Aisin Transmissions - Fluid for life?

YetanotherNick

Hello folks,

I have a 2011 V60 R-Design which I purchased from my brother in June of this year (2025). I am the third owner. The car has 199,000 kms on the clock. From past service records, it seems that the transmission fluid has never been changed. There are little service records from owner no. 1, but my brother serviced the car each year.

At 199,000kms, would it still be worth changing the transmission fluid? Could I get away with just replacing the fluid, or do I need to re-finance the house and have it flushed? Whilst I want to maintain the transmission, I’ve just spent $7,000 on a Cat converter and o2 sensors, so any ‘savings’ I can… errr…. save, I’d be grateful for!

I should add, that the transmission appears to be working as it should (if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it?). I haven’t experienced any shudders in the few months I’ve owned the car. I have no intention of towing anything.

So, replace or flush or leave it?

Regards, Nick

Major Ledfoot

YetanotherNick If you reckon a fluid flush is expensive, just wait till you get a price for an R&R of the valve body….

It's unlikely to have had previous fluid changes because of the "Sealed For Life" swindle.

If it was my car and I wanted to keep it, I'd get it flushed (and get the adaptions reset with VIDA), plus get the Haldex and angle gear fluids changed too.

If the car is a mere appliance, I'd get rid of it now before it stuffs up.

With my S80 V8 (same TF80SC transmission), the flush was first done at 100K km and it looked very off-colour. Now it's done every 50K km. Yes, some may say that's a bit of overkill, but I'm keeping the car for a long time. At its last change only recently, the fluid still looked quite off-colour after 50K.

YetanotherNick

Thanks very much ML.

I would like to keep it, and I see what you say. Thanks for your reply. N

timbo

+1 for flushing the transmission fluid. 7k for cat converter and 02 sensors is insane, I'm assuming that "repair" was via a dealership?. Find an independent Volvo specialist asap

YetanotherNick

Hiya Timbo.
Yes, a dealer… I’m in a moderately regional area so a Volvo specialist or even a Euro mechanic, is hard to find. I have sourced a specialist though and I may have to have a day in the city. I wish I could do things myself, but I have zero talent under the bonet. This is NOT and admission I am proud of!

Major Ledfoot

YetanotherNick Nothing to be ashamed of these days with all the software and modules.

What general region /area are you in? Somebody might know of a good indie shop near you.

YetanotherNick

Hiya ML.

I’m in the mid Blue Mountains. Though Sydney isn’t too far, it’s 100 kms from home!

Major Ledfoot

YetanotherNick Heh. I know. I lived up near Katoomba seven years ago before moving to Tasmania.

The shop I'd have recommended back then is no more, the owner sold the business. Annlyn in Penrith refused to do the flush on our S80, so we got Stu Olfield (VolTek) to do it for us. Excellent shop, but he's in southern Sydney.

@Clive740 may know of a decent shop in the mountains? Or @ramrod may know someone?

Johnno_

Major Ledfoot

I used to be a Mountains resident once too. Valley Heights Garage have been working on my Benzes for twenty five years. They are really good on European vehicles, they're main specialty is BMWs. I still take a quick trip up the M4 for a MB service.

Stu at Voltek in Padstow for that first service though, he is in great demand.

Both have courtesy vehicles if you book in advance.

YetanotherNick

Johnno_

Hiya Johnno.

Thanks very much for the Valley Heights tip! That’s awesome!

I really only went to Volvo Penrith (Annlyn) because I didn’t know any better…

The folks on the corner of Narrow Neck Road in Katoomba (Bohman) who appeared to me to be the only Euro mechanics in area, are selling the business unfortunately.

Great to know that Valley Heights and Voltek have courtesy cars. That was another reason why I went to the dealer. At least they didn’t charge for the use of the car.

Thanks again for your reply. I’m grateful.

YetanotherNick

Morning ML.

Thanks for your replies.

It was Annlyn in Penrith who charged the small fortune for the Cat converter and the O2 sensors. I had the same experience as you re their attitude to flushing the transmission fluid.

Thanks a lot for the Voltek information. They are still in Padsow, so I’ll probably get it done there. There was another place in Rosebury (Percision Autimotive) where I was considering going, but a personal recommendation trumps all! Thank you very much!

Major Ledfoot

YetanotherNick I really only went to Volvo Penrith (Annlyn) because I didn’t know any better…

Don't sweat it. There are times when you must go to the dealer with these cars, especially if your indie shop of choice doesn't have access to the Volvo software.

I heard somewhere that the subscription to the Volvo factory software is something-thousand per month, so most generalised shops who only do one or two Volvos a month aren't going to bother getting a subscription.

ICEDVOVO

Have a crack at flushing it yourself. Its not hard, just need a bit of pvc tubing, a funnel and a trolley full of valvoline multi atf from bunnings

YetanotherNick

ICEDVOVO
Hiya Iced.
I’d love to be able to do this myself, but I don’t have the tools to do so. I think you need a specific tool to release either the drain plug as well as the leveller plug. Yet another Euro vehicle issue! One also needs to remove the MAS and take out the air filter box in order to access the transmission fill section. All things wayyyy above my pay grade and indeed ability!
I asked my usual mechanic whether he would be able to service (generally) the Volvo and he said no due to re-tooling etc.

Major Ledfoot

PS: After doing a transmission fluid change, the transmission adaptions MUST be reset with VIDA.

Stu Olfield knows how to do this job properly; it's not something you'd want to tackle yourself without access to VIDA or some experience. It's not as straightforward as doing a fluid change in a non-electronic transmission.

YetanotherNick

Major Ledfoot
Thanks ML. Yes, I’ll make the trek to Padsow soon.

Massey165

The main special tool you will need is a torx bit not in any way a special Volvo tool. If you own one of many late model European car you will need a set of torx bits $12.98 at Bunnings, The transmission plug is just a large Allen Key I think 18mm.

Major Ledfoot

Massey165 Having the correct Torx bit isn't the issue; resetting the adaptions, is - and you need VIDA for that. Also, these transmissions also require the correct fluid, which is either the fancy Volvo stuff or a special order JWS 3309 spec transmission oil.

jamesinc

Yeah just go to VolteK, the VIDA reset plus it's much better to use an actual transmission flush machine. Bear in mind that a full flush consumes 10-20L of ATF so it's never super cheap.

YetanotherNick

jamesinc
Thanks James.
Yes, I’ll go to VolTek. I’m prepared for the expense…
Some weeks ago, I saw here on Oz Volvo, someone who was looking for a 164 for the simplicity of its motor. The forum member seemed done with all the electronic components and associated costly issues. Plus, it would be way easier to do a transmission flush/change on a 164. In many ways, I get what they were saying! But I’m straying from the topic a bit. I am enjoying the V60…
Thanks for your reply.
I’ll recover from the Cat converter expense then head down the hill to Voltek.