Tales of NEVER Changing ATF - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Rooster300SD · #31 10-03-2010, 06:03 PM

Getting back to the topic at hand....

My 300SD book says to change the tranny fluid every 30,000 miles.

How important is it to drain the torque converter?
Is it OK to mix synthetic & non synthetic tranny fluids?

Jeff

compress ignite · #32 10-03-2010, 11:19 PM

Rooster300SD,
Get ALL the old fluid out that possible!
As Always,TIE DOWN THE EMERGENCY STOP LEVER...FULLY whenever turning
any Diesel by hand to prevent surprises!
[No Big Deal,lie on your creeper, use a ratchet on the Crankshaft nut to turn the engine until the Torque Converter Drain Plug comes into view underneath the Transmission "Window".'Drain TC. Replace BOTH the Tranny Drain Plug washers with new ones.Torque the DPs to specs.]
If you want you could mark the Harmonic Balancer with a little dot of Yellow paint to make it easier to find the TC Drain plug next time.

Mixing Mineral and Synthetic ATF just wastes the extra money paid for the
Synthetic portion. ("Weakest Link" is the Mineral)

69shovlhed · #33 10-03-2010, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compress ignite

Rooster300SD,
Get ALL the old fluid out that possible!
As Always,TIE DOWN THE EMERGENCY STOP LEVER...FULLY whenever turning
any Diesel by hand to prevent surprises!
[No Big Deal,lie on your creeper, use a ratchet on the Crankshaft nut to turn the engine until the Torque Converter Drain Plug comes into view underneath the Transmission "Window".'Drain TC. Replace BOTH the Tranny Drain Plug washers with new ones.Torque the DPs to specs.]
If you want you could mark the Harmonic Balancer with a little dot of Yellow paint to make it easier to find the TC Drain plug next time.

Mixing Mineral and Synthetic ATF just wastes the extra money paid for the
Synthetic portion. ("Weakest Link" is the Mineral)

this man knows what he's talking about! do exactly as he says. converter holds alot of fluid, and its got a drain plug. don't get any clearer that that. achtung!!! schnell!!!

Manual Life · #34 10-03-2010, 11:58 PM

isn't draining the toque converter risky? can't air get trapped in there? or was air in the torque converter a rumor? every transmission i put in i filled the torque converter first, installed, then put the tranny in.

most converters range from 1.5-2.5 quarts...most.

other than paying for a full flush and refill, couldn't you buy several extra quarts of transmission oil, drain from pan, drain from cooler, refill, drive some, do the drain process again then refill?

that would give a worthy % of new oil.

tangofox007 · #35 10-04-2010, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manual Life

isn't draining the toque converter risky? can't air get trapped in there? or was air in the torque converter a rumor? every transmission i put in i filled the torque converter first, installed, then put the tranny in.

most converters range from 1.5-2.5 quarts...most.

other than paying for a full flush and refill, couldn't you buy several extra quarts of transmission oil, drain from pan, drain from cooler, refill, drive some, do the drain process again then refill?

that would give a worthy % of new oil.

Nothing like an ingenious way to complicate the daylights out of an otherwise simple process!!!

Manual Life · #36 10-04-2010, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tangofox007

Nothing like an ingenious way to complicate the daylights out of an otherwise simple process!!!

it's easier not more complicated. you have to have compressed air to get that TC DP without someone else holding the crank still. and it's a pain to turn that TC with a screwdriver or something to locate the DP while you are under the car. if you are alone and turn the crank you have to slide back and forth on a crawler to see if you have found the DP on the TC.

or

5 minutes to get the trany pan empty, 5 minutes to get the cooler drained and 5 minutes to fill new quarts. do this 2 times. and you can do the second time a day or two later. realistically it can be done in 10 minutes per time. not complicated. different. and i don't like messing with the torque converters.

Rooster300SD · #37 10-04-2010, 01:05 AM

So, is there any special procedure to refilling the torque converter?

Thanks All,
Jeff

JamesDean · #38 10-04-2010, 01:26 AM

http://viewer.zoho.com/docs/kdddHh

pawoSD · #39 10-04-2010, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rooster300SD

So, is there any special procedure to refilling the torque converter?

Thanks All,
Jeff

You don't. It fills itself from the trans pump when you start the engine.

compu_85 · #40 10-04-2010, 08:39 AM

And draining it was lickity-split easy. For me it took more time to rotate the engine around to the right point then to remove the bolt and drain the TC.

-J

JamesDean · #41 10-04-2010, 08:46 AM

I usually just bump the starter with a jumper wire to get the tq drain lined up

vstech · #42 10-04-2010, 08:50 AM

I have tried and tried to get the plug lined up with the starter, it ALWAYS spins just past the plug!
I just reach up and pull on it with my ratchet...

babymog · #43 10-04-2010, 08:56 AM

Bump with a remote start switch from below, or turn with a ratchet, or even with a screwdriver, should take 5minutes or less, and the plug has always been easy for me to loosen with an allen wrench, I don't see the complication here.

Refill shortly after draining, I've been told by trans-business friends to avoid leaving it empty overnight for the sake of the seals, put 4quarts in the pan and start it, then pour the rest of the fill in as you check the level.

Very simple, drains it all and fills it properly, just as Mercedes intended it. Trans flush systems are a transmission rebuilder's best friend, many times I've heard the story that it worked fine until after a flush, and the flush people told the car owner that it was failing anyway, ...

Rooster300SD · #44 10-04-2010, 09:27 AM

JamesDean--thanks for the section out of the FSM.
It is much appreciated!

Jeff

thayer · #45 10-04-2010, 10:17 AM

The TC is NO big deal. It just adds another drain plug. just drain both, plug it up and refill. Start the car, check the level. It is maybe 4 to 5% more difficult than the engine oil.

Oh and GET THIS!

on my wagon, the one that needed the transmissionectomy, the guy who was working on it with me put trans x Differential tune up in there and THATS supposedly why it started working. I'm glad its working but I am pissed that he didn't tell me thats what he had done and let me drive off with it. uurrggghh.