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5-Speed Manual / Gearbox Fluid Check & Replace S70 1998

posted by  Bill1959 on  Fri Nov 3 15:49 CST 2006
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last visit: Wed Sep 17 20:59 CST 2014
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My 1998 S70 T5 owner's manual says nothing about how to check the gearbox fluid level, or how often to replace. It gives only the fluid spec (Volvo synthetic gearbox oil 1161423).
Is it correct that (for a 5-speed manual) there is a sight glass, and not a dipstick? Anything special to know about draining and re-filling? (Where do you put the fluid in?)
How often should the fluid be changed? The car has 140k miles, and I bought at 130k.
Thanks for any help.








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    5-Speed Manual / Gearbox Fluid Check & Replace S70 1998

    posted by  Lilitchpin on  Fri Nov 3 23:16 CST 2006
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    last visit: Fri Oct 24 05:03 CST 2014
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    I have a 94 5-speed and I don't think they changed it that much for 98, but I could be wrong.

    Anyway, on my 94 you have to put the car up on jack stands so it is level and remove driver's side tire. There are 2 plugs then facing you on the right side of the tranny. The upper is the fill and lower drain. As I under stand it, the fluid is supposed to up the the bottom of the fill hole, so its a take the plug out and stick your finger in to check.

    I don't know the official change interval, but I did a 100k and again at 200k miles using a good synthetic gear oil. Took about 2 1/2 quarts.

    Clutch fuild is shared with brake system so if you are up on you brake fluid flush I would say your ok with that. At least I haven't flushed specifically the clutch and so far 230,000 miles and doing OK. And remember to use DOT 4 brake fluid.







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      5-Speed Manual - 100,000 mi change? I suggest 30,000 - 50,000 interval S70 1998

      posted by  someone claiming to be BG on  Fri Nov 10 15:09 CST 2006 [RELATED]

      You changed the gearbox fluid at 100,000 miles? Wow. I have done it at about 30,000 mile intervals using the stock Volvo fluid (it comes in little white metal cans). You are right that the owner's manual does not specify an interval, so I used the mileage that I have used with other cars.

      My 1981 BMW specified 30,000 miles, but the manual for my 2002 model (also 5-speed) stated the nonsense that no change was needed because the fluid was "lifetime." There has been a lot of controversy in BMW circles about lifetime fluids, and the consensus among serious owners and mechanics is that this is marketing garbage, designed to fool modern consumers into thinking that their car is less costly to maintain than is really the case. Unfortunately, BMWs, like Volvos, are now often purchased by poseurs who know nothing about maintanence and just don't care. They lease for a few years and move on to the next trendy product. It's sad...








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    5-Speed Manual / Gearbox Fluid Check & Replace S70 1998

    posted by  jthorner on  Fri Nov 3 19:12 CST 2006
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    Volvo claims these are fill for life fluids and I guess that means they expect it to be changed when it is time for a new clutch. No aftermarket fluids have been certified against the mysterious Volvo spec, so the oil is a dealer part.

    Not sure how it is check on your '98.

    John







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      5-Speed Manual / Gearbox Fluid Check & Replace S70 1998

      posted by  Bill1959 on  Sat Nov 4 07:30 CST 2006
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      And over $18 per liter to boot! Wow!








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        5-Speed Manual / Gearbox Fluid Check & Replace S70 1998

        posted by  bill d cat on  Sat Nov 4 09:49 CST 2006
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        last visit: Mon Aug 11 04:23 CST 2014
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        The rumor is that it's just a 5W30 synthetic motor oil that says "Volvo" on the bottle. Try a search! (Mine is getting real notchy when cold although it shifts just fine when it's warmed up. I think it's getting top be "that time".)

        -BTC

        '98 V70 T5 5-speed, 170k mi, front IPD stabilizer bar, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, XC grill, C70 jewel E-Codes, V-1, Lidatek, Mobil-1 since new.

        "Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so."-Douglas Noel Adams (1952-2001)







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          5-Speed Manual / Gearbox Fluid Check & Replace S70 1998

          posted by  jrothe on  Sat Nov 11 03:51 CST 2006
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          last visit: Thu Nov 13 05:10 CST 2008
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          Bill,

          You might do well to try a different weight oil. I tried four different fluids before I found what worked best in my tranny. (stock, Valvoline Synthetic Gear Oil, Redline MTL and lastly Redline MT-90.) Of the four of them, the only one that was truly BAD was the Valvoline. After switching it out, I found out that it was really formulated for clutch-type LSDs and not for transmissions.

          MTL yielded shift performance that was, to my perception, identical to the stock Volvo fluid. The MT-90 is slightly heavier than MTL. In theory, this should induce slightly more drag on the synchro bearings, allowing them to match speeds more quickly, thus leading to smoother shifts. Regardless of the validity of my theory of how all of this works, my experience with these various fluids tells me that MT-90 was best for *MY* transmission. Your tranny might benefit in the same manner.

          --
          Jim Rothe, '99 S70 T5M,
          http://www.jimrothe.com/volvo/index.html








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          5-Speed Manual / Gearbox Fluid Check & Replace S70 1998

          posted by  rickansaldo on  Sun Nov 5 14:54 CST 2006
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          last visit: Sat Jul 9 12:53 CST 2011
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          Redline MTL will work great. Do NOT use 5 30 motor oil....it may render your synchros useless.
          A clear plastic hose attached to a funnel will allow to pour the new stuff into the top plug from the engine compartment. Volvo is so full of baloney with no change interval for this stuff.








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          5-Speed Manual / Gearbox Fluid Check & Replace S70 1998

          posted by  jthorner on  Sat Nov 4 12:34 CST 2006
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          last visit: Mon Jan 4 04:02 CST 2010
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          If I were going to try an aftermarket fluid I would get Redline MTL. It performs exceedingly well in many manual transmissions and is specifically designed for them. Motor oil is a bad choice by comparison.

          John






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