Towing with v70 auto

[05XC90]

Bro in law looking at a 57 plate v70 2.4D Auto, just wondering how that box would be towing a caravan? Been told xc90 auto boxes don't realy take well to a lot of towing. Any advice be great thanks.

[Billggski]

There's been a discussion in the towing section.

[Tannaton]

The XC90 boxes are fine with towing. What they don't like is not having their oil changed.

That year of car will have the later 6 speed TF80 box which is better than the earlier 5 speed and, if looked after, is pretty much bomb proof.

[Dibble]

Originally Posted by 05XC90

Bro in law looking at a 57 plate v70 2.4D Auto, just wondering how that box would be towing a caravan? Been told xc90 auto boxes don't realy take well to a lot of towing. Any advice be great thanks.

I have an 07, D5, automatic S80 and have no problems towing the caravan with it.

[05XC90]

Great help thanks. I'd been told xc90 gear oil should be changed, but that sealed unit, mine has 139k fvsh so doubt it was ever done, is there a thread anywhere on how best to do, oil etc?

[Billggski]

This is what the discussion in the towing section was about.
"In my opinion the ideal way to tow with an automatic is to manually select gears to keep the torque convertor locked up as much as possible. That should greatly reduce the heat built up in the gearbox.

If pulling up steep passes etc. then the lowest gear and the lightest throttle you can use to make good progress, unless for instance you can safely hold 30mph in 3rd gear or whatever it takes to lock up the TC on your car (that's what it is on my XC90 geartrOnce)"

[apersson850]

At least my XC70 from 2012 has water-cooled oil in the gearbox. The tranny usually locks up the converter even i D mode. But the XC70 is better for towing than the V70.
I replace the oil every 120000 km in the gearbox. Then it's not fresh any longer, so that's at least a good idea.

[05XC90]

Cheers for help, he ended up going for an XC90 after driving mine lol : )

[apersson850]

Now I've replaced the oil in the gearbox again (240000 km). It was less dirty than last time, so probably the abrasion from brakes and clutches in the gearbox is more frequent when the gearbox is new. Still improved shift quality, but not as remarkably as last time.

[Ern]

We have a MY2010/V70/2.4D/SEL/Geartronic. We tow regularly around Europe - Spain, France etc. The car is capable of towing a lot more than our caravan and I think the transmission is fine. I had half the transmission oil changed at about 30,000Miles and will do the same next service 60,000Miles. Changing half the oil avoids any difficulties. Measure what comes out and measure what goes back in.