240 General: M47 gearbox oil change intervals

[PTJS]

My 1988 manual 240GL has done 175k and I don't believe it has ever had a gearbox oil change. I remember asking a volvo garage about the need to change it some time ago and they said it wasn't necessary and should be good for life. The change on my M47 gearbox has gone tight over the last 12-18 months and on an earlier thread I think it was Clifford who suggested this might be down to degradation in the oil. I am about to do an oil change on the gearbox and will advise if this improves the gearchange. Does anyone else in the meantime have any advice as to what the oil change interval should be on this type of gearbox?

Phil

[classicracing]

I would agree with your garage that change of oil is not necessary, but in doing a change you can see if there are any metallic bits floating around (there shouldn't be)
refresh with ordinary 10-40 engine oil, not gearbox (hypoy) oil as it needs to be thin
Is the gearchange stiff as in can't get it into gear atall or does it goes in OK but is stiff moving the shift. If it's the former this points to a clutch clearance problem.
Richard

[T240]

The main dealers never change the oil at service time - despite the fact that it was originally recommended every 24,000 miles.

Classicracing has a point in that flushing the 'box will reveal any shaving from the gears - and inveitably there are bound to be some accumulated over time.

But I must disagree with the idea of using 10w/40 to flush, and most certainly not to use - though I imagine he simply meant for flushing anyway.

If you go ahead with the job, first A. Make sure the oil is hot before draining. B. After draining, flush the 'box with a solvent into a container to see if there is any major debris. C. If all seems okay, then fit a new drain gasket, and refill using Volvo Synthetic Transmission Oil, Part No. 1161324.

Hope that's been of some help.

Cheers,

T

[swedish brick]

I would change the oil anyway because the car is getting old now and so is the oil in it, I did the gearbox and diff oil in my capri recently, and it was dirty! The manufacturer says its good for life but I dont think they meant the car to last 30 odd years!

[PTJS]

Thanks for the input chaps. I can get the gears, its just that the shift feels 'dry' as if the selectors aren't being lubricated properly maybe. I have to ease the changes through. As mentioned its been a gradual deterioration over some time and I agree with Swedishbrick that no oil can last forever without losing its viscocity. I notice that the handbook specifies type F auto transmission fluid for this manual box, has this been superceded over the years by 'improved' oil?

Will let you know how I go on.

Phil

[laszlo]

Phil,

Having similar "feeling the gears" problem here on my 1987 245GL with M47 box. I seem to remember that there was a thread on manual transmission fluids for Volvos and that RedLine MTL oil was said to make shifting smoother. The stuff is expensive but probably I will go for it because of its good viscosity values at subzero temperatures (temperature, a painful factor here in Sweden to consider).
cheers,

Laszlo

[T240]

Laszlo,

If you are changing the oil, only ever contemplate using the Volvo Synthetic, it is made for the job, no other transmission oil is, period!

Cheers,

T

QUOTE=laszlo;157960]Phil,

Having similar "feeling the gears" problem here on my 1987 245GL with M47 box. I seem to remember that there was a thread on manual transmission fluids for Volvos and that RedLine MTL oil was said to make shifting smoother. The stuff is expensive but probably I will go for it because of its good viscosity values at subzero temperatures (temperature, a painful factor here in Sweden to consider).
cheers,

Laszlo[/QUOTE]

[T240]

Phil,

Use the Volvo Synthetic Transmission Oil I previously quoted (the part number is in the previous post). It is made for the job, and appears in all the handbooks.
Do not, ever use auto transmission fluid in a manual gearbox!

Cheers,

T

Originally Posted by PTJS

Thanks for the input chaps. I can get the gears, its just that the shift feels 'dry' as if the selectors aren't being lubricated properly maybe. I have to ease the changes through. As mentioned its been a gradual deterioration over some time and I agree with Swedishbrick that no oil can last forever without losing its viscocity. I notice that the handbook specifies type F auto transmission fluid for this manual box, has this been superceded over the years by 'improved' oil?

Will let you know how I go on.

Phil

[Clifford Pope]

Do not, ever use auto transmission fluid in a manual gearbox!


Unless it's the M46 manual box with overdrive, in which case ATF is the recommended lubricant.

[PTJS]

Thanks Clifford and again to all contributors to this thread. Some interesting developments to confuse what should really be a straigtforward issue.

I visited the Volvo main agents today to buy some oil having decided on Volvo synthetic oil part no. 1161324 as the best option, as mentioned by T240 and as appears in the cars handbook. I was told that 10/40 magnatec engine oil was the oil that I needed and was not happy with this. I was then referred to one of the service managers, showed him the handbook and discussed the views of this site. He went off to speak to one of the older mechanics. On his return he said the Volvo oil was used where difficulty in changing gear was being experienced and it was a 'red' oil - what the significance of that is I don't know. So in the end I did order 2 litres of part no 1161324 (although I was reliably informed this has now been changed to part 1161645) as only 1 litre was in stock. As this cost around £14 a litre I do hope it lives up to expectations after all this!

Watch this space!

Phil