Hi there,

I don't believe you should have to remove the passenger side wheel though maybe it gives you a bit more room to maneuver.

There are 2 fill plugs I believe on the angle gears for the T6 - at least I believe both are fills: # 9 and #20 on this diagram

 

Ok, bear with me here,

The diagram shows a fill plug on the "chain housing" and on the angle gear housing. I am not sure which is leaking as there is oil that has leaked in the area and it's difficult to tell where from.

Do both housings take the same oil? The oil I picked up from the dealer is "SAE 75W-80, API GL-4", part no. 1161745 - description is "Transmission Oil". Need to I am putting the right stuff in the right place!

Thanks!

Steve

 

Looking at the IPD website, they sell "Angle Gear Oil", and "Angle Gear Chain Housing Oil", both the same weight, but the former is API GL-5 and the latter is API GL-4... That's not confusing...

I guess I have the chain housing oil in my hand, and that's where I should put it!

Input? I asked my dealer for "Angle gear oil" and it looks like I got the wrong stuff if IPD is right!

SteveL

 

A normal GL-4 gear oil of any given viscosity has about ½ of the level of sulfur/phosphorous additive that would be in the GL-5 product, so the bond is not as strong, and therefore can be peeled off without peeling a layer of brass (or less brass). This means that the GL-4 product provides a little less extreme pressure protection, so in the differential of a high powered car, it would not be the ideal product in the differential.

Found that on a site about transmissions.

 

Aaaaaand... this is how people get burned by listening to what they read on the internet. GL4 and GL5 are different oils for different applications. It is not determined by "extreme pressure protection" for a "high powered car," it is more dependent on they type (cut and material) of the gears and other hardware inside the box. There is no way to determine what oil you should put in the box, other than going to the manufacturer and seeing what is specified.

However, Volvo does spec GL5 for the angle gear.

 

Well, I called my local dealer this AM, and they don't have the actual, GL5 angle gear oil in stock, but it's $48 a liter anyway! Since it's 75W90 GL5 oil and not liquid gold (only priced that way), I think I'll find some aftermarket oil that meets those specs!

Steve

 

I really don't understand where some of the dealers come up with their prices. Order the specific angle gear oil from Tasca Volvo or Viva Performance carries it for far less than 48 dollars a liter.

The part number you originally listed is meant for manual transmissions like the M56 or M58/59 and is a 75W synthetic GL-4 oil.

The angle gear oil is a 75W90 GL-5 synthetic and you should use that for your angle gear.

Also, there is no reason why your Volvo dealer shouldn't stand behind their work if two or three times they have resealed the angle gear casing and it hasn't held up. Talk to your regional representative either through your dealership or call Volvo of North America about this. If it is indeed the casing that is leaking this should be corrected. Make sure that you have the updated vent installed on the angle gear - those 2 little parts are shown on the diagram I linked above.

 

Big Will - you are absolutely right, they should stand behind this. Problem is, I don't think they will.... this car is the last Volvo I will own - I had an 850 Turbo before that it's share of issues, but nothing like this. I have had electrical problems (car dies), transmission replaced, front end issues, instrument cluster changed (twice, it think), cd changer replaced (and they lost all my CD's) - the list goes on...

I have probably put 5K on it in the past year - it just sits in my garage because I can't trust it. I took it to the dealer this week for an oilchange (lifetime oilchanges) and they reminded me that the angle gear or chain drive is leaking. My last oilchange was probably in November and I had put less that 3k miles on it in that time :-(

That's why I am where I am at - I don't want the gear/chain assembly to self destruct, so I thought I'd fill them up myself. Now I am not sure that I even have the right oil for my transmission!

Sigh.....

Perhaps it's time to write volvo a letter, although I doubt that would get me anywhere. Which is why I haven't tried, so maybe I should.

Who do I write?

Thanks for listening to my rant! Back to the purpose of the post - what oils SHOULD I be using??

Steve

 

I wrote to Volvo after my angle gear had to replaced on my R. They called me the next day, sent me a $100 rebate card. Not much on $2500 repair.

 

Does anyone know what oil a 2004 T6 auto takes? I was thinking 75W-80, API GL-4 for the chain drive, and 75W-80, API GL-5 for the angle gear, but would like to verify as I have received some conflicting info in this thread....

I have the GL-4 oil from Volvo, and was thinking of using Redline 75W-80 GL-5 synthetic (http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=133&pcid=4) for the angle gear as the dealer wants almost $50 for a liter and they don't have any anyway!

Thanks!

Steve

 

Does anyone know what oil a 2004 T6 auto takes? I was thinking 75W-80, API GL-4 for the chain drive, and 75W-80, API GL-5 for the angle gear, but would like to verify as I have received some conflicting info in this thread....

I have the GL-4 oil from Volvo, and was thinking of using Redline 75W-80 GL-5 synthetic (http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=133&pcid=4) for the angle gear as the dealer wants almost $50 for a liter and they don't have any anyway!
Thanks!

Steve

Ok I'm here to help - AWD issues are my thing.

First of all, the T6 is the Volvo that Volvo never should have made. Every tech hates working on them and they have way more issues than most Volvos (and that's really saying something!).

Onto the oils:
What are you trying to add/change oil in?

If it's the angle gear, you should be using the Volvo angle gear oil or some other synthetic GL-5 75-90. Redline makes one that I generally like, Royal Purple Gearmax meets the grade, Amsoil makes a quality one, Motul etc. I don't know who makes the Volvo stuff originally but any of the above should meet the specs. If you choose to buy the Volvo stuff - order it online. Even after shipping you'll save 15 or 20 bucks over your Stealer. 50 dollars a bottle is ludicrous! The MSRP on it is like 38 dollars.

For the Chain Drive on your XC90 T6, it uses a similar transmission oil as the older 5 spd manuals which used part number 1161645 which is a GL-4 Synthetic 75W oil.

For your Chain Gear:
"1161 745"
From VIDA:
A fully synthetic transmission oil with extremely good low temperature characteristics with a lowest flow point of at least -60 °C. The oil is recommended for the chain gear in XC90 6-cyl. AWD 03-.

API- GL4 75W80 Synthetic is the spec on it.

I have used Redline MTL (some prefer MT-90) as well as BMW MTF-LT2 (75w80) in my M58 aside from the Volvo part number above. All of them are pretty similar in my opinion.

DO NOT use a GL-5 gear oil in this application.

 

Thank you! I have the right oil for the chain, I will pick up some Redline for the angle gear.

SteveL

 

Big Will

Time to ressurect this one from the dead. New owner of 08 V8 Sport. What do I need to be looking for? Should I be proactive at this point and drain Volvo stuff out and go to Amsoil?

Thanks, J