gearbox fluid cooler fitted , good so far

[galloot633]

we're all familiar with the sticking solenoid problem our geartronics have , mine being typical, for about 4 years mine has "hard shifted "from 3rd to fourth , not so bad for most of the year, but really bad in a hot summer and/or city stop start, over the weekend I fitted a Volvo oil cooler , dead easy . Today was my first city driving , not summer I know , but two hours of stop start and my gear changes are the same as when the engine was cold, it hasn't cured the problem but it never gets as bad as before , I think I'll call this a result , there's loads of Volvo coolers out there, mainly off t6's, you just have to find one complete with hoses . Here's of a vid of how too, he even shows you how to do a fluid change .
Dave
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gnTe9RLIDI

[S60D5-185]

Originally Posted by galloot633

we're all familiar with the sticking solenoid problem our geartronics have , mine being typical, for about 4 years mine has "hard shifted "from 3rd to fourth , not so bad for most of the year, but really bad in a hot summer and/or city stop start, over the weekend I fitted a Volvo oil cooler , dead easy . Today was my first city driving , not summer I know , but two hours of stop start and my gear changes are the same as when the engine was cold, it hasn't cured the problem but it never gets as bad as before , I think I'll call this a result , there's loads of Volvo coolers out there, mainly off t6's, you just have to find one complete with hoses . Here's of a vid of how too, he even shows you how to do a fluid change .
Dave
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gnTe9RLIDI

Hi, thanks for that, I've had my used cooler ( £25 off ebay ) sat on the shelf waiting for the weather to improve to fit it.

Good video.

Did you get your skid plate off as easily as him or did you have to remove bumper.


may do mine next week

[galloot633]

It is easy , just brute force and bend the bottom of the bumper out of the way, what he doesn't do in the vid is bolt the return line to a hole just above the rad, just for extra security , I was a bit nervous cutting through the original cooler line , but no problems at all
Dave

[S60D5-185]

Thanks for that Dave.

When I bought my XC90 a year ago, I tried to remove the skid plate to repaint it

I got it to the point where I could almost get it out but was scared of breaking the plastic bumper so I refitted it and painted it in situ.

I'll have another go as soon as the 10mm / 3/8th brass hose connector turns up from Ebay.


I do a fair bit of towing so this should be a worthwhile upgrade.

[galloot633]

It does eventually come off ,it's a case of brute force and ignorance , don't forget to hang on to the original piece of pipe that connected to the rad , perfect for doing a fluid drain/change
Dave

[S60D5-185]

Well you were correct Dave.

I applied a lot more force to get the skid plate to clear the subframe and it was off in no time.

The oil cooler is all now nicely bolted in and everything back in place.

I only have it to plumb in once the barbed hose connector arrives but at least the oil cooler pipes are sat nicely in place.

All the hard work done just a nice simple bit to finish off.

All of my fluid has been changed recently but I'll still take the opportunity to refresh and fill the new larger capacity system with 5 ltrs of new 3309 whilst I'm on checking the levels.


Thanks for the original post and video. It was the kick up the backside that I needed to get mine fitted.

[galloot633]

Great to help , got to admit I was a bit nervous myself, but dead easy in the end
Dave

[S60D5-185]

I remembered the side bracket as well after you mentioned it.

[S60D5-185]

All now done and dusted with no leaks.

[galloot633]

That's great to here , my main worry was leaks , at the weekend I drov home 200 miles with lots of stop starts on the m6 , this always caused third to fourth flares in the path , not a hint this time , wish I fitted the cooler years ago
Dave