Ok last week I ordered a gasket and filter kit for my transmission... completely stripped the drain bolt (yes.. i was using the proper hex driver and WD-40).. ended up just taking the whole pan off while it was still full of fluid...

I ordered a new transmission pan and drain plug and finally got it today.. when I crawled back under the car I noticed dirt/dust sticking to the bottom of the exposed tranny... I know it was a bonehead move to leave the old pan off and the internals exposed until I got a new pan but now I dont know what to do...

I was thinking of spraying brake cleaner on a paper towel and gently wiping the dirt off the inside/bottom of the tranny.. letting it dry and then putting it back together.. what do you guys think??


Also.. my oil pan is concave in the center.. its not too bad (about 1/2inch in) but do you guys think I should go ahead and replace that as well?

Good light, clean hands and run your fingers across all the surfaces you can reach that have dirt. Clean the others with greased q-tips (use transmission assembly lube if you have it(I use Trans-gel)) so you don't leave cotton fibers - but look anyway. Straighten the pan and fix the thread, clean it - it'll be fine. New filter. drain the torque converter only if you're sure you won't strip the plug on that too!

__________________
'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.

Wipe it with leather so you will not get any lint on the valve body. I know it sounds stupid, but MB recomends only wiping the dipstick with leather so you don't get lint in the tranny.

__________________
1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

At least MB has a filter with an actuall paper element in it. Many older American cares only had a fine mesh screen for a filter. Meaning that If you miss some dirt it is unlkely to get past the filter.

__________________
84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Thats because the wear particles in a MB tranny are super small due to the immense precision and need paper filtration. American car trannys have chunks breaking off inside, so a mesh screen is plenty good to catch the pieces.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Where do they recommend that? It's not in the owner's manual.

__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Look in the manual under checking the transmission fluid and it tells you to use leather so no lint gets in the system, atleast it does in my manual.

__________________
1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

If you do not have any leather, use your fingers to wipe the dip stick, the wipe your fingers with a rag.

__________________
Dave
1983 300D Daily Driver

Its actually not good to get cloth lint or cellulose fiber from paper towels in any automatic transmission..... not just MB's.
Use your fingers as suggested....or buy a "dip stick squeegee". I have had one for years.....it has a magnet on the back so you keep it on the inner fender near the dip stick so its handy.

__________________
FRED

Daily Driver: 98 E300TD 199K
Hobby Car: 69 Austin Mini
Past Diesels: 84 300SD, 312K
87 300SDL, 251K
94 Chev. K-1500 6.5Ltr.TD, 373K

What about putting AFT in a spray bottle and just spraying the crap out of the dirty areas and letting it drip off all the dirt? No wiping needed and no lint. Could that work?

__________________
Ginny in Denver-ish
78 300SD, 265K (mine)

Sounds good to me... perhaps add Trans-x to that spray mixture ...

ide just pressure wash it.. then immediately slap the pan on it, and throw fluid it in, start it and run off.

__________________
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.

He forgot to put the smilie face on that..
pressure washing could force dirt into small holes that you could not get out...and you can not count on water boiling out quick enough not to cause problems....