VB242
I.M. Weasel
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2011
- Location
- Driving the No Malarkey Bus
Pennzoil Synchromesh if your synchros aren't working right otherwise any type-F ATF, not the same as Dexron or one the universal ATF's.
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Got about 20k on the Volvo fluid now, shifts smooth and no grinding of synchro's which happened with the MTL after 50k. There's 360k on the M47 now, still doing fine. I took it across the USA for a 5500 mile romp, ran flawlessly.
I drive it up to the top of Sandia Crest 2-3 times a week, and that's taking hairpin corners near redline in 2nd-3rd, at an elevation gain of 6000 ft over 13 mile course on the Crest Highway up then down after a good 10 mile hike. I keep thinking it'll take a dump on one of these romps and kill the M47 but it still lives no matter how hard I drive it.
I will have to say that the Volvo fluid sells today as discussed here in the thread is not the same as what Volvo puts in these lifetime fill of fluid M47's when it left the factory. The factory fluid is absolutely clear, not red, not amber, not brown or anything but crystral clear and odorless. When I recieved the Volvo fluid this past spring, it came from the bottle as a brownish fluid with a disticnt smell of Hypoid gear oil. Although it says it is synthetyic, it smells like hypoid fluid, and suspect that it may not be anything different than the Valvoline Hypoid Durablend gear oil.
Reviving this thread after finding it and purchasing some Titan Sintofluid from Bimmerworld. My M47 has had MTL or other gear lube in it (haven't touched the trans lube ever since purchase since it was working), and was a bit balky in the cold but mostly had synchro issues with it denying entry into 1st, 2nd and 3rd from time to time, and mostly 3rd gear lately with the occasional grind when the synchro gives up completely.
Since changing to the Fuchs fluid (2L pumped into the trans case), the trans gradually improved over the following 1-2 weeks and now the synchro operation is very much noticeably better both hot and cold, and I've only managed to surprise 3rd gear and get it to grind a few times. Engagement of 3rd is still higher in effort, and I already knew the synchro was worn from how it's been acting but the improvement from the change in lube is fantastic.
For context, my car has an indicated 304k mi, presumably original motor and maybe original M47 (product plate etc state that it was M47 from the factory) for what that's worth.
*Edit*: Up in the Rochester area we're moving towards some semblance of winter; if things change with the performance of the sintofluid for better or worse and if I remember, I'll make another post here detailing my cold weather experience with it as others have.
Both of my M47s were a bit stiff on a cold start in the morning with MTL. Balky 1-2 and 2-3 shifts until warmed up. Interestingly with my M40 it shifts wonderfully with MTL when cold. I think that wear on the transmission may be a factor here. Although that would probably be hard to test given the high mileage and abuse most M47 synchros have been through.