Guys, I've been having the hardest time checking the fluid level on this car.

#1, what, if any, is the proper way to put the dipstick in? I'm always having to fight it, take it out, turn it 1/4 turn, fight it, take it out, turn it 1/4 turn, then it goes in ok. It's gotta be easier than this.

#2 The fluid level itself. I always check it hot, level, driven a few miles, and running. Last week, I had someone change the fluid and filter. He thought it was properly full, not over, not under. We drove it around the block, checked it, he said it's perfect. Next day, I drove it for about 10 miles, checked it, it was about 1" above the high mark on the dipstick. So I drained about 1/4 of a quart out. I checked it, a few times, it was still 1" above the high mark. Next day, I checked it again. This time it was at the LOW mark on the dipstick. I added back in about 1/4 quart. Now it reads about TWO INCHES above the high mark. What the heck is this????

#3 if it is high, what's the best way to drain some out? Since I replaced the transmission hoses recently, I just disconnected those to let some drain out.

Thanks,

Jeff 1991 300d, 118k

Be sure you have driven for 10 minutes or so - keep the car running - be sure the car is on level ground - then check fluid

You'll probably need to take multiple readings as the vibration of the engine will make the levels inconsistant.

I agree it is maddening to get the thing to read correctly. I have found temperature of the fluid varies the level quite a bit - thus why I run it for a good amount of time to get a consistant reading.

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~shell
As of 2/2010:
2001 CLK55 0o\=*=/o0
13.6 @ 106mph
10K mi
1984 300SD
260K mi and going and going...
97 S600
46K miles
1991 Sentra SE-R (extremely dorked with)
www.se-r.net

I have never gotten a reliable reading checking the trans fluid. I've had the same problem. You are not alone!

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Try doing everything you've done, then, slowly shift it through all the gears, then check it.

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1980 300td (non turbo)225,000
1982 yamaha xs650,
I've also once loved
79 Bmw 530i, 69 VW buss, 78 Honda Acc, 79 Jeep wagoneer, 76 Peugeot 504, 82 fiat spider 124,
a bunch of guitars and a banjo www.virb.com/sethlael

Check it while the engine is running and trans is in neutral or park. Worst case scenario, there is an overflow tube on the tranny that will allow excess oil to drain. I wouldn't worry about being a little over. Being UNDERFILLED will make transmission oil foam, not OVERFILLING.

As many suggest, make sure the fluid is warm, drive around a bit, then put in park, and go through all the gears, with your foot on the brake! and back, keep engine running, check level.

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83 SD

84 CD

Checking the manual, it is important to be at normal driving temperature or it will read low.

Do NOT overfill it, you can have problems. Shifting problems have been noted by 201 & 124 owners with slightly overfilled transmissions, severely overfilled can cause overpressure problems and blow the front seal.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Just when you think you have heard everything!!!

Perhaps you should check the manual again....after you sober up!!!

Wow!!!!! Proof the posts. And half a bottle to go!!. I'll edit it, if I can sit upright that long, ;~(

In my defense, have you ever tried to type while your wife is firing questions about whether the boat will sell, whether the dog has been fed, what time am I leaving in the morning, ...

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Well diddo what was said above about temp, level ground, running through gears. I found that reading the dipstick on my car takes a little scrutiny. I believe the dipstick rubs the sides of tubes making it look overfilled. I pull out, wipe clean, insert slowly, pull out slowly and take reading. I look on both sides looking for the level with complete fluid coverage across the dipstick.

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1987 300SDL-268k mi

Some replies said to run the car through the gears. If I've been driving it for 10 miles and it's shifted up and down, is that ok, or are they talking about actually moving the shifter from the 1,2,3, and D and R positions?

Jeff

Jeff,

Drive it to OP temp, park on LEVEL (I actually put a level on the valve cover)
let it sit a few minutes (5) with the engine running at idle ,Then with your foot on the brake
...run it slowly through the gears ending in Park,Check the dipstick ...compare both sides.

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

There is another way?

Actually I better not complain, while I've been in here goofing off with the computer, my son, and wife cleaned the garage, including pumping up the flat tire on the Harley and sorting my wine making bottles & gear...
(Hmmmm, I wonder what they want??)

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Thanx,
Alberta Luthier
1983 300CD ('Stinky')155k miles, 2.47 diff, EGR removed, AAZ injectors with 265 nozzles from Sean,and vogtland lowering springs.
1984 300SD ('Old Blue')150k Klicks from Japan originally, came with rear head rests, no sunroof and never had an EGR

OK, this is from the FSM. 123's.
I've always checked per my previous post.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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83 SD

84 CD

The FSM says it all. Thanks for the photo, TooMany.

Tip: You need 15+ minutes at freeway speeds to really get the temp up to normal. Five minutes tooling around town isn't enough. You want the trans HOT to check the level. DO NOT add any fluid unless the level is below the "min" mark. Only add 8-16 oz at a time. Overfilling is worse than underfilling. It is very hard to get an accurate reading on the dipstick, especially after adding fluid. I'll usually wait a few days and try again, to let all the liquid in the tube drain out. This seems to help, but it's always a pain. For some reason, my '93 dipstick is just awful to withdraw and insert. My '87 slides in & out almost as smoothly as the engine oil dipstick. Go figure.

BTW, you'll notice some odd behavior when the level gets about a quart (32oz) below the "max" mark (i.e., half-quart below the 'min' mark). What usually happens is you get a flare/clunk on the 4-3 (or 4-2) downshift, when slowing from say 50mph down to 15mph, and then accelerating again. BT, DT, on two different 722.x trannies.

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Dave
Boise, ID
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