Gearbox Oil Change 6Mmt Transmission

[huwb]

Our 2007 2.0 TDCi has probably never gone into first or second gear very well - especially on a down-change to first when rolling towards a junction.  I thought it was just a quirk of the gearbox but as we tow a caravan with it I decided to change the transmission fluid.  

 

The hardest part was working out which gearbox we have and what fluid that needs.  ETIS told me it's a 6MMT box and several webpages on various forums plus a handy chemicals guide from Volvo helped me decide I needed a  WSS-M2C200-D2 fluid.  It takes just under 2 litres of fluid and I replaced it this afternoon.  The oil coming out was dark brown and had a disconcerting but not terrible smattering of yellow metal particles in it - though I have seen worse in my failed Volvo M56 box which ran (wildly) out of spec fluid for a while.  Fluid going in was yellow.  

 

First impressions are probably flawed by overly optimistic placebo effect but on a little test drive it will pop into first and second on rolling down-changes  without needing a hefty shove of the gear lever.  It's not like a knife though butter but it seems easier - this week will tell as it's my wifes car and she will be a better barometer of my efforts.  

 

ETIS website (handy for service schedules etc): http://www.etis.ford.com/vehicleSelection.do

 

Volvo chemicals catalogue (see page 40): https://www.dropbox.com/s/stqv38b3aw4e10k/Volvo%20chemicals%20and%20lubricants.pdf 

 

Also attached if I've done it properly: Volvo chemicals and lubricants.pdf

 

Link to Opieoils for correct spec fluid: http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-69412-castrol-syntrans-fe-75w-full-synthetic-gear-oil-gl4.aspx.  I could have bought transmission fluid from Ford but as the man at the dealer was a bit unsure when I asked him what I needed I decided to leave well alone.  

[huwb]

Just to confirm it wasn't placebo and changing into 1st/2nd has improved over the last 700 miles.  Worthwhile.

[huwb]

Well it did deteriorate over time so last month I tried http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-1021-red-line-superlight-shockproof-gear-oil-70w-75.aspx as it's supposed to behave like an ATF in some respects - synchros like low viscosity.  The reality is that super lightweight has quite a high viscosity and things got worse.  In desperation I popped some cheap ATF in there and things are much better.  I'm not holding my breath as with each oil change there is a little yellow metal coming out so the synchros are probably wearing quickly.  I am a slightly concerned that ATF is out of spec but a lot of manual gearboxes use ATF and auto box bearings seem to manage fine with it.