Coda, 1986 300SDL, the journey continues........ - Page 10 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

daw_two · #**136** 01-09-2010, 07:04 PM

Well.....it felt warm in the garage when I got back from a drive, so up the front of the car went.

The 300SDL transmission pan does have a drain plug in it. Pan is off now, filter is off, the drip is on. I need brake cleaner to clean the pan. As some of you might remember from previous pics on this thread, I had the front of the car up for quite some time while doing the motor mounts. I noticed that the transmission pan had a drip to it.....the leak ran along the brace toward the exhaust pipe. Now, would this mean the gasket was leaking or did I have the gasket "under water" (fluid) and it started acting like a wick? Anyway, I have a new gasket and new filter.

I believe I have read where the torque converter plug has not been found by previous lookers. With the front of the car way up in the air like I have it, can the fluid from the torque converter drain towards the pan?

sixto · #**137** 01-09-2010, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daw_two

I believe I have read where the torque converter plug has not been found by previous lookers. With the front of the car way up in the air like I have it, can the fluid from the torque converter drain towards the pan?

The torque converter fluid connections with the rest of the transmission are through the hub. Even if the torque converter could gravity drain through that hub, everything below the hub, basically half the volume of the torque converter, wouldn't drain. Maybe if you stand your car on its rear bumper

If your torque converter has no drain plug, flush the fluid by having the cooling line to the radiator dump into a collection pan then fill fresh fluid through the dipstick tube at the same rate fluid purges with the engine idling.

Sixto
87 300D

daw_two · #**138** 01-10-2010, 12:24 AM

Ta Da!!!

I present one torque convertor drain plug. I guess I spun the crank around about 3 times before I spotted it; naturally, I was a bit too far, so had to go around again.

2702.pdf of the Service Manual Library is correct.

Today, Coda and I had to go see the guy in the background. He had
something RED that was fun to drive.

JimmyL · #**139** 01-10-2010, 01:33 AM

Nice job there daw. Does the drain plug have a sealing washer?

Chad300tdt · #**140** 01-10-2010, 11:55 AM

Nice work and great pics daw!!

How dirty was the pan and filter?

Hip001 · #**141** 01-10-2010, 02:15 PM

Looking good my friend!!

daw_two · #**142** 01-10-2010, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyL

Nice job there daw. Does the drain plug have a sealing washer?

The pan had a sealing washer on it, but I didn't find one on the torque convertor plug......well, maybe it was on there, but fell off. I'm ordering new plugs and washers.....since the plugs Coda had did not use the same size tool to remove. Apparently the pan plug was a US allen size.

Okay, I let all the fluid drain out of the torque convertor. Due to the angle of the drain plug, Coda's bumper would need to be about 5 feet off the ground to get it all. I thought 3.5 feet was high enough, so I guess I left about 2 tablespoons (should I have used a metric measurement here?) of the old fluid in there.

So, what does all of this tell us? The fluid can be changed without dropping the pan and without changing the filter. I removed the torque converter drain without removing the crossmember brace referenced in the Service Manual. I didn't find it particularly more difficult with the brace in place.

Here's what I did to "funnel" the fluid from the torque convertor. I draped an old rag over the brace and put my catch pan (it's one of those small black mortar mixing pans) under it. I would say about 2.5 quarts came out of the torque convertor. Naturally, when lowering the car, I punched a whole in the drywall with the jack handle.

Yes, those are crush washers on both plugs.....so, Coda will sit while the replacement washers arrive. I think I'll just jack her back up along with the rearend and flush the brake fluid while I'm waiting........

TheDon · #**143** 01-10-2010, 02:54 PM

a hole in some drywall?

brandlj · #**144** 01-10-2010, 03:24 PM

Excellent job David! I have the torque converter drain plug washer in my stack of parts that I will be installing on my 86 300sdl. I also have a trans fluid filter and gasket. It did not sound too tough to do either. I am glad you did not have to take off the cross brace under the tranny. How did you turn the motor over to find the torque converter drain plug? I will also be working by myself and did you use the crankshaft bolt or did you turn it over with the ignition key??

sixto · #**145** 01-10-2010, 03:35 PM

Lots of options. If you're strong, you can watch for the drain plug as you turn the crank with an outstretched arm. If you have more patience than strength, pry the starter ring gear a tooth at a time. You can use a mirror or set a ratchet on the crank pulley and turn the engine with your knees.

I like to use a ratchet so I can't turn the engine the wrong way.

Sixto
87 300D

JimmyL · #**146** 01-10-2010, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad300tdt

Nice work and great pics daw!!

How dirty was the pan and filter?

You think he's gonna tell you it was anything but spotless????

daw_two · #**147** 01-10-2010, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad300tdt

Nice work and great pics daw!!

How dirty was the pan and filter?

The first pic tells the story on the pan --- see that dark area in the bottom of the pic? It pretty much coated the entire surface of the pan. I've got a pic of the fluid draining out of the pan and amazingly it was redish in color. I expected it to be much darker. I didn't find any grit, bolts, washers, nuts, or screws in the pan.

Next time I do this though, I'll do a better job of cleaning ABOVE the pan.

I haven't cut open the filter yet.

I did find some rub marks in the bottom of the pan that were interesting. See pics. Maybe they were caused by something previously. The filter was quite tight and I didn't find any lose bolts that hold the valve body up. I was quite careful not to touch anything except what I needed to --- I was wearing latex gloves and changed them often. I had the fluid very warm from a long drive before I started.

I used a 22mm socket on the crankshaft bolt and went slow. I still think I missed it the first time. I tried using a mirror, but I had Coda too far up in the air to prop the mirror on anything. Plus with my eyes and using the drop light......well, you see the issue.

daw_two · #**148** 01-10-2010, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandlj

Excellent job David! I have the torque converter drain plug washer in my stack of parts that I will be installing on my 86 300sdl. I also have a trans fluid filter and gasket. It did not sound too tough to do either. I am glad you did not have to take off the cross brace under the tranny. How did you turn the motor over to find the torque converter drain plug? I will also be working by myself and did you use the crankshaft bolt or did you turn it over with the ignition key??

I used a socket on the crankshaft bolt. No way I'm touching the ignition key with the front end of the car up 3 feet. I use jack stands with a length of 2x4 on top under the rubber "foot" at the jack point. I also keep my 3 ton floor jack under the motor cross brace with the car weight just barely off of it.

Wished you lived closer --- we could wrench together. I ought to get Jimmy a job here in Memphis.

You will need a washer for both the torque drain plug and the pan drain plug.

Interesting enough, the new plugs I have ordered are the same; the existing plugs I have are different --- the pan plug does not have a metric allen size; it's an SAE size. We all know what that means, right? Someone been in the pan before.....maybe for some transmission work. That could be a very good thing......Coda's transmission might be newer than the odometer miles.

daw_two · #**149** 01-10-2010, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

a hole in some drywall?

Yes, my garage has finished drywall on it --- it's part of the house; thus the wall is insulation and must be finished as per code.

signut · #**150** 01-10-2010, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daw_two

Okay, fellow 300SDL owner, please help. What size tires are you using on your 300SDL?

Coda currently has 205 65R15. I'm inclined to go back with the same size. I should check the spare to see what size it is.....

Looked at an 87 300SDL that had been fitted with 225/60/15's .Had no issues with hitting anything that I could tell. This is probably the largest size that can be fitted on the factory 6.5 inch width rim . I will probably put this size on my vehicle when funds allow; currently has the 205'65/15's and they look way too small, roll too much on any kind of hard cornering. I keep all of my tires inflated to 36 psi , factory inflation levels are way low ( and this is my opinion ) and are designed to make a car ride smooth.