Wanted to just to drain/refills instead of pulling the pan and draining the TC so I went ahead and bought:

3 quarts of Pennzoil Dex III
and
6 quarts of Super Tech(Walmart's brand)High Milage ATF which is recommended for Dexron III,Mercon V and Chryslers +3/+4 applications .


Used my Griots extractor to pull what was about 3 qts out of the tranny sump and saw the OEM fill really didn't look nor smell bad at all.Still had a bit of red color left.

First went in the Pennzoil Dex III which I ran with for around a day with the transmission feeling a wee bit more jerky than before like the clutch take up was wee rougher than before.Nothing brutal though.

Then I went ahead in installed the 6 qts of ST HM and man the shifts are firm yet smooth.

I will probably do maybe 2 more extracts and refills with the Super tech stuff again as I happy with the results of this $1.91 fluid.

How many miles on the original fluid?

51,700 miles.

Not too shabby.

Interesting the color is not black yet. I heard it turns black after a couple thousand miles.

I am sure the ST fluid is just fine. MB just wants you to use all their fluids (they do not make them anyway.) partially for liability reasons (they did not have time to test all other fluids) and partially for more $$. I just bought a liter of the synthetic hydraulic fluid at the dealer to top off the self-leveling reservoir. $25 per liter. That is space robbery. They also say to use a special fluid in the 4Matic transfer case and that is $64 per liter. However, almost everyone uses DEX III in the transfer case.

From what I have read, the mechanics of the 722.6 is not out of the ordinary. It is just the first electronically controlled one they used.

What year is the car? Model?

1999 C280.

I know what you mean....Some of it I belive is just extortion.

The correct synthetic MB trans fluid that is Dexron 3 based but has special additives for "their" clutch material lists for $7.75 @ quart.

A replacement trans for that car lists for $3,000.+

You do the math.

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

"Correct" is meaningless kickback for OEM specs.
When a major company like WPP recommends a fluid, they tested it thoroughly enough to meet or exceed whatever the OEM fluid.


Dexron III is not a "base oil" but an friction modifier package.The MB stuff is has the Dex III additive package along with a friction modifer pack like the Super Tech HM ATF(Mercon V,+3/+4).

The multivehicle fluids like the Super Tech HM ATF I used are an excellent choice for those that want to regularly maintain their transmissions without the hassle of a trip to the dealership.

Time will tell how successful your fluid choice is and whether or not its additives are indeed a compatible replacement.

Please update us periodicly.

__________________
Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)