Transmission myth?
 

Its been at least 5 years since the PO replaced the transmission filter in my '83 300D.

Non-mechanically inclined people have been telling me not to replace the filter due to the age of the car.

Their reasoning is that with a new filter the pressure will increase inside the transmission and destroy it.

Sounds like an automobile myth.

Is there any truth to what they're saying?

Clean filter has better flow rates, and decreases the pressure needed to move fluids through the filter.

Better flow means better lubing and fluid dynamics all around.

Sometimes new fluid will clean the crap that was holding the almost bare clutch packs resulting in slipping.

Regular maintenance (fluid AND filter change) prevents the prior scenario and keeps the clutches, bands, valves, TC, oil pump, etc very happy.

are you sure rrgrassi? brian lovecraft swears by not changing the tranny filter. SWEARS by it. :D :D :D

its common sense.. a old oil filter will collect debris. thats what its for.. that debris in the filter will cause a restriction in the oil passing thru the filter. any restrictions will cause pressure increases. just my .02 so do what you wish

I guess now Lovecraft is converting transmissions to work with WVO? :D :D :D

Remember he has a "maintenance free" filter, that all you have to do is drain and clean...seems like maintenance to me!

Of course not changing the tranny filter on a Lovecraft car then puts tranny failure as the cause for the car being sold for scrap instead of his cold WVO system...;)

word!

Even Mercedes claims to this very day that no transmission servicing is required for the 722.6x'.

That doesn't mean that its right.

Not any more. They've changed their mind about that after realising how silly it is.

first thing i do whenever i buy a used benz with an automatic is change fluid and filter.

i cannot see any downside to it.

clean fluid, clean filter.

i have also gotten some which were shifting funny to come out of it.

tom w

Change it.

You'd be surprised at how many United States MB dealers still adhere to that old policy as part of the standard maintenance procedure.

Service it.

My 85 is now in a trannie shop & may need a new one

I changed the fluid & filter about 10 mos ago. properly

The old filter was real dirty. the fluid was pink.

At the time the trannie had a minor knock from 1st into 2nd..

After the change the knock got noticably worse. The fluid level was fine.

Well last weekend something else was real noticeable. MY car won't go any faster than 35 MPH and stays in 2nd or 3rd gear.....


A long time ago a mechanic told me to not change old fluid or filter because it builds up a varnish of sorts that the transmission gets "used to", andif you change it you will ruin your transmission.


I believe him now.


I was just going to start a new thread asking if anyone had any trannie advice for my D.

...

I changed mine at 60K and 120K IRRESPECTIVE of what MB says. My car was 6 yo when I changed it and that was in 05. Currently, it has not exploded or morphed into something violent. However, it might happen if I drive it some night at midnight and there is a full moon on the 2nd Suday of Feb.

Change the fluid.

You can always just drain a quart of the old. Replace with new. Drive around. Drain a quart, replace with new. Drive more. Repeat for a while to slowly get the build up out that could potentially be in there