Here's something for the owners of automatic transmission Volvos.

Earlier this year a [new] little oil stain started to appear under where the car had been standing. So, old cars leak! Over time the leak got worse until one day enough oil had dropped on to the tarmac to form a little pool. Just enough to dip my finger in and have a sniff at; "This isn't engine oil, it's ATF!". A quick look around under the car did not reveal anything obvious, so I decided to have a proper look.

My attention focused on the two ATF pipes, feed and return to the radiator which incorporates the ATF cooler. A small block type clamp secures these two pipes to the casing of the torque convertor. I removed the clamp and closely inspected the area of the pipes which are in contact with the clamp. There it was, a small partial fracture in one of the pipes.

Small depressions had formed on both pipes where they were in contact with the clamp. If you think about it, the transmission wobbles about on its mountings and so the pipes also move about , but they are kept fixed at the radiator end. However, the clamp allows a very small amount of movement between it and the pipes, which over time wears away the walls of the pipes.

Then, I remembered that years ago, a friendly Volvo technician at a main dealer (they do exist) told me that his own automatic had been ruined whilst driving on a motorway. Cause? - fractured ATF pipe under the clamp.

Doug

240 Estate 1985 B230A 120K (AW71)
UK