210 tranny flush - talked to dealership - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Scott98 · #1 06-19-2006, 08:04 PM

I called the dealership today in Albuquerque and spoke to a mechanic. They said if the car hasn't given me any problems up to now, not to have it flushed. I think their concern is that it may start having problems if I flush it.

Scott

H-townbenzoboy · #2 06-19-2006, 08:10 PM

Is this one of those "sealed for life" deals? This is what I think about that. I believe it's a ploy by DaimlerChrysler to get more money. How you ask? By not changing the transmission fluid at regular 15-30K mi intervals, the transmission is getting damaged, and every 100K miles or so, you're probably looking to purchase a new transmission for a few grand for the dealer to install. Just my thoughts on it.

sixto · #3 06-19-2006, 08:13 PM

Strange sentiment - most engines run fine with 5000 miles on the oil but you change the oil even if the engine isn't giving you problems. Besides, it's usually too late for a flush when the transmission gives you problems.

What's wrong with just draining the pan and torque converter? Do you really need a dynamic flush? Is this one of those lifetime fill 5-speeds?

Sixto

Donald Abenheim · #4 06-19-2006, 08:41 PM

I had mine flushed when I bought my 1999 E 300 with 109,000 miles. The Mercedes chap was worried that such an act might be a prelude to problems, but I have been lucky thus far. The best diesel mechanic at the Mercedes place in Palo Alto insists that this maintenance be done every 30,000 miles, regardless of so-called life time fluids... The Jetzt helfe ich mir selbst how to book from Germany includes a regular interval of change...

aklim · #5 06-19-2006, 09:11 PM

I have heard that old wives tale that you flush the trans and you break it. Never placed much stock in it. The 722.6 is a sealed unit. Unlike a 700R4 or 4R100, AFAIK, it doesn't have a breather. Maybe they use better fluid. Don't know. What I do know is that I flushed mine at 60K and the fluid was a little darker than what went in. Up to 100K and no issues yet.

raMBow · #6 06-19-2006, 09:44 PM

Had mine changed at 78,000 when I bought it, was not having problems. It looked dirty to me, no problems here. Probably do again at 100k and periodically thereafter.

Dealer was not happy about doing it. Plenty of things I don't listen to dealers on. Like if I put Delvac Mobil 1 in my TDI horrible things would happen etc...

scott19_68 · #7 06-19-2006, 10:02 PM

My '98 had a leak around the electrical plug connection when I bought it which made the fluid slowly run down to about 1-2 quarts low. Phil set me up with the new connector (which has MUCH larger O-rings BTW), filter, gasket, Febi synthetic Dexron III fluid and crush washers for a pretty good deal. Since then, the transmission shifts like a dream, kicks down at the right time, and shifts quickly between reverse & drive.

I was not getting good torque converter lockup at cruising speed and had a few "limp homes" until I bought the dip stick and noticed the low fluid. Are you experiencing poor or delayed shifting? Any limp-homes?

nhdoc · #8 06-19-2006, 10:16 PM

The service advisor at my dealership told me in no uncertain terms it was not possible to simply drain the fluid and replace the filter in the 722.6.

That was the last time I brought any out of warranty work to the dealer, now I do it all myself. I had the tranny drained and filter changed at 115K at Hatch and Sons last year before they closed...now I'm at 133K+ and still going strong.

Don't confuse flush with drain. There is no reason to flush, simply drain the pan and TC and replace the filter and refill. Be sure to use the proper synthetic fluid and all will be fine. Also, pick up a pan magnet and install it if yours doesn't have one.

Just stop asking the dealer questions...the SA's know next to nothing about cars!

aklim · #9 06-19-2006, 10:20 PM

722.6 should have a drain plug on it. Need to turn the crank to the right position and then you can drain it.

blueranger · #10 06-19-2006, 11:06 PM

the reason you dont flush an old highmileage tranny is clutch
particles.... the clutch particles will get into the valve body and
cause problems....So what we do is use a fuel pump connected to the
battery and we slip the hose down the dip stick... and we remove
4 qts... and then we ad 4 qts.... we do this often... it serves as well
as a flush....

aklim · #11 06-20-2006, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueranger

the reason you dont flush an old highmileage tranny is clutch
particles.... the clutch particles will get into the valve body and
cause problems....So what we do is use a fuel pump connected to the
battery and we slip the hose down the dip stick... and we remove
4 qts... and then we ad 4 qts.... we do this often... it serves as well
as a flush....

OK. how will flushing push the particles into the VB? I thought the "flush" actually was connecting the hoses so the output goes into the waste tank and the input gets fresh stuff from the new supply tank? If that will cause particles to float into the trans, won't running the trans do the same thing?

What about the particles causes a problem? Shouldn't the filter trapped most of it? What about dropping the pan and draining the TC?

blueranger · #12 06-20-2006, 02:45 AM

no, thats why reputable places will not flush an old tranny...

they connect into the hoses going to the cooler and then they flush so all the fluid in the pan is sucked up and circulated so the gunk in the cooler, and in the torq conv, and throughout the housing is dumped into the pan and then sucked up and so a big circulation occurs... and the junk clogs your valve body... so someone that knows what they are doing that owns an old tranny might just remove the valve body and then flush...

DieselAddict · #13 06-20-2006, 12:59 PM

I'm with everyone who said the notion of "lifetime fluids" was BS. I'm also a member at the TDI forum and over there people are much more narrow-minded about stuff like this, and many have complete faith in the manufacturer's recommendations and intentions.

About the clutch particles, wouldn't the tranny filter have captured them? But I'm with nhdoc on the flush and I don't think it's needed either. Just change the fluid and filter every 60K miles or so and use a synthetic ATF.

aklim · #14 06-20-2006, 01:44 PM

I thought the flush was for cars WITHOUT a drain plug on the converter. As such, you cannot get to the bulk of fluid in the TC so you flushed it. Otherwise, you drained the TC and dropped the pan and got most of the fluid. This is just like sucking out the oil of a differential. Less liability for those Jiffy Screw shops.

DieselAddict · #15 06-20-2006, 01:46 PM

That makes sense. I have the older style tranny and TC with drain plugs. If you can't drain, then definitely flush.