M90 gearbox oil change - success :)

[yoda960]

Manage to change the oil my my gearbox today (M90 manual gearbox on a 1996 940), gave up on my first attempt a few weeks ago as I couldn't loosen the filler plug, but I used a longer bar this time and managed to get it loose Its a 24mm socket for anyone attempting to change theirs. Use a 24mm socket with an extension for the filler plug and a 24mm spanner for the drain plug (a socket won't fit in the space available to access the drain plug).

I wanted to change the oil as the gear change felt clunky and stiff, especially when cold. The gearbox seems to whine a bit when cold too. When I first bought the car I was a bit concerned about the 'box as it felt a bit rubbish compared to previous 940s i've had, I thought mileage might have had a part to play as the car has done 160k but on the other hand i'm aware that these boxes are pretty solid.

Anyway, I took the car out for a drive to get the gearbox oil warmed up, got home and drained 1.4litres from the box (it must have a small leak i'm as the capacity is 1.75litres). Filled up with some genuine Toyota fully synthetic 75w90 (as I managed to get this for a very reasonable price and I thought Toyota oil won't be rubbish stuff!).

Gear change has improved massively, very impressed indeed, much slicker and smoother. Yet to see what cold performance will be like, but i'm hoping it will be a lot better going by what it feels like now

The old oil looked awful, must have been the original oil (160k miles and 16 years old!). Some pics attached showing some of the old oil and new oil side by side on some white paper and the old oil in my oil change tub.

If your gear change feels a bit stiff and the oil hasn't been changed, I definitely recommend it. Seeing the state of the oil that came out it's no wonder the gear change wasn't too clever (though it was a bit low too).

[Clan]

That oil is brown when new so it hasnt discoloured much ,
here are the specifications of teh volvo oil :
A multigrade synthetic transmission oil intended for manual
transmissions in passenger cars.
The oil has very good low temperature characteristics and a
lowest flow point of at least -48°C.
The transmission oil is recommended for all model years of
types M45, M46, M47, M90 and M5M42 in S-/V40 with GDI
engine and of type M56, M58 and M59 up to and including
model year 1995.
Technical data
Quality: API GL-4
Volvo Std 1273,08 which
describes transmission oil
97308
Viscosity: SAE 75W
Color: Brown
Density: 885 kg/m³
Base: Synthetic
Lowest flow point -48 °C (104°F)
Viscosity at 40°C: 67.8 mm²/s
Viscosity at 100 °C: 10.5 mm²/s

Hopefully that oil you used doesnt have HYPOID anywhere on the can !

[yoda960]

Ah right, looks really dirty to me but it's reassuring that its brown when new - it does look black in the drain tub though and i'm sure it didn't look like that when new!

No, no mention of Hypoid, i'm led to believe thats a different type of oil anyway? The Toyota stuff I have is 75w90 fully synthethic API: GL-4/GL-5 (i.e. compatible with both GL-4 and 5, it contains different additives than standard GL-5 so it won't eat the softer metals)

[doingitsideways]

Hmm, have to have a think about changing mine too.

My 'box is very grumpy when cold too, namely very stiff between first and
Second.

Has the whine in first disappeared now??

Steve

[Clan]

volvo oil 1161645 which is a 1 Litre bottle as described above is a recent formulation to aid cold gear changing ..

[Antz]

I used genuine Volvo oil when I changed it in my M90. Cost a fortune for two tiny bottles of oil but at least it was on the shelf and didnt need ordering in.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Antz

I used genuine Volvo oil when I changed it in my M90. Cost a fortune for two tiny bottles of oil but at least it was on the shelf and didnt need ordering in.

volvo have 3 deliveries a day from the main distrubution centres early morning about 11 am and mid afternoon and overnight so no excuses from them for having to wait days unless it is from sweden !

[yoda960]

Hi Steve

Mine was the same, 1st and 2nd stiff and there was a whine (the whine did used to disappear when warm though). I'm yet to check out stone cold performance but i've been out a couple of times today and the 1st and 2nd has improved greatly and I couldn't hear the whine.

Its obviously going to blow up or knacker something soon though as I didn't use genuine Volvo mega-buck snake oil (which of course is the only high quality oil available) so i'll report back in a bit when its had more use

Out of interest Clan, the oil you have listed appears to be the older oil:

http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=94325

That thread lists two types of oil, the one you listed (1161 645), and a fully synthetic version (1161 745) which they recommend. Why do you recommend the multigrade one over their recommendation of the newer fully synthetic version?

[Clan]

Originally Posted by yoda960

Hi Steve

Mine was the same, 1st and 2nd stiff and there was a whine (the whine did used to disappear when warm though). I'm yet to check out stone cold performance but i've been out a couple of times today and the 1st and 2nd has improved greatly and I couldn't hear the whine.

Its obviously going to blow up or knacker something soon though as I didn't use genuine Volvo mega-buck snake oil (which of course is the only high quality oil available) so i'll report back in a bit when its had more use

Out of interest Clan, the oil you have listed appears to be the older oil:

http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=94325

That thread lists two types of oil, the one you listed (1161 645), and a fully synthetic version (1161 745) which they recommend. Why do you recommend the multigrade one over their recommendation of the newer fully synthetic version?

according to volvo the 1161745 is for the chain gear on the T6 engines ... no mention of M90 gearboxes ..

where as the 1160 645 is the only oil listed for M90 ... the word synthetic is used in that description .. volvos recommendation not mine by the way

1161 645
A multigrade synthetic transmission oil intended for manual
transmissions in passenger cars.
The oil has very good low temperature characteristics and a
lowest flow point of at least -48°C.
The transmission oil is recommended for all model years of
types M45, M46, M47, M90 and M5M42 in S-/V40 with GDI
engine and of type M56, M58 and M59 up to and including
model year 1995.
Technical data
Quality: API GL-4
Volvo Std 1273,08 which
describes transmission oil
97308
Viscosity: SAE 75W
Color: Brown
Density: 885 kg/m³
Base: Synthetic
Lowest flow point -48 °C (104°F)
Viscosity at 40°C: 67.8 mm²/s
Viscosity at 100 °C: 10.5 mm²/s
Important The oil is not tested or specified under
standards other than those indicated in this document.
In order to specify the correct oil for the car, always
check the owner’s manual for the car.

1161 745
A fully synthetic transmission oil with extremely good low
temperature characteristics with a lowest flow point of at least
-60 °C. The oil is recommended for the chain gear in XC90
6-cyl. AWD 03-.
Technical data
Quality: API GL-4
Volvo transmission oil
MTF 97309
WSS-M2C200-C3
Viscosity: SAE 75W-80
Color: Amber
Density: 841 kg/m³
Base: Fully synthetic
Lowest flow point -60 °C (104°F)
Viscosity at 100 °C: 59.8 mm²/s
Viscosity at 40 °C: 10.1 mm²/s

Important The oil is not tested or specified under
standards other than those indicated in this document.
In order to specify the correct oil for the car, always
check the owner’s manual for the car.

[yoda960]

A bit of info gleaned from turbo bricks:

"The 645 oil have been used for quite some time, and the first generation of M90 boxes were suppose to use that oil as well (with a manufacture date up to early/mid '96). When the second generation M90 boxes came out (and some other FWD boxes), the oil specification got changed.

The newer boxes should only use the 745 oil, and not the 645 oil.

Even though the 645 oil is for the older M90 boxes, the recommendation is to use the newer 745 oil even in the older gearboxes nowadays."

http://www.turbobricks.net/forums/sh...=94325&page=14

I guess that chap thinks the 745 oil fine for the M90 then i.e. fully synth is fine