Automatic trans fluid NEVER needs changing??

[Jack21]

Hello everyone.

I was at the Volvo dealer last week having a revision done on my 2017 XC90 D5 AWD, with about 82,000 km on it. I asked them if they would change out the transmission fluid as well, and was met with a scoff and a laugh that the fluid in the transmission is "for the life of the car." Now color me stupid, but correct me please if I'm wrong in the belief that ALL mechanical devices in an ICE need their fluid/oil changed at regular intervals.

Any thoughts on this? My Volvo dealer simply will not change out the transmission fluid. As someone who's been driving for 45 years now, I've always been told this should be done at least every 50,000 miles (80,000Km) or so. Can someone please advise here?

[Dibble]

I disagree with Volvo but some on here might know better. First time I had a problem was with my first S80 in North Yorkshire when the car would not climb a rather steep incline. Changed the fluid and away we went. I have done that on my automatics ever since, usually about the 80K miles mark. The fluid was brownish and had a burnt smell.
Read an interesting statement a few weeks where it was stated that the auto gearbox is a Toyota gearbox. Toyota state that fluid must be changed at certain intervals. So Toyota says it must be changed and Volvo says not necessary. I follow Toyota advice on this.
There are many exchanges on here on this subject

[Crockers]

I had a Mercedes C320-cdi and that was supposed to have rhe auto fluid changed just once at 40,000 miles then never again. I changed mine again at 80,000.

My last volvo xc60 I was told it didnt need fluid changing. At 70,000 miles it clunked and banged.

I personally think auto fluid should be changed at 40k miles irrespective of what manufacturers say. Sealed for life means sealed until it dies.

[Haldex]

It’s been discussed on the forum on several occasions. Actually it’s Aisin-Warner AWF8f35. According to Aisin-Warner it’s a sealed-for-life unit and requires no maintenance- hence Volvo will not change it for you. Should you choose to change it on your own- here’s what goes in it: https://www.be.aisin-europe.com/en-g...autofluids/atf Btw, I have yet to hear of anyone to change it on an SPA car. IMO, unless you’re doing some serious towing- it’s pointless, at least at your mileage..

[Quacker]

Modern lifetime fluids are designed to remain within specifications during average type driving for around 100,000 miles. They drop below optimal spec about then, but the gearbox will still function with accelerating wear for at least another 50,000 miles in theory, which is around the lifetime of most cars.
If the car was driven for many years as, say, a taxi, or with consistent towing, then it would certainly be worthwhile changing part of the fluid at around 80,000 miles and then perhaps every 50,000 after.

I say ‘part of the fluid’ because only about 60% of the fluid is dumped at every fill on an average automatic. The rest is retained in clutch packs and in the torque converter and oil cooler unit. Changing that much and topping up is enough to keep fluid in spec for a good while longer. The extra effort and cost of flushing or multiple changes is just not worth it.

The transmission will fail sooner or later regardless of maintenance. Clutches inevitably wear with use and hard driving and towing will wear them faster. Apart from that there may be known weak links in the mechanical chain and then there is always the luck of the draw.

[Gaz2]

Sorry Quacker, no offence intended, but I don't agree when you say "The transmission will fail sooner or later regardless of maintenance." I say: "Refresh your transmission fluid regularly and the transmission will not fail during the lifetime of the vehicle. A few litres of auto fluid are way cheaper than the possible cost of a replacement auto box. I always refresh the auto fluid in any vehicle I acquire and I have never had a moment's trouble with any auto box in over 30 years of driving automatics. That said, my local transmission specialist tells me that some auto boxes are more robust than others eg ZFs are better for towing than GMs."

[colnet]

As most car manufacturers now work on the premise that a cars lifespan is 6 years (including volvo) then yes the atf will last the life of the car, so if you only want the car to last 6 years don't bother changing the fluid.

[Quacker]

Originally Posted by Gaz2

Sorry Quacker, no offence intended, but I don't agree when you say "The transmission will fail sooner or later regardless of maintenance." I say: "Refresh your transmission fluid regularly and the transmission will not fail during the lifetime of the vehicle. A few litres of auto fluid are way cheaper than the possible cost of a replacement auto box. I always refresh the auto fluid in any vehicle I acquire and I have never had a moment's trouble with any auto box in over 30 years of driving automatics. That said, my local transmission specialist tells me that some auto boxes are more robust than others eg ZFs are better for towing than GMs."

All kinds of things can go wrong with automatic transmissions that are not related to regular maintenance. One of the most common failures is due to coolant contamination of the fluid through a failed heat exchanger. Fluid changes do not stop this.

Apart from which I made it quite plain that high milage and heavy duty use do certainly benefit from fluid changes, all other things being equal. I cannot see how you interpret what I said any other way.

Not all transmissions are designed to be maintenance free anyway, and these should have maintenance as per book. In terms of the maintenance-free variety, i do recommend extra maintenance if the vehicle is expected to last longer than 150,000 miles, especially if used for towing etc.

At its next service my Ranger is going to have its fluid changed at just short of 60,000 miles. It tows a lot and the full 3.5 ton capacity. It has a license-built ZF design six speed unit that would be maintenance free in a car normally but in a commercial vehicle it does actually have a drain interval. However it is not ddesigned for easy draining, because the whole sump has to be removed to do so. It does not have a drain plug.

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by colnet

As most car manufacturers now work on the premise that a cars lifespan is 6 years (including volvo) then yes the atf will last the life of the car, so if you only want the car to last 6 years don't bother changing the fluid.

I didn't know that 'colnet'. I remember - not so very long ago - when it was Volvo's proud boast that their cars had an average life of, if I remember correctly, 21.7 years. Several of mine have exceeded that figure by some margin, and my V70 is less than two years away from doing so.

Regards, John.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by john.wigley

I didn't know that 'colnet'. I remember - not so very long ago - when it was Volvo's proud boast that their cars had an average life of, if I remember correctly, 21.7 years. Several of mine have exceeded that figure by some margin, and my V70 is less than two years away from doing so.

Regards, John.

It is hearsay no evidence offered , don't worry about it :-)
even my 343 is 32 years old and has never needed any parts or broken down ... Today volvos are even more resilient ...