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  #1  
Old 12-11-2016, 03:50 PM
dkr dkr is offline
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Synthetic ATF and Longer Intervals

Hi All,

Tomorrow, I am changing my transmission fluid in my 1984 300D and planning to use fully synthetic ATF. I'm thinking about extending the interval between transmission flushes to 45,000 miles. Is anyone else extending their service intervals with synthetic? It would also be interesting to see if there is any real-life data on the topic of putting synthetic in an older transmission and how long it lasts.

Dkr.

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  #2  
Old 12-11-2016, 06:13 PM
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Yeah, I finally switched to Shell ATF 134 on the 91 300D (also use it in the W210 and W211) and will be extending drain intervals. Rather than do a complete drain at a longer interval, I will probably suck out 2.5 quarts at shorter intervals. Just easier than messing with the pan.
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Last edited by shertex; 12-11-2016 at 07:44 PM.
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  #3  
Old 12-11-2016, 06:49 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shertex View Post
Yeah, I finally switched at Shell ATF 134 on the 91 300D (also use it in the W210 and W211) and will be extending drain intervals. Rather than do a complete drain at a longer interval, I will probably suck out 2.5 quarts at shorter intervals. Just easier than messing with the pan.
I've been doing it this way for many years. On my 190d, I suction 2qts of transmission fluid every time I change the oil, and replace it with synthetic. I've gone as long as 100K miles without opening the pan. Transmission was rebuilt at 320K miles, which is typical for a 722.4.

I'm pretty sure that synthetic is specified for W210 and later cars.
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Old 12-12-2016, 03:39 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dkr View Post
Hi All,

Tomorrow, I am changing my transmission fluid in my 1984 300D and planning to use fully synthetic ATF. I'm thinking about extending the interval between transmission flushes to 45,000 miles. Is anyone else extending their service intervals with synthetic? It would also be interesting to see if there is any real-life data on the topic of putting synthetic in an older transmission and how long it lasts.

Dkr.
I am big fan of extending drain intervals. I do it 40-45K max.

I don't have any scientific data, but it runs fine and that's good for me.

.
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Old 12-16-2016, 10:52 AM
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I would say yes to longer intervals, but the problem you will find with an older trans is possibly more slip and more friction material starting to clog your filter, not fluid degradation.
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Old 12-16-2016, 11:27 AM
dkr dkr is offline
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That's not a problem with an older transmission.

It is a problem with a transmission that has not been properly maintained.

Dkr.
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  #7  
Old 12-16-2016, 01:05 PM
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Syn or Dino ATF

I found that syn atf made for a noisier (noticeable) trans.


I changed out the fluid at 12,000 miles post rebuild (Sun Valley) thinking I'd go 25k or more between filter/atf changes. Trans seemed to "whine" a bit in neutral, first, and reverse gears.


Got a little worried and changed the fluid back to dino atf. No more whine.


I double checked with Sun Valley Trans who reported that syn atf may result in increased trans noise but won't hurt it, and syn helps with heat dissipation.
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Old 12-16-2016, 02:34 PM
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I'd be more worried about filter intervals than fluid intervals.

It's like changing over to syn from dino on an engine - the engine ultimately won't care to have the superior syn in it. You're just going to have filter degradation running extended intervals. If we're speaking MB, synthetic oils use a fleece (polyester, etc) filter rather than paper filters found in these older cars. By the time you reach that higher mileage interval, your paper filter has broken apart or collapsed.

I have a few instances up on my blog:
W211: Please maintain your cars....... ~ Artisan

PreviousOwner: Oil Filter ~ Artisan



As to the original point of this thread - I honestly wouldn't be too worried running a trans 45K miles on synthetic. Just depends how long it sits in there, is all. 45k miles in 2-3 years is cool, any longer than that, I'd be changing out fluids/filters on principle. Who knows what's going on in there.
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Old 12-16-2016, 05:21 PM
dkr dkr is offline
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I would agree with that. If you were driving less than 10 - 15K miles a year, I think there would be a lot less benefit to using synthetic ATF. My understanding was the filter was mostly overkill and that if you were trapping a lot of metal particles something seriously was wrong with the transmission. My NPR truck just has a basic strainer in the transmission and from what I have heard it generally doesn't have much of anything even after 100K miles.

Dkr.
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  #10  
Old 12-17-2016, 12:56 AM
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Guess I never checked the owner's manual. My old Chryslers say no need to ever change tranny fluid except taxi and police cars. I assumed my M-B were the same, i.e. if the fluid is still clear red and no burnt smell, it is fine. I sure wouldn't change more often than 50K miles, even 100K mi sounds too soon. M-B isn't paying for the fluid so they can say whatever at no cost to them. I understand that ATF+4 (Chrysler) is fully synthetic, so might be an option for only $1/qt more than Dexron III.
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Old 12-17-2016, 03:26 AM
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No. I second babymog on friction material getting into the fluid. I ran Mobil 1 synthetic and I thought I could get away with a 45k interval because it was synthetic. Wrong. I got a howling in my trans. I took off the filter and it was clogged with non magnetic sludge.

I had the tranny rebuilt at Sun Valley transmission. One of the best 722.x rebuilders out there. They said clogging the filter will kill the bushing on the pump as it gets starved for lubrication. Once that goes you loose pressure and you damage your friction plates which in turn dump more material into your fluid. See where this is going? Positive feedback. My bushing was loose and making noise according to their diagnosis.

Marc the owner stressed that fluid should be changed at 24k intervals. I will take his advice given his track record with MB transmissions.
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  #12  
Old 12-17-2016, 05:37 AM
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I go 80000 max miles,with mobil one.
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  #13  
Old 12-17-2016, 04:09 PM
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Interesting....it is not really the fluid that breaks down, it is the contaminates that eventually clog the system.
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  #14  
Old 12-17-2016, 06:14 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dkr View Post
I would agree with that. If you were driving less than 10 - 15K miles a year, I think there would be a lot less benefit to using synthetic ATF. My understanding was the filter was mostly overkill and that if you were trapping a lot of metal particles something seriously was wrong with the transmission. My NPR truck just has a basic strainer in the transmission and from what I have heard it generally doesn't have much of anything even after 100K miles.

Dkr.
I could've sworn NPR's had spin on trans filters? I guess it depends on the year.

I wouldn't necessarily call it overkill, more of a first line of defense. The clutches will always have some sort of particulate coming off of them when they're NOT in use and all of that will usually end up at the bottom of the pan or in the filter. I'd rather have it stuck to the pan (MB sells a magnet that goes around the drain on the pan) or in the filter - screw having all those little particles clogging up my valve body!

As for those guys running their fluid endlessly - mental note: stay the hell away from purchasing your cars down the road! lol

Edit: Should clarify - clutches not in use, when the system allows them to free wheel
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Last edited by bsmuwk; 12-17-2016 at 06:25 PM.
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  #15  
Old 12-17-2016, 07:01 PM
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I mistakenly went about 100K on one fill of Redline synthetic ATF on my 95 E300D. When I dropped the pan to finally change filter and fluid it was totally clear, (OK still red, but clear) with zero mud in the pan. Was running the same trans at 467K, only problem was a 2-3 flare which was easily dealt with by backing off the throttle at the 2-3 shift.

Chris W.
ex 95 E300D, 467K

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