Transmission issue...how bad is it?
 

OK, today in the '82 300SD I was getting off the freeway after the trouble-free 65 mile commute I do daily. As I was getting off I noticed the transmission had a sloppy downshift. Then, I stopped at the red light, pushed the accelerator to go, and she was heavily under powered. Then she seemed to go into gear and accelerate normally, then bogged down again. I stopped to find out what was up and smelled tranny fluid. I checked the tranny dipstick and it was dry :eek::eek:, I then re-checked, and yes, it is dry! I went into the truck stop and purchased 4 quarts, I only live 3 miles and I was gonna get her home. I added three quarts then started the engine, it is blowing out of the high pressure trans line on the left side of the engine, if sitting in the driver's seat. I put it into gear, it engaged just like normal, then limped her home, she was out by that time again and felt bogged down. My question is, do you think I will be able to replace the line, add new fluid (I just replaced the filter) and go, or do you think this has caused possibly fatal issues??? Any feedback is of course appreciated, thanks.

There are several pieces to that line - the banjo fitting at the transmission with crush washers, the hard line, the flexible spring wrapped line and intermediate fittings. Can you isolate the leak point? If it's the hard line, chances are the rubber pad between the clamp and line disintegrated leaving the clamp to rub against the line. If so, you can get a new line ($$$), get a good used line at a wrecking yard or through the parts forum, cut the line and slip rubber hose and some clamps to fix it, braze the line, etc.

Sixto
87 300D

You got it, the rubber has disintergrated and it is blowing out like a fire hose! I think a new one from Benz would be ridiculous too. I just hope I only have to worry about a line and not a tranny! Thanks!

My transmission hard line cost ~$50, about 3 years ago. Depending on where the leak is, a band aid fix may be a lesson in futility. I tried it on mine and vibration won out every time resulting in a cracked line at the banjo fitting. It was worth the $50 not worrying about being completely stranded somewhere the other side of Egypt.

You got that right, has this happen to anyone here before....Do you think there is any serious damage to the transmission? Thanks!

The only thing to really do is repair your tranny fluid cooling line and see what happens! One thing that worked out in your favour, transmissions like to operate with the correct amount of fluid in them, but your leak drained it out really fast so you didn't have long to drive it around slipping bad enough in my opinion to burn up clutches too badly!:) I could be wrong, but as someone who has had many a tranny apart, I think once you stop up the leaks then you should be fine! Just do not do a hatchett job on it, fix it right! I find Fuel injection hose will withstand hydraulic oils very well and makes a good replacement for many a transmission cooling line. I would not replace the entire hard metal line with this, but it works well for a replacement for a bad piece that wore through, like at the engine where the metal fitting is attached to the rubber section and held in place by a metal bracket. This is a common failure area and as long as you clamp it back in place with a plastic shield to keep the line from chafing, this works well!

Since you didn't attempt to drive it with very low oil and promptly filled it...........you did no serious damage to the transmission.........wore some clutch material slightly..........that's it.

Leaking from one of these??

http://catalog.peachparts.com/ShopByVehicle.epc?q=&yearid=1982@@1982&makeid=63@@MERCEDES-BENZ@@63&modelid=6206@@300SD&catid=241185@@Transmission&subcatid=241269@@AT+Cooling+Hose&application id=W0133-1633673&mode=PA

If so, easy fix.......

No, it doesn't seem to be one of those lines, it is considerably longer and more complicated. It is located right next to the oil pan. It looks like it comes from close to the radiator (have to inspect more closely).