For how long and how many miles have you used Mobil 1 ATF for?:kid:

I bought some Synthetic DOT4 brake fluid - I think it was made by Valvoline (I'll have to go out and see). It is some great stuff although more than twice the price of the mineral oil based stuff!

I changed about 7 quarts to Mobil 1 ATF at 128,000 miles, shortly after buying the ML320. We have had it in there over 2 years and just passed 147,000 miles, mostly greater Phoenix area streets and freeways. The trans shifts flawlessly, better now than when I got the truck!

It works fine and was $6 a quart at Autozone. Mercedes is now recommending the ATF be changed (must be synthetic and on their list!) with the letter service (B)? that conincides with each 37,500 miles driven.

Mobil 1 ATF was NOT on their list, last I heard!

regards,

Jim in Phoenix

Sounds like it hasn't hurt anything:kid: .
BTW,
I am assuming the version of M1 ATF you used wasn't the(recently released)Multi Vehicle version of M1 ATF right?

I know this is an old thread, but I communicated with Mobile 1 customer service about this. I asked if I could use the Mobile 1 ATF and they responded with no, use only the ATF from the dealer.

This could be a marketing tatic, or a technical issue, I don't know...

Mobil ATF 3353 is approved by MB for use in these trannies. See if you can find it.

Due to many 722.9 issues MB has changed the spec on that fluid!
They issued a "world-wide" bulletin May 21 2008 that the use of 3353 (spec 236.12) should be limited to 722.6 transmissions. They also recommend that all 722.9 transmissions with unresolved issues be changed over to the new spec 236.14.
the fluid will have use ATF 4134 or ATF 134 as that spec.

The bulletin hasn't been released thru MBNA as of yet but they have 50K liters in stock under number 001-989-68-03-10, both Fuchs & Shell (DSH) have contracts to produce that fluid.

Thanks for the heads up. I had just scheduled a 40,000 mile ATF fluid & filter change with my indie for my ML320CDI; and he just had the MB ATF 3353 delivered this afternoon. He's going to return it and see if ACC can get the new stuff for him. My 7G-Tronic still has some of those "unresolved issues". Maybe the newer fluid will help. Wouldn't that be a nice surprise!

Available in the US ?
 

DOC, Do you know if this new fluid is even available yet in the US?

I have a 99 ML 320 with about 215K miles. I had the tranny rebuilt by an indie 18 months ago at 184K miles. He used the 3353 fluid.

1) How do I tell if I have a 722.6 or a 722.9 transmission.

2) Should I do a preventative fluid change using the new spec fluid?

PS: Thanks for your excellent support. You and this forum have saved me lots of bucks.

".6" = 5 speed

".9" = 7 speed

MBUSA shows 40,000 liters of the 68-03 in stock!

Thanks DOC. I'll have to see if my Indie has been able to get any from ACC. ACC often seems to be behind the curve. They weren't even aware of the special Mobil 1 oil required for the ML320CDI engines until a customer - who had purchased his ML320CDI from them - asked for it.

Happy Trails!

New ATF
 

Changed filter and ATF on the ML320CDI to the newest ATF 4134 this morning at my Indie's shop. We only did a single drain and refill (at $37/liter X 6), so it's now about half and half. It's really too early to tell for sure, but it does appear to shift much smoother - especially the hard 2->1 downshift that is so common on this transmision. (Placebo effect?) Time will tell.

The refill procedure is a very serious pita; and I am curious as to how the dealers can even properly follow the WIS instructions. There is a stand pipe inside the pan clipped on the drain plug. You add back 1 liter more than you drained with a special adapter through the drain plug. Then run the engine/tranny and move through P-R-N-D a few times.

With the engine idling in Park and the STAR Diagnosis System connected to measure the internal transmission temperature, you allow anything that will drain out over the stand pipe at 40°C. There is a very strong warning that, if the temperature is above 40°C, too much will drain out.

The big problem is that the transmission temperature scoots right past 40°C when you're moving it through the gears; and it ends up at about 68°C. There's no way to stop the temperature rise. How do you know when to stop it from draining at that temperature so that you don't drain out too much!?!! We guessed. Hopefully, it's close enough. It does seem to drive OK.

Engineers! Arrgghhh!!!!

throttle linkage
 

my 1998 ML320 is leaking oil from the " linkage cable" that goes into back of tranny. Mb says it's a $16 part but like 5 hrs to repair. Anyone have any experince with this. I am leaking oil, sounds like, from reading on here it is this synthetic oil, and I am not sure if I should park or okay to drive until dealer can repair in 5 days. I am wondering if i can be repaired by regular mechanic or should I spend the big bucks and have dealer do and replace all trannny fluid. at $40/hr difference in labour rate, i will spend $200-300 more at dealer. Am i being cheap here guys ?