Changed gear box oil

[Paulontour]

Finally got around to changing the gear box oil in my XC60,well not all of it. Had a clunk when going from R to D and the garage (Volvo specialist) told me not to change the oil as it may render the gearbox useless. Apparently the black oil contains bits of wear and tear and helps maintain the viscosity. Well that’s what he told me. Trawling through many forums and gearbox specialist websites, the black oil with all its debris appears to be correct although it’s only a small percent of gearboxes that fail after a flush.
So rather than a full flush I drained the sump of 3 1/2ltrs of black oil, filled with 3 1/2ltrs of new oil. Ran it for a couple of minutes in R and D. Drained and refilled again but this time adding half litre of Lucas transmission fix. The result is amazing. Smooth gear shifts, no clunking from R to D.
I don’t think my gearbox was breaking down like the garage said. There was no bits of debris in the oil. The oil was just like black water. Any way the oil now is a dark cherry colour. I’ll do it again in a couple of months and keep on top of it. Very happy with the result.

[Fat Magpie]

I was told something similar when iinquired about changing my gearbox oil, so far no issues no problems.
Please keep us across this as I am curious how you get on.

[XC90Mk1]

Originally Posted by Paulontour

Finally got around to changing the gear box oil in my XC60,well not all of it. Had a clunk when going from R to D and the garage (Volvo specialist) told me not to change the oil as it may render the gearbox useless. Apparently the black oil contains bits of wear and tear and helps maintain the viscosity. Well that’s what he told me. Trawling through many forums and gearbox specialist websites, the black oil with all its debris appears to be correct although it’s only a small percent of gearboxes that fail after a flush.
So rather than a full flush I drained the sump of 3 1/2ltrs of black oil, filled with 3 1/2ltrs of new oil. Ran it for a couple of minutes in R and D. Drained and refilled again but this time adding half litre of Lucas transmission fix. The result is amazing. Smooth gear shifts, no clunking from R to D.
I don’t think my gearbox was breaking down like the garage said. There was no bits of debris in the oil. The oil was just like black water. Any way the oil now is a dark cherry colour. I’ll do it again in a couple of months and keep on top of it. Very happy with the result.

It was the same with my xc90. I had no problems but upon changing the black like oil it was instantly smoother.

[ianrmz250]

I did exactly the same as you on my 2012 XC60 at 54K but carried out the procedure 4x and used 16L of oil.
The fluid removed was jet black and degraded and the car has never towed in its life.
I also used the lucas transmission additive and the gearbox is now as smooth as silk with no more clunck into drive.

[Paulontour]

Originally Posted by ianrmz250

I did exactly the same as you on my 2012 XC60 at 54K but carried out the procedure 4x and used 16L of oil.
The fluid removed was jet black and degraded and the car has never towed in its life.
I also used the lucas transmission additive and the gearbox is now as smooth as silk with no more clunck into drive.

I didn’t want to be as aggressive as doing 4 drops to start with in case there was some truth in what the garage told me regarding losing drive. I’ll run it now for two or three months then I’ll do the four or five drop procedure. I’m glad it worked for you so that’s a positive. Why an earth Volvo says the gearbox is sealed for life and no maintenance is required is beyond belief.

[P4]

Originally Posted by Paulontour

The oil was just like black water.

And therefore not doing it's job. Anything mechanical should never be sealed for life. By the very nature of its job oil needs to be changed regularly to do the job it's designed for.

[volvoid]

get as much of the old burnt knackered oil out as you can next time. Youll never get it all, but the last 5% hardly matters.
Bits of metal and filth help the viscosity - bollox ! Bits of metal mean the box is knackered and its time to flog the car.

[Tannaton]

The posts in this thread are exactly what the feedback is from members who change their transmission fluid - whether on a 50k mile car or a 250k mile car. Almost without exception - better gearbox "manners" are reported and occasionally previous faults like clunky shifting and flaring are cured - but not always.

In 5 years I have never read of anyone who's gearbox was worsened or broken by changing the oil. Whilst it may be a plausible theory that you can damage the gearbox - it's like declining emergency heart surgery on the basis that you might be allergic to the anesthetic....

[luggsey]

I have been saying the same, I did a poll a while back and nobody on here has damaged their working gearbox with oil changing.
If you change the oil expecting a mechanical fault to repair itself its not going to happen.
If the gearbox clutch plates are worn out and providing enough drive with old oil there is a slim chance that new oil will make it slip, if so the box was already knackered!
Good clean oil won't hurt the box, that's the experience of most on here that have done it, me included at 220k miles doing a full oil change.

[P4]

Curiously the gearbox oil theory isn't applied to engine oil.