug gets to 2 quarts, turn the engine off and add 2 quarts through the tranny dip stick tube. Repeat for all 6 quarts of your new fluid, or buy 2 more at an auto parts store and use those also. Very easy! The only hard part is taking off the clamp, but even that isn't rocket science.
As for the bevel gear, it needs to be pumped out and replaced. Both the awd oils and the tranny should be changed every 40K miles. Dealers don't like pumping out awd fluids, but if you ask them to do it, they will.

Klaus
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(V♂LV♂s 1995 854T, 1998 V70R)

Well I was thinking drain it first to dilute the original, black 105k miles ATF, then dilute it again in 500 mi. The dealer said the shock of new ATF could potentially lock up the transmission (or release debris). Do you have any thoughts on this possibility?

Also, any links about AWD fluid? Thx

There have been problems associated with draining atf at the sump. It causes some of the passageways to drain backwards, from the normal flow. And it creates an air cavity because you cannot add more than 4 quarts at a given time without starting the engine. Just like the dealer says, do not drain the tranny. Flush it, even with six quarts. But I would flush it with 8-10 quarts all at the same time. It takes 30 minutes to do, 20 of which are used to add more fluid! Never pour out more than 2 quarts at a time. If you see air bubbles in the fluid, damage is being done.
Besides, if you take out two quarts and add two, you know exactly how much you are working with. When you drain it, it is much harder to measure. Draining is messy!
The awd oils are another problem which I am working on. I am trying to get my dealer to drill a drain hole in the aluminum boxes so that I can change the fluids easily. They do that in Denmark and Sweden and reccomend the fluids changed regularly. In the USA, the dealers would rather replace the awd for $5,000 and the tranny for $3500.

Klaus
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(V♂LV♂s 1995 854T, 1998 V70R)

Change your ATF...Volvo is full of it in regards to that...actually should have been changed at 60K at least. Who doesn't drive their car in "extreme conditions." Just driving one of these is extreme imho.
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1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic (125K), 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red (45K), Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon (Sold at 140K and miss her). My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.

It was a Volvo tech who convinved me not to change the ATF due to risk. I'd still like to do it, but... what if he's right....

Volvo's company line is to never change the transmission fluid, and that's what your Volvo tech was reciting (actually with some scary stuff attached, which I don't really think is very credible- actually, it's shameful). We, who have owned Volvo's for awhile know better. Why do they continue to say this after years of dead transmissions when the fluid isn't changed and good transmissions (even in the 300-400K mile range?) after the tranny fluid is changed out every 30K miles or so? I'm not sure, but my suspicion is that they make more money swapping out transmissions after the warranty period is up than doing fluid changes in the interim.

If you're afraid at your miles of doing a total flush, then why not consider a "drain and fill." This will take about 4 quarts of fluid out of your car and will be less traumatic to your transmission- still getting rid of some of the old fluid. The black looking and burnt smelling fluid is a sure way to toast your transmission- it really needs to come out. Drive it a few hundred miles and then do the same "drain and fill" again. Do it 5 or so times. By the end your fluid is no longer black and you may have breathed new life into your car.

At 90K miles (right after I bought my S70), I took the plunge and did a full flush with Mobil-1 synthetic. I'm sure the fluid had never been changed before and it was long over-due. I am none happier and my transmission shifts very smoothly. At just over 120K miles I'm actually due for another flush.

I hope others will post so you can hear what they have to say about this too.
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1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic (125K), 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red (45K), Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon (Sold at 140K and miss her). My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.

Made in Japan is bang-on. Although the drain and fill will work, I'd just flush it all. Been doing that to 4 volvos now without any hitch. No tranny problems either. Used to use Mobil 1 ATF and that worked fine. Now using Amsoil which some say is overkill, but it's the cheapest insurance I can buy.
Larry P
P.S My cars called for Dexron fluid, which is compatible with Mobil 1 ATF and the Amsoil. I just noticed you got advice on the Special Mobil 1 stuff which may be the right one for your car. I dunno.

Well, regardless... just placed an iPD order for 6 quarts + flush kit. If the tranny blows, I guess my dad will have me killed... having a maintenance nazi for a son must be rough. Some people just think if they spend $40k cash on a car, they shouldn't have to pay to maintain it... which of course is ludicrous...

Bevel gear noise (?) is scary too. Sigh.

Damn...wish you had waited a few minutes...was digging out the info on where to order the fluid for cheaper and you went and placed an order...IPD=expensive...though they are good guys and know their stuff. Yeah, I think you'll do fine with the flush kit...really. Good luck and keep us posted.
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1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic (125K), 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red (45K), Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon (Sold at 140K and miss her). My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.

Interesting, can I do this myself? What is the procedure, or is it online?

4 quarts ~$70 at Volvo, so 5 times would be a bit pricy, but...

I wish I had read this a few days ago. I was getting ready for a short trip up to the mountains (100 miles from the house) and checked the oil and atf. The ATF looked blackish but the levels were right. I too have been experiencing some rumbling noise between 40 and 50 MPH. Despite my worries about the ATF and the noise, we set off up the hill, there is a lot of traffic and start and go. I noticed that the engine temp was slightly above its normal level at about 50 miles up, at about 60 miles up I look in the rear view and there is smoke pouring out of the back of the car. I pulled over and called AAA. There were dripping fluids. I checked the oil level and it was normal, the ATF was low. I had it towed back to town and it now sits in the parking lot outside my local indy Volvo garage...I'm expecting the worse.

I guess the message here is don't ignore the problem....better get that rumble diagnosed. I ruled out the driveline because I had that replaced about 5K ago.

2000 V70 XC SE, 96K waiting for the bad news. '90 244, 120K sitting happily in the drive.

Interesting.

Well, I am thinking of a scenario to keep our 2001 XC 105k mi around until ~150k miles, maybe more. This would be instead of a new subaru. I figure it's good for the environment to use a car as long as possible.

It will need between $5k and $10k of work to last that long, probably including a new auto tranny. Logically I expect the AT to break, since it has original fluid and the dealer says they commonly fail after a flush. Followed Volvo's maintenance plan closely.

Also, it just got new steering pins (3rd time), new A-arm in front suspension, a new rear bearing. The rear bearing ($1000) was the source of the rumble. Needs timing belt replacement immediately, too. I guess the steering pump just went last week too, but I was away.

The bevel gear horror has not affected this car yet. So that's lucky. Maybe they fixed it for 2001+?

Still, it's cheaper to fix than sell for scrap at 105k without these fixes. That would make it a ~$50,000 (incl repairs) vehicle for only 105k of driving, a deplorable 50 cents per mile in operating costs, not including insurance. That's porsche/Benz cost level. We need to get more miles on it to get that cost level down. It's just repairs, now that depreciation is over.

Plus, my mom likes this car and it looks identical to a 2007 car....

What they have is Mobil-3309 ATF (rebadged as Volvo ATF). Check around. You should be able to buy the #3309 for about $4 or $5 a quart. Yes, you can do it yourself. There is a drain plug similar to the oil pan's drain plug at the end of the tranny. Just undo it and drain. Then measure the amount you got (I find that many people measure milk jugs) out and refill with the same. The refill is the transmission fluid dip stick tube (burried under the front turbo pipes just right of center, in front of the radiator...you'll have to really look...a short yellow handle (may have a clasp on the under side...Volvo doesn't like us to mess with this). You'll need a long funnel you can buy at most auto parts stores and an aluminum washer for the drain plug...I'd buy several as you're going to be doing this several times. www.fcpgroton.com has the washer as probably your autoparts store too. I would avoid the copper washer...it's just too hard on the aluminum threads.

Here's the info on the Mobil-3309 ATF:
http://www.mobil1.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Other_Products/Mobil_ATF_3309.aspx

Here's where you can find other info and discussion on this and where you can order it at quite a savings: http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/Mobil-1-Synthetic-Transmission-Fluid-Question-t56213.html
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1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic (125K), 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red (45K), Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon (Sold at 140K and miss her). My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.