Is geartronic reliable

**mds** · Monday 25th January 2010, 08:30

Morning Liam
I called Barry the service engineer who kept the 237k car as his own when I sold the business. The car is now approaching 270k he still does all oil changes himself plus he flushed the box last year as he now tows a caravan!!

So I think that is testament to how strong the gearboxes are/can be with a little TLC.

At work he now drives a VW Passat eastate disiesel and says its rubbish its off the road more than the Volvo and its not covered a 100k yet.

Dave

**LiamT4** · Monday 25th January 2010, 15:30

Originally Posted by mds

Morning Liam
I called Barry the service engineer who kept the 237k car as his own when I sold the business. The car is now approaching 270k he still does all oil changes himself plus he flushed the box last year as he now tows a caravan!!

So I think that is testament to how strong the gearboxes are/can be with a little TLC.

At work he now drives a VW Passat eastate disiesel and says its rubbish its off the road more than the Volvo and its not covered a 100k yet.

Dave

Cheers. I have a mate who got a 2003 xc90 d5 last year, think i'll suggest to him that he should have his gearbox flushed, to be on the safe side.

**MattM** · Tuesday 26th January 2010, 14:18

mds thanks very much for taking the time to write that up for me. I've just placed an order for 12 litres from this link.

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/Ac...L/?522770851&0

**mds** · Tuesday 26th January 2010, 16:21

Good luck Matt
Beware this may make you even more cynical about Volvo Dealers than you already are !?!?!

Dave

**MattM** · Saturday 30th January 2010, 17:54

Dave, I have a few questions. I only managed to get 12.5mm pipe, will this be OK? Is it best to do the flush with the engine cold or does it not matter?

**MattM** · Tuesday 2nd February 2010, 16:20

OK ATF has been flushed as per dave's guide, thanks very much. One last question. Where should the ATF dipstick read when its topped up properly?

**cornclose** · Tuesday 2nd February 2010, 16:22

There are two lines on the dipstick if I recall correctly, the lower one is 'cold' and the upper one is 'hot'. It says so on the dipstick if you carefully look in good light. It should be level with these.

Although I'd much rather rely on correctly metered out/in fluid than a level on a dipstick.

**cookie** · Tuesday 2nd February 2010, 17:32

12 litres of Genuine fluid from Rufe is just over 100 quid delivered, AFAIK and it reads fine on mine, is gearbox hot (after you've been out driving) with engine running, after idling for 2-3 minutes or so, move selector into each position for a few seconds, then back to park, then read dipstick with engine running, if oil is good its a PITA to see it.

Mines normal adaptive auto and is on 140k and has been fine, don't have an oil cooler, don't tow, but its happy lapping the Ring, did stall going sideways/spinning off on NorthWeald, but car started again fine and didn't seem to cause any problems

**MacXC60T5** · Wednesday 3rd February 2010, 17:14

All of my last 6 Volvo's have been Geartronic. Never had a problem never had a manual
T5 untill my latest. I would now always have a manual on a T5 never a Geartronic. We are not all the same thank God.