A week or so ago there was a post regarding what procedure to follow to service an automatic tranny w/fluid the color of mud. Bruce Young found a Volvo TSB from 1990 that said in so many words henceforth it was not required to drop the pan and change the filter, that flushing was the preferred method for 200 series. I asked an independent tranny shop and the local Volvo dealer what their take was. Both said the TSB advising to flush would apply to a tranny that had been SERVICED REGULARLY. "Regularly" varies depending upon where and how car is driven, pulling a trailer, lots of hilly driving etc. If they were servicing a tranny with fluid the color of mud, likely indicating it had not been serviced at regular intervals, they would drop the pan and clean the gunk out of the pan and change the filter. They would not initially just do a flush.

Question I asked: The dipstick/filler tube screws into the pan - sometimes it is frozen.
Ans I got: If it doesn't yield to light pressure, loosen the two brackets that hold the filler tube and drop the pan w/filler tube attached. Hard to do on jack stands or ramps, best done on a hoist.

Question: Why change tranny fluid at all?
Ans I got: Tranny fluid looses it's qualities due to heat etc. Among them is the ability to prevent the build up of a coating called varnish that will affect the control valves and other operating parts in the tranny.

Question: Isn't the fluid just doing it's job, keeping all the gunk in suspension?
Ans I got: Yes and no. The gunk is mostly particles from the tranny clutches etc. Could have some metal particles as well. Particles are abrasive and over time accelerates the wear on all parts as it is pumped through the tranny under pressure. Fluid should be transparent and bright red in color. As it ages it becomes less transparent and brownish red which is when it should be changed.

Question: Do you use or recommend special fluid claimed to be for high mileage cars?
Answer I got: No. We use the exact fluid that is specified for that application.

Question; So if I brought a car w/ fluid the color of mud to you, how would you approach it?
Ans I got: Drop and clean pan, change filter, new gasket, refill fluid, road test. Dealer would then flush. Indie recommended driving awhile then returning for flush. Approx cost at indie shop: $90 [drop pan service]. Dealer $275 [including flush]