This time I'll try to get a bunch of questions together. Absolutely ALL my volvo experience, since 1977, is in the 240 series. Much of the 965 stuff is beyond my current ken.

Coolant
the Owner's Manual sez: Use Genuine Volvo Coolant/Anti-freeze. Can I use the Prestone green I have in stock, already diluted 50/50 with distilled water, or must I get the "other" or orange kind? Maybe I should just get a coupla gallons from the dealer? Sounds pricey.


Brake Fluid
Book sez: DOT 4+. Is that the same as DOT 4?


Transmission Fluid
Book sez: ATF Dexron IIE/III and MERCON. Is that the DexronIII/Mercon I see on the AutoZone shelf? Is there a great advantage to flushing and switching to a synthetic? I can stand a one-time expensive flush, if it's just one time. What brand synthetic?


Power Steering Fluid
Book Sez: ATF, F, G. Not same as tranny. Is a synthetic a good idea?


Engine Oil
Book sez 10W-30 synthetic is best for heavy work (trailering) in temps up to 104C. Houston temp seldom goes below 15F or above 105F. I would go with the synthetic in Mobil 1. I will be using Mann 917 filters, and changing more often than the 10,000 mile interval in the Owner's Manual. Any ideas otherwise?

Any other of your thoughts or experiences to educate a greenie 965 owner will be greatly appreciated.

TIA

Bob

:>)

Seems like you've got most of it covered. Just a word on brake fluids: When I asked my local Volvo dealer for DOT 4 brake fluid for my 1987 240 a month back, they said; "we only sell DOT 4+ these days". I accepted, assuming they knew their stuff (yeah, I know!). I did a web search before I put it in the car though, and found this:

"In so many words, DOT 5.1 fluids are simply DOT 4-type fluids which meet DOT 5 performance requirements. Because of this, they typically can be mixed with DOT 3 or DOT 4 fluids without concern. In some circles, they are even referred to as ‘DOT 4 Plus’ or ‘Super DOT 4’ fluids because they are more similar to a conventional DOT 4 fluid by chemistry than they are to a conventional DOT 5 fluid."

(http://www.stoptech.com/whitepapers/brakefluid1a.htm)


Erling.
--
My 240 Page

The 960 dealer service manual says "50/50 mix Ethylene Glycol and distilled water".
Check this out

Volvo updated the owners manual to include 5w40 for all temperatures. I suggest you use it, especially in extremely hot climates. Whatever you do, don't use 5w30 in your climate. I use Mobil 1 5w40 in California climate year round.
href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/tjts2/volvooilchart.jpg">LINK

Synthetic ATF is a good idea in both the transmission and power steering fluid.
Good luck
Justin

Well, here's a slighyly different view:

Coolant: I use Volvo, because it says to and I have learned to follow directions in the absence of other good evidence. Come on, so it's $14 bucks. You change it every 60K, 30k if you're a worrier and be done with it.

Transmission fluid. Change to synthetic after a good flush. My Volvo mechanic told me to bring in 10-12 quarts. I'd keep it in there for 100K, unless you trailer a lot, or you are a worrier. It's still about half as long as Volvo recommends to change it (which is never)

Use sythetic oil, Mobil 1 or Amsoil. I use 0W40 Mobil 1, because that's what my Volvo mechanic uses in his 98 S90, and he knows about these cars about a 100 more times than I. I change it twice a year or about 6K. Mine also burns oil, so I'm refreshing it from time to time.

My understanding is that the synthetic AFT in the power steering is perfectly accetable. I think mine may actually have it in, since the hose was replaced.

I don't consider this stuff exact science, so there is a lot of personal preference mixed into fallible measurements.
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John Shatzer, '97 V90 @ 115K

My understanding is that the synthetic AFT in the power steering is perfectly accetable. I think mine may actually have it in, since the hose was replaced.

Synthetic Type F/G is difficult to find. While I don't necessarily think that running Dex in the power steering system is horrible, it's not what Volvo recommended... even after they switched the transmissions to Dex.

Further, synthetic is more expensive, and seems to provide the most benefit in a power steering system in cold weather. I'd spend the cash saved on something like Volvo branded coolant.

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alex

Sounds reasonable. My mind is muddled enough that I may have been dreaming!
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John Shatzer, '97 V90 @ 115K

Coolant: think about the cost of replacing the engine. There are more varieties than simply the green versus orange stuff. Make sure whatever you're using doesn't have a lot of phosphates and such.

The DOT 4+ brake fluid reference was probably to indicate that DOT 4 or 5.1 fluid is acceptable.

Dex III is Dex III is Dex III. Synthetic is always a good idea, again (like with the coolant) consider the cost of transmission replacement versus the additional cost of using the more expensive fluid every two or so years. Changing it regularly is probably the most important thing, but synthetic fluid will of course lower temps (heat is your primary enemy here).

Type F is the same stuff that your 240s wanted in the power steering system. Given that most car makers don't even bother to specify replacement intervals, just running fresh dino fluid and changing every 5-10 years is probably good enough. Use proper ATF, stuff marked as power steering fluid will usually have lots of stop leak additives.

I'd go with Mobil 1 5w30, but ir you're more comfortable with 10w30, so be it. However, the extended performance bullshit is something I don't really buy into. If you wanted to pay premium prices, go for Amsoil.

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alex

Coolent- go with anything thats ok with aluminum heads,prestone 50-50 is fine,
tranny fluid--add 6 ounces of auto r-x drive 500 mile then do the flush thats in the faqs on the 960 cars. Use mobile 1 synthetic for the flush after the auto r-x.
I would also use Auto r-x and with their instructions on their website,to clean out your oil system and then change to 5w40 mobile 1 synthetic motor oil.
These cars like synthetic fluids.
Change the motor oil 5k intervals, may go longer if you change the filter by itself.
I don't know about brake fluid or the power steering fluid and will refer the question to others.
Hope that helps
{Poolman)