Need some reassurance.

[jdhill]

Have always been taught to fill a manual transmission till the oil is just
below the fill hole. Manual I have for the 717.000 (5spd manual) says the fill capacity is 1.6 quarts, far below the fill hole. Any comments appreciated.

[Raffaelli]

Fill till it runs out.

Too much oil it will spit it out one way or another.
Too little and it'll burn the bearings.

Service manuals are lucky enough to get the correct type of fluid on such things.

[Mike D]

The 1.6 Qt. is probably 1.6 L.

[jdhill]

Originally Posted by Mike D

The 1.6 Qt. is probably 1.6 L.

Correct, should say 1.7 qts. I'm sure there's such a thing as over filling but that sure seems low.

[Frank Reiner]

716.xxx (4spd iron case) - 1.6L
717.000 (5spd iron case) - 1.8L

[jdhill]

Thanks for all the responses. Both Tremec and Richmond gear use the "fill till it spills" method, no reference to capacity, so that's how I'll go. No reference to the 717.000 tranny in Benz's "specifications for operating fluids" so Ill use the 75/80 gear oil recommended for the early .400 not the later ATF.
https://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/d/d/en/Spec_231_1.pdf

[Frank Reiner]

Originally Posted by jdhill

Thanks for all the responses. Both Tremec and Richmond gear use the "fill till it spills" method, no reference to capacity, so that's how I'll go. No reference to the 717.000 tranny in Benz's "specifications for operating fluids" so Ill use the 75/80 gear oil recommended for the early .400 not the later ATF.
https://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/d/d/en/Spec_231_1.pdf

The 717.000, as noted above, is the 5spd version of the iron case 4spd.
All the iron case boxes used ATF; the synchros do not perform well with "gear oil". Gear oils are too slippery and tend to prevent the synchronizer rings from grabbing, leading to clashing. Type F ATF is free of friction modifiers (slippery stuff) and gives the best synchro performance.