S40: - gearbox oil change

desolation · Mar 10th, 2011, 12:39

Since my M5D box on my 1.9TD is due for an oil change, i have a few questions

Does anyone have experience with running a cleaning product in it before the change? Since the previous owner already should have changed the oil 20-30k ago it shows it's time, and I thought I'd put in a flushing product so the box is really clean before I put in new oil

Does anyone have experience with oil additives? It's an old box, and I want it to last as long as possible. I saw cheap additives from Wynn's that cost about 15EUR, but I also saw expensive ceramic ones that cost like 40-45EUR. Is this worth the cash?

And as last question : what oil should I best put in?

sebaveh · Mar 10th, 2011, 20:25

My dealer just done it today, change of transmission oil at 148600 km, because I felt it stiff shifting on 1-2-3 gear when cold.
He used original Volvo oil, on my bill it says "75W API GL-4 for Volvo". Amount: 2,7 liters.

desolation · Mar 10th, 2011, 20:29

I was thinking about putting in either Castrol TAF-X or Castrol Syntrax Universal

Especially the TAF-X, since it is a special oil for difficult changing boxes.
The Syntrax however is GL5 and developped for even lower temps than the TAF-X, and I notice the boxes shifts hard especially when it's cold...

VanhireBoys · Mar 11th, 2011, 07:36

This is a bit concerning.... My car has 177k miles on and the gearbox oil was never changed.. The change is still slick no problem... Should I change the oil or let sleeping dogs lie...?

Sorry for hi-jacking the thread BTW

sebaveh · Mar 11th, 2011, 08:14

At least you could check your oil level first.

desolation · Mar 11th, 2011, 12:58

I almost forget, excatly how much oil do I have to put in the gearbox ?

wandererz · Mar 12th, 2011, 10:18

How does one check the gearbox oil level?

Clan · Mar 12th, 2011, 10:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by desolation

I was thinking about putting in either Castrol TAF-X or Castrol Syntrax Universal

Especially the TAF-X, since it is a special oil for difficult changing boxes.
The Syntrax however is GL5 and developped for even lower temps than the TAF-X, and I notice the boxes shifts hard especially when it's cold...

dont ever use syntrax in a FWD gearbox , it is designed for hypoid gears in a rear axle and can affect the brass syncro rings in a manual gearbox . Transaxles with a hypoid final drive combined have special syncro rings to work with this syntrax or similar oil
Only use the oil available from the volvo dealer it is synthetic and the best ... hence the price .

There is no oil change period recommended in the UK .. there are many S40 and 440 with the same gearbox running around with the original oil in .

However if you are finding 1st and second gears hard to engage an oil change can work wonders , it can get contaminatated with water if the car has been through flood water !

desolation · Mar 12th, 2011, 13:13

I just ordered myself 3.5 litres of Castrol TAF-X. Checked with a volvo specialist and he said this oil works wonders in older boxes that have difficulty changing gears and is very good for the synchromeshes.
Not the cheapest oil I could find at 14EUR/litre, but if my box will run great with a change it's totally worth it

Also a 100% synthetic gearbox oil, no semi-synth crap in my cars.
He said Shell EP 75W90 is even better because it hase a viscosity rating of 220 instead of the 205 the TAF-X gets, but it's nearly unfindable. Already had a hard time tracking down the TAF-X.
It was also highly recommended to me by a friend of ours who builds rally cars, and he stated that TAF-X was "the only consumer oil I could put in competition boxes with full confidence" due to it's ability to perform flawlessly in very cold and very warm conditions.
The "volvo dealer" however didn't even have the volvo specific oil. They just had a rack of cheapo branded oils (Carlube) which they deemed "good enough". When I said my box was shifting roughly and that I wanted the TAF-X because it was especially for rough shifting older boxes they said that i "would have to learn to live with my old box", even though they agreed that putting in a good oil lik TAF-X would perhaps make a big difference.

Also gonna do a good flushing of the box with a Wynn's cleaner so all the sediment and crap is out.

RCSH · Mar 13th, 2011, 11:51

Thats funny Clan, ZF are issuing instructions for us to use Syntrax in the gearbox on the FL/FE range, due to us having selection problems. There's definately brass syncho's in those, I've had a few in bits.
Why don't FWD boxes like it then?

Rob

Mar 10th, 2011, 12:39	#1
desolation Junior Member Last Online: Mar 4th, 2012 13:58 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kortenberg	gearbox oil change Since my M5D box on my 1.9TD is due for an oil change, i have a few questions Does anyone have experience with running a cleaning product in it before the change? Since the previous owner already should have changed the oil 20-30k ago it shows it's time, and I thought I'd put in a flushing product so the box is really clean before I put in new oil Does anyone have experience with oil additives? It's an old box, and I want it to last as long as possible. I saw cheap additives from Wynn's that cost about 15EUR, but I also saw expensive ceramic ones that cost like 40-45EUR. Is this worth the cash? And as last question : what oil should I best put in?

Mar 11th, 2011, 07:36	#4
VanhireBoys Member Last Online: Dec 17th, 2015 11:39 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Galway	This is a bit concerning.... My car has 177k miles on and the gearbox oil was never changed.. The change is still slick no problem... Should I change the oil or let sleeping dogs lie...? Sorry for hi-jacking the thread BTW __________________ '03 Volvo V40 1.9 D Sport in Virtual Blue - Sleep well my Sweet ! Gone but will never be Forgotton

Mar 10th, 2011, 20:25	#2
sebaveh Winegrover Last Online: Jul 17th, 2019 11:08 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Slovenska Bistrica	My dealer just done it today, change of transmission oil at 148600 km, because I felt it stiff shifting on 1-2-3 gear when cold. He used original Volvo oil, on my bill it says "75W API GL-4 for Volvo". Amount: 2,7 liters.

Mar 10th, 2011, 20:29	#3
desolation Junior Member Last Online: Mar 4th, 2012 13:58 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kortenberg	I was thinking about putting in either Castrol TAF-X or Castrol Syntrax Universal Especially the TAF-X, since it is a special oil for difficult changing boxes. The Syntrax however is GL5 and developped for even lower temps than the TAF-X, and I notice the boxes shifts hard especially when it's cold...

Mar 11th, 2011, 08:14	#5
sebaveh Winegrover Last Online: Jul 17th, 2019 11:08 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Slovenska Bistrica	At least you could check your oil level first.

Mar 11th, 2011, 12:58	#6
desolation Junior Member Last Online: Mar 4th, 2012 13:58 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kortenberg	I almost forget, excatly how much oil do I have to put in the gearbox ?

Mar 12th, 2011, 10:18	#7
wandererz Junior Member Last Online: May 9th, 2013 12:59 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Dublin	How does one check the gearbox oil level?

Mar 12th, 2011, 13:13	#9
desolation Junior Member Last Online: Mar 4th, 2012 13:58 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kortenberg	I just ordered myself 3.5 litres of Castrol TAF-X. Checked with a volvo specialist and he said this oil works wonders in older boxes that have difficulty changing gears and is very good for the synchromeshes. Not the cheapest oil I could find at 14EUR/litre, but if my box will run great with a change it's totally worth it Also a 100% synthetic gearbox oil, no semi-synth crap in my cars. He said Shell EP 75W90 is even better because it hase a viscosity rating of 220 instead of the 205 the TAF-X gets, but it's nearly unfindable. Already had a hard time tracking down the TAF-X. It was also highly recommended to me by a friend of ours who builds rally cars, and he stated that TAF-X was "the only consumer oil I could put in competition boxes with full confidence" due to it's ability to perform flawlessly in very cold and very warm conditions. The "volvo dealer" however didn't even have the volvo specific oil. They just had a rack of cheapo branded oils (Carlube) which they deemed "good enough". When I said my box was shifting roughly and that I wanted the TAF-X because it was especially for rough shifting older boxes they said that i "would have to learn to live with my old box", even though they agreed that putting in a good oil lik TAF-X would perhaps make a big difference. Also gonna do a good flushing of the box with a Wynn's cleaner so all the sediment and crap is out.

Mar 13th, 2011, 11:51	#10
RCSH G-BOAF Last Online: Feb 11th, 2015 16:46 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tamworth	Thats funny Clan, ZF are issuing instructions for us to use Syntrax in the gearbox on the FL/FE range, due to us having selection problems. There's definately brass syncho's in those, I've had a few in bits. Why don't FWD boxes like it then? Rob

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