Borg Warner BW35 spewing oil

Dear All

This question actually relates to a Rover P5B. But I have found out that some Volvos, like the 121, used the same auto gearbox - the Borg Warner BW35 – and, therefore, hope that someone might have the solution to my problem. Obviously, any replies might become useful for other Volvo owners in the future.

Ever since a trip to Cumbria the gearbox of my car (after 10+ miles and everything being hot) spews out gearbox oil via the filler tube! Several theories have been formed and disproved so far, e.g., that a small amount of brake fluid was accidentally poured into the gearbox, too much oil in the first place, or that the (admittedly primitive) cooling circle via the radiator was blocked. Unfortunately, everything has failed and it is still getting rid of its oily contents via the filler tube.

Has that happened to anyone of you or have you heard of /encountered something similar?

As the next step would be the (probably expensive) journey to a gearbox specialist I will be very grateful for any hints/tips/advice/ideas.

Kind regards

Peter Mueller
PR Officer
Rover P5 Club

[classicswede]

The torque converter is the most likly problem. I have had this once before with a recon box, changed the torque converter and problem solved.

Dai

>Dear All
>
>This question actually relates to a Rover P5B. But I have
>found out that some Volvos, like the 121, used the same auto
>gearbox - the Borg Warner BW35 – and, therefore, hope that
>someone might have the solution to my problem. Obviously, any
>replies might become useful for other Volvo owners in the
>future.
>
>Ever since a trip to Cumbria the gearbox of my car (after 10+
>miles and everything being hot) spews out gearbox oil via the
>filler tube! Several theories have been formed and disproved
>so far, e.g., that a small amount of brake fluid was
>accidentally poured into the gearbox, too much oil in the
>first place, or that the (admittedly primitive) cooling circle
>via the radiator was blocked. Unfortunately, everything has
>failed and it is still getting rid of its oily contents via
>the filler tube.
>
>Has that happened to anyone of you or have you heard of
>/encountered something similar?
>
>As the next step would be the (probably expensive) journey to
>a gearbox specialist I will be very grateful for any
>hints/tips/advice/ideas.
>
>Kind regards
>
>Peter Mueller
>PR Officer
>Rover P5 Club
>
Dear Peter,

have you already solved the problem?

Maybe a small amount of water-coolant has got into the transmission, perhaps via a leak in the oil-circuit inside the radiator. Temperature inside the tranny rises over 100°C, so that water inside may result in steam and foam, pressing the transmission-fluid out of the housing. Is the transmission-fluid ATF Type F or G? Is it clear and red? Have you changed it?

I have a '76 Volvo 245 with BW35. It's my every days car, 297.000 km.

Several years ago there was a leak in the filler tube, near the welding point where it is fixed to the right upper bolt of the bellhousing. ATF dribbled out onto the exhaust, resultung in big clouds of light-blue smoke, especially when decellerating from high speed. I was really afraid of burning down my car! It took some time to find the leak, because when I stopped, there was nothing to see any more. After I had found the leak, I built a new filler tube and the problem was solved.

Please tell us how your story goes on. Let's keep the good old BW35 running!

Kind Regards
Norbert