The flush was a complete success. Volvo is crazy not to recommend flushing on a regular basis, the fluid was black as dirty engine oil. It took 12 litres to do the flush, although we went did an extra three quarts just to be sure it was clean.

The car is quieter, shifts MUCH more smoothly. A well spent $60.

Thanks for the tips everyone.

IPD sells a tranny flush hose that screws in easily. They also sell a nifty flexible skinny transmission fluid hose funnel.

If a moron like me can do it... anyone can!

I used plastic milk jugs marked with quarts and had my son run the engine until two quarts were flushed out. Then we poured two more quarts of new fluid in.

Just kept it up till we'd added in about 12 quarts of new tranny fluid.

It really is very, very easy to do. Easier than an oil change almost.

Dear 960brickster,

Good p.m. and hope this finds you well. Some answers:

(a) to add trans fluid, I use a funnel, rather than a hose. However, if a funnel's tapered end isn't long enough, I'd guess that 3/8" (10mm) diameter plastic tube will fit in the dipstick tube. I secure the hose to the dipstick tube with lightweight wire.


(b) The transmission lines attach to the in-radiator transmission fluid cooler via two brass fittings, which have an hexagonal base. That allows a wrench to be put on them, to keep them from turning, when the trans line fitting is turned, to loosen it, so that the trans line can be disconnected from the radiator.

If a wrench is not put on the hexagonal base of the radiator fitting, it will turn, when the trans line fitting is turned. If the radiator fitting turns, it will break the seal inside the radiator's transmission fluid cooler. That will ruin the brand new radiator.

The reason: breaking the seal lets coolant get into the transmission fluid (the cooling system is pressurized, which forces coolant into the ATF cooler, if there's a leak in the cooler). Coolant water in the ATF dissolves the glue, that adheres the transmission's clutch-pack facings. Microfibers of clutch material will clog the transmission's fluidways, ruining the transmission.

In short, put an adjustable wrench on the hexagonal fitting on the radiator and hold that wrench absolutely steady. Put another wrench on the transmission line fitting and turn that wrench to disconnect the transmission line from the fitting on the radiator.

(c) The AW30-40 or AW30-43 trannies hold about 8.5 quarts of fluid. Plan on using 10-11 quarts, to be sure to remove all old fluid. As the flush process requires the engine to be running, the incoming fluid will heat up pretty quickly. The volume difference between cold fluid and hot fluid will not be significant.

When you drain the old fluid, use gallon milk bottles. When you have drained two gallons, add a further pint, slowly. This is the difference between MAX from MIN values on the dipstick. Because over-filling means draining fluid from the pan, check the level repeatedly as you add the last pint. Top-up by adding fluid slowly. The trans will not be damaged by being a pint low, the moreso that you'll bring up the level to MAX in a couple of minutes.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

spook

FYI, It's a 95 960 2.9 l sedan.