Time to do the trans service on the 93 400e.

Anyone ever used synthetic ATF? I am a big proponent of synthetic oil, and wonder if the syn ATF is just as good.

Jack
93 400e

I too would like to know about using synthetic ATF like Mobil 1 for the 722.366 transmission in my 95 E420 with 78,000 miles. Has anyone used it for this tranny?

In addition to the synthetic choice, Valvoline & Pennzoil(probably others also) make a synthetic blend Trans. fluid that is rated higher than standard dino and might be a good choice for our older transmissions.

The reason I ask is that the mercedes service shop will not change my transmission fluid to synthetic. They say it's not recommended except for the newer electronic transmissions.

i have had mobile 1 synthetic in my 94 e320 trans (722.369) for 5k+ miles and have had no problems. I think the tranny shifts smoother, but that could be the $60 lighter wallet talking :)

As long as the fluid meets the specifications that MB puts out it will be fine.

I've been using the Redline ATF with zero problems in the 40K miles it has been in the car. Also used it on my old 92' 190E 2.6....made a noticable difference in the smoothing out rough shifts in both cars.

SWEPCO ATF is also recommended by another 500E guy who was turned onto it from the Porsche 928 guys (same auto trannys). I will try that stuff at the next changing myself.

True, MB doesn't recommmend anything other than their approved stuff, which boils down to their liablity and warranty if there's an issue I believe....so a dealer would not be the place to go for a change to synthetic ATF. :)

MB publishes a list of approved fluids and fluid specifications for their various cars, I don't know where to find this publication, but I have seen it linked from this forum before. I bet if you asked one of the moderators nicely they would post it.

This is what I was referring to.

I put Mobil 1 in the 300e @145k miles or so..... I figured it was cost effective since it stays in there for 30k miles. This transmission had been rebuilt not too long before I bought the car. The stuff that came out was ruby red, but I don't know what was in there.. I was just trying to "base-line" my car.

I think I got it at a good price, too... something like 4 dollars a quart. If I recall with the torque converter drain, it took about 7 qts..maybe 8.

I changed the filter, too.

By the way, no change in the way the tranny shifts. It's not butter smooth like my CE; it shifts firmly and nicely.

I am going to do the same with the CE some day this spring or summer.

Now, I did switch the 300e over to a lighter synthetic engine oil for the winter...after 2200 miles it burned a quart... previously it didn't burn a drop between oil changes... so I will probably go back to a heavier dino in the spring. I used 20w-50 up until the winter.