How Important: Changing Transaxle Fluid - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ftav · #31 03-16-2007, 10:43 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by ftav

To summarize thus far, no one has offered a personal experience or even hearing a story of a differential failing for reasons related to fluid contamination / a failure to change the fluid on any regular basis.

Really?

>>Yes, really.

Quote:
Originally Posted by derherr65

I know that differentials can be destroyed by submersion. Water leaks in(thermal expansion/contraction pulls it in), contaminates the oil, then bye bye.

First of all, this is not a personal experience or story about someone else's personal experience -- it is a description of what happens if you somehow submersed a differential in a fluid (like a flooded street). Obviously, I know that differentials (and anything else not designed to be operated in submerged environment) can be destroyed by submersion.

Also, what this poster wrote is has nothing to do with actually having a differential not work as intended as a result of **NOT CHANGING FLUIDS AS DESCRIBED IN A RECOMMENDED SERVICE MANUAL**. In fact and as I just stated, this is not a story or personal experience at all -- it is a hypothetical -- and one having **NOTHING** to do with what I asked.

I didn't realize the question I wrote was so difficult to understand.

derherr65 · #32 03-16-2007, 11:05 AM

It's a jeep guy I know from another forum. Destroyed his diff in water by not changing the fluid before driving on the road. You have your story, contamination, lack of fluid change, and differential destruction. You get the same water contamination by condensation, just a lot slower.

I do have to admit that I'm still amused by the "transaxle" thing. I was very disappointed to find someone else beat me to that.

jbach36 · #33 03-16-2007, 11:13 AM

You were smart to start with the fill plug. Some start with the drain plug, drain the old stuff out, then find they can't get any new stuff in!

jeff

1981_300sd · #34 03-16-2007, 11:53 AM

Wow, lots of replies since I originally posted

Let me try to clarify what I was saying.

With our old diesels, you can spend almost unlimited time working on them. Refinishing cracked wood, fixing seat tears, chasing oil leaks, doing the normal maintenance items that the previous owner never did, and so on.

My wife gets upset when I spend entire weekends on the car. My house always needs something done to it as well. Its already getting very hot and want to finish up what I need to do before summer hits.

If I never changed oil, or coolant, or many other items, the car would not function correctly or fail all together.

I believe my question is answered, that servicing this item is suggested, but is a low priority. So it can wait until Fall when I have a free weekend.

derherr65 · #35 03-16-2007, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1981_300sd

With our old diesels, you can spend almost unlimited time working on them. Refinishing cracked wood, fixing seat tears, chasing oil leaks, doing the normal maintenance items that the previous owner never did, and so on.

Amen.

Buying a new car is cheap. Swapping wife #1 for wife #2 is terribly expensive. The lady before the car.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1981_300sd

servicing this item is suggested, but is a low priority. So it can wait until Fall when I have a free weekend.

Agreed. And use a synthetic fluid when you do it so the interval will be even longer.

Alberta Luthier · #36 03-16-2007, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derherr65

Amen.

Buying a new car is cheap. Swapping wife #1 for wife #2 is terribly expensive. The lady before the car.

Agreed. And use a synthetic fluid when you do it so the interval will be even longer.

I didn't know that I was supposed to use any fluid when swapping wives... but then I may be an idiot.

I suggest you have a look under there to see if there is any sign that the diff fluid has all leaked out... before you decide not to even check the level till fall.

derherr65 · #37 03-16-2007, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alberta Luthier

I didn't know that I was supposed to use any fluid when swapping wives... but then I may be an idiot.

I'm not going to touch that one. I'd get myself banned. Thanks for the laugh though.

vstech · #38 03-16-2007, 02:42 PM

I hope everybody on here knows why divorce is so expensive...

...

vstech · #39 03-16-2007, 02:42 PM

'cause it's WORTH IT!
John

vstech · #40 03-16-2007, 02:44 PM

it goes right back to that phrase "low cost parts will cost you in the end"
pay now or pay MORE later... MUCH MORE"
change it hot and change it often!~ to quote a member on this site.
John

rrgrassi · #41 03-16-2007, 02:48 PM

That all depends. Wife #1, I agree it was worth it. My current wife (round 2 for both of us) made to 5 years yesterday. It would not be worth it, as she understands and supports my railroad and diesel addiction. She drives the TDI!

bro frank · #42 03-20-2007, 01:49 PM

okay so i got the plug out previous owner lext a sawed of hex in the hole. used a 13 mm socket breaker bar and 4 ft of leverage added 200 lbs of me. came lose easy

.

had to take off cover so i could change a drive axle.

the stuff that poured out was thick and stinky

. thicker than the 80-90 gear oil i used in my volvo.

had to get back on the road so i poured old oil thru a 50 micro bag filter and put it back in then topped off with the 80-90 oil.

i can hear i whine coming from the rear of the car. i'm guessing differential.

so:
what's supposed to go in there?
what can go in there?
and what's the difference?