Greetings Benzizens,

So recently I've been convincing the wife how much a transmission rebuild is in order by demonstrating a horrible 2-3 flare on my 95 E420 (722.366 AT) in the morning. Until engine coolant reaches 80 *C, shifts are jolting and the 2-3 races a couple thousand before catching. My copy of the 722.3 ATSG suggests worn clutch packs and a full rebuild.

Hold onto your wallet, folks.

Turns out my diagnosis may have been proven wrong this weekend. When all this shifting nonsense started a few months ago, I changed the ATF and dropped some Lucas in for good measure. Cranked the modulator down a bit and the problem seemed to resolve itself. About one week after that, the 2-3 flare returned with a vengance. Fluid level remained the same (topped off) and so did the predictable morning shifting.

This past weekend, I decided to do something my father warned me never to do -- added 500ml of fluid to the already "full" level in the housing. Guess what? Shifts softened to where they should be per the modulator, no 2-3 flare, and the transmission is well-behaved now even when cold. Dipstick still shows more fluid than needed... but the extra fluid seems to have solved the problem.

Questions:

a. How do you explain the effects of extra fluid? Even with leaky internal seals, there is no reason (IMHO) why extra fluid should have done anything positive.

b. Given the apparent resolution, was my transmission ever actually "flaring" during shifts the past three months? In other words, should I be worried about the clutch packs even with clean red fluid and just a slight burnt smell?

Many thanks in advance,
-DM

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1995 E420 SE black/black
2004 Volvo V70R AWD