What type of transmission fluid do you use?
 

There has been considerable discussion of motor oil types, but my search of the forum archives yielded less discussion of transmission fluid.

All I found is that some people use the "official" MB fluid, and others use Mobil 1 synthetic ATF fluid. Are there other fluid types to choose from? How about non-sythetic alternatives to the standard MB fluid? What rating does the fluid need to have in order to be okay for the Mercedes?

By the way, I will be changing the fluid on a 1987 300D, if that matters.

Thanks,
Dan

Any Dexron III or Mercon fluid will work. Even Dexron II for that vintage MB but I don't think it's widely available.

Sixto
93 300SD

I use Dextron/Mercon 5. full synthetic.

Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF, it made a big difference and I will keep using it forever. :D

Cheapo DexIII/Mercon.

Some members get excited when another oil thread gets started but it doesn't bother me. I am using Mobil 1 ATF in my favorite '87 300D. It had a rebuilt transmission. The other diesel is getting plain Dexron III. I can't say I notice any difference whatsoever but I wanted to baby the '87 and I won't change the fluid for perhaps 4 years because we don't drive that car very much so I'll get a lot of time out of a transmission service!

Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF...~$5/qt.

Same here. $6 a quart times 6 or 7 quarts is $42 a year, max. Dirt cheap compared to the $1300 the p/o payed to have the tranny rebuilt on the '84. Granted, however, that since it was done at around 120k miles, the problem was more likely a miss-diagnosed vacuum problem because it had been taken in a couple of times before with a complaint of "hard shifting".

AMSoil synthetic, a noticable improvement..

I use Mobil 1 ATF.

If your going with regular fluid, use what ever DexIII/Mercon is cheaper. I used Autozone's house brand for a bit. They are all about the same, not changing it is what causes problems.

transmission fluid
 

The transmission shop I worked in for 5 months put Dexron 3 in Mercedes, just like everything else. It was a premium shop, good reputation in town. Neither of the mercedes I r&r'd had burned fluid, just trash from worn clutches& bands. You can smell burned fluid, it's stinko. If a car doesn't burn the Fluid (modern GM's do), and the car hasn't been driven through high water, I not sure why to change the fluid ever, except 3 months before you rebuild the transmission because the clutches are worn out. Most burned fluid (not GM) is caused by worn out clutches and slipping.

Royal purple MAX ATF 8.14 a qt. Good stuff and its purple!!

.....................................................................:stupid:

ATF Type Ford is good for really hard shifts. Big improvement compared to ATF Dextron III. Can help even worn out clutches to handle some more mileage.