ATF Replacement Question - 3.2 XC90

[jamesholley]

Hello all, I require a few opinions on whether to replace the ATF in my XC90.

Here are the facts and figures;


3.2 petrol, with the 6 speed auto gears on a 56 plate. Currently no history of any service in the transmission area, so we can assume we are on the original ATF having done 134,000 miles.

I was looking to replace the car next year, downsizing to an XC60 as the kids are bigger and require less stuff. However, I love driving the car, is great for holidays with 7 seats and apart from the road tax and running costs, I may hang onto it for another couple of years.

As far as I am aware, I have no real issues with the gears, so I am open to the if it ain't broke brigade, but it is going in for it's annual service next week and this garage do advise and promote them and have quoted £150, which seems reasonable.

Your thoughts gentlemen?

[paddy74]

In short: do it!

Long version: As long as you don't use a machine to pump the new fluid, then you are good to go. I could tell you long stories, but honestly, it's a no-brainer.

Everybody that had at least a few hours physics in school should tell you, that oil is a lubricant, that looses its properties over time. Simple as that.

And on a side note: Volvo itself says, it is a "lifetime filling". But Volvo as well says, "lifetime" means twelve years or 180k km....

[Dastardly Diesel]

Volvo say it's a lifetime fill, yet Aisin Warne who made the box recommend it be changed at 70 or 80k. My Dad had it done in my XC90 just before he passed it on to me and the improvement was marked. Unless you've kit to do it properly take it to the dealer or a garage equipped to pump the old stuff out of the torque converter.

[Tannaton]

Volvo do say it should be changed every 36k in "arduous use" vehicles (taxi, towing, hot climates) - I don't think they every said sealed for life but equally it is no in the scheduled services.

Everyone who posts on here that they have done it invariably reports noticeable improvements in shifting and smoothness.

At that mileage the general consensus is that it there is a risk (albeit very low) of disturbing sediment so best to do it as 4 or more 2 - 3 litre drops and top ups, driving 100 miles or more between them.

You know when you've got there are what comes out wont look and smell too much different to whats going in.

Many people buy the Mannol product on e-bay at low cost and report good results with that.

[oragex]

Normally I would also recommend, but there's two things in your specific situation: you are selling it the next year, and the garage is 'advising and promoting'

The second part gets me a little more worried. Who knows what the garage will do.. Which fluid will they use ? Will they do a 'power flush' and possibly affect the transmission ? Will they replace the whole fluid at once, which at higher miles is not the safest way.. not a good idea to replace for the first time the whole fluid then drive the car on the motorway for distances, because the transmission needs to adapt to the new fluid properties and in order to do so it has to change gears frequently.

I wouldn't take the risk given your specific situation

[jamesholley]

Sorry, a slight miss-communication there.

The garage is not suggesting it, but wrote an article online a while back saying that it was a good thing to do. I suggested it when I last had some work done, and the owner again said it was worth doing but didn't push it.

The garage in question is Hortons, near Thame, and I took my car there as I had an issue with the car and they are Volvo specialists with a great reputation for competency and customer service. They certainly impressed me. So we are not talking about a dodgy back street garage here.

I also stated that selling the car next year was my initial thought, but that I may just hang onto it and essentially run it until it can depreciate no more. I paid £8k for it five years ago, and suspect i would be lucky to get £2.5k as a trade in, more likely £1.5 - 2k.

I think the advice about not doing a total replacement is correct, as I have heard of issues of transmission shock whereby new oil in an old box can cause slippage. Hence, I will enage them prior to the service and get their thoughts on whether this could be a potential reason not to do it, or maybe go with caution.

I believe that they use a pump to get the ATF out, so again this may help determine whether to do it or not.

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by jamesholley

The garage in question is Hortons, near Thame..... they are Volvo specialists with a great reputation for competency and customer service.

From his contributions on here, I'd have no qualms about the quality of the work which will be carried out and say that there is no question to be asked.

Get it done.

[jamesholley]

I had my car serviced yesterday at Hortons and the ATF changed.

There were no serious issues prior to me getting it changed, but certainly the low gears are a lot smoother and it spends less time in 1st gear moving up the box.

So, so far so good!