Need help with Parts Shopping List

[bostondiesel]

Going to have a friend help with some basics on the 83 300D, but need help with what parts and fluids I need for the job.

1.) doing oil and filter, have filter and oil

2.) A/T Transmission Service, I know to get the filter kit, but what to get as far as A/T Fluid and how much?

3.) Power Steering filter change, will need filter, but also what fluid to use and how much?

4.) going to do Rear Differential fluid change, what fluid and how much and any replacement parts involved?

5.) Anyone have any suggestions on any other maintenance at this mileage? It has almost 280K. Have done air and fuel filters at last oil change, replaced all five glow plugs, anything I am missing or that is a good idea to do while we are at it?

Thanks in advance!

[vstech]

any decent dextron III fluid will be fine for the transmission fluid, don't forget to pull the drain plug on the torque converter! if you want the best (and why not for an MB???) use redline synthetic. others recommend Mobil 1 fluid, but they have changed their formula buyer beware there.
for power steering fluid, I'd use standard NON LEAK FIX synthetic power steering fluid. there is also a filter in the bottom of the pump. two quarts should be plenty to flush and fill the pump.
additional maintenance should include pulling the valve cover and setting valve lash. and while in there inspect the chain stretch and order the proper cam gear offset key unless over 8degrees of stretch is evident, then you're going to need a new chain and gears... at a minimum, you're going to need a valve cover gasket here.
for the valve lash, you will need a set of feeler gauges and a few thin 14mm wrenches.
I'd also recommend flushing the radiator and changing the thermostat. also adding a 1.5a slow blow fuse inline with the aux water pump.

[Bio300TDTdriver]

4. SAE 90 or 85W 90 for the 124 your friends 123 may be the same. Remove the upper fill plug before you remove the lower drain plug. This is important in your part of the country.

[mobetta]

2 gal dexron type atf, 2 qt gear oil

brake fluid flush??

[leathermang]

Originally Posted by Bio300TDTdriver

Remove the upper fill plug before you remove the lower drain plug. This is important in your part of the country.

For others reading this... the idea is that if you pull the drain plug and have a really stuck fill plug you are in a mess of trouble..
What I don't understand is how that concept is more important some places than other places...LOL

[fruitcakesa]

Originally Posted by leathermang

For others reading this... the idea is that if you pull the drain plug and have a really stuck fill plug you are in a mess of trouble..
What I don't understand is how that concept is more important some places than other places...LOL

Northeast salt and corrosion causing the plug to seize in its hole!

[Bio300TDTdriver]

Originally Posted by leathermang

For others reading this... the idea is that if you pull the drain plug and have a really stuck fill plug you are in a mess of trouble..
What I don't understand is how that concept is more important some places than other places...LOL

My 40 years in New England compared to other parts of the country tell me that road salt makes a difference.

[leathermang]

LOL, it is just as important to the guy doing the fluid changeout in Arizona as it is in the Northeast...the difference is in the probability of the infill plug being stuck.... but the mess one is in is the same....

[Matt L]

Sure it is. I made sure to not forget this step on my '96, and it's not very corroded underneath at all. You just can't let yourself get into the position where you can't refill your empty box.

I used a 1/2" air impact wrench with an impact swivel and a hex-key driver. Both of them came out with barely a trigger pull.

[mobetta]

I'd personally avoid using an impact gun unless necessary on these, especially the aluminum back case.

you can use a long breaker and a jack if needed.

[charmalu]

apply a little anti sieze on the threads. works wonders when removing next time.

Charlie