Transmission flushing at home: Really easy, really effective

[gibbons]

I shift through the gears because it opens the solenoid valves allowing new fluid to be pumped through the cavities of the valve body, purging them of nastiness too. If you do it after everything is buttoned up, the nastiness gets recirculated with the new.

[BillAileo]

That makes sense to me. I'll shift through the gears on my second flush which I need to get to fairly soon.

Bill

[MD-Daddy]

Knowing that I blabber too often here,...

In my opinion Gibbons your comments and detailed research have earned you the right to blabber. Blaber away, we all enjoy it and occasionally (like tonite) learn something useful! Even its from 2005!

MDD

[ArtSmart]

In normal operation the ATF in the system is drawn from the pan into and through the transmission and then into the transmission portion of the radiator for cooling and then out the return line which is located at the upper portion of the raditor for return to the pan.
Bill

Does ATF go from the pan though the tranny and then to the radiator or from the pan to the radiator and then through the tranny?
BTW does anybody have an exploded view of this transmission or, maybe, some diagramms?

[MoeB]

Never seen inside an AW, but all auto transmissions have multiple flow paths, with a main pump that pressurizes fluid, and numerous valves routing it where needed depending on the unit's current state. Fluid travels through the radiator at the same time it flows through servos (assuming they are hydraulic), valves, governer, torque converter, etc.

[RB's]

Gibbons, that's really neat and most helpful.

One small point; I understood that the oil is not "regular" ATF but some special concoction (I did have a spec: for it - somewhere), also the filler and dipstick doesn't seem to exist on my '03 - but it may have been moved to deter me.

Any comments?

Just had my 02 scheduled for a tranny fluid change (46,000 miles), the service people say it'll be $75.00 per jug for the synthetic Volvo ATF fluid (4), and about 1.0 hours for the work $138.00).

Not too bad, the Service Mgr told me that they change at about 90K but he said that for him personally, he would change NLT 50k.

As the gent who started the post indicated, the change is done through the cooling line.

Best Regards

XC-70, Silver, Graphite
S430, Silver, Charcoal
530i, Orient Blue, Dove Gray
Taurus, Jest Keeps on Tickin!

[BillAileo]

Because I could never find any statement on the Mobil website claiming that their Mobil 3309 was a synthetic I have assumed it was not. However, after I noticed that IPD's online listing of Mobil 3309 describes it as a synthetic I asked IPD about the basis for that assertion and they promptly responded with a message stating:

"Yes, the Mobil 3309 ATF is a full Synthetic oil. Mobil is the OEM supplier for Volvo."

I don't understand why Mobil doesn't include this assertion on their web information....

Bill

[RB's]

Because I could never find any statement on the Mobil website claiming that their Mobil 3309 was a synthetic I have assumed it was not. However, after I noticed that IPD's online listing of Mobil 3309 describes it as a synthetic I asked IPD about the basis for that assertion and they promptly responded with a message stating:

"Yes, the Mobil 3309 ATF is a full Synthetic oil. Mobil is the OEM supplier for Volvo."

I don't understand why Mobil doesn't include this assertion on their web information....

Bill

What does the Mobil fluid cost per jug?

[BillAileo]

It varies a lot depending upon where you purchase it. IPD sells it for $85 a case (12 quarts), it isn't the lowest price but IPD is very reliable. There is an online outfit (http://store.avlube.com/mobilatf3309.html) selling it for $50 a case but I have never dealt with them. You might look for a Mobil lubricants regional distributor in your neck of the woods to minimize shipping expense.

Bill

[RB's]

It varies a lot depending upon where you purchase it. IPD sells it for $85 a case (12 quarts), it isn't the lowest price but IPD is very reliable. There is an online outfit (http://store.avlube.com/mobilatf3309.html) selling it for $50 a case but I have never dealt with them. You might look for a Mobil lubricants regional distributor in your neck of the woods to minimize shipping expense.

Bill

Cheers!

RB