Trans. Dipstick
 

Hello Board,
I recently had a trans. service. The mechanic and I was wonderring if there is an aftermarket dipstick avail. a metal one than can be read. The tool require my MB the snake thing is not reliable. Any ideas. 97E420

The Mercedes tool is reliable. It's dumb to think otherwise--your mechanic's not better than Mercedes despite his fantasies.

It's not only reliable, it's durable. I've had the same one since ~1997, and it still works like new. ;)

You don't need to buy a MB dipstick, you can easily make your own. Curtain wire is good enough. You could even use bicycle brake cable sheath/outer if you liked.

Measurements here:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2028/...46edd845_o.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tom.jef...0tech/dip3.jpg

The overall length of the stick is irrelevant beyond being able to reach the bottom of the transmission pan, it isn't designed to remain inserted while driving. Just get the markings on the end right, and anything will do.

1998 W210 E430 722.6 Transmission
 

That's just what I plan to do, Bicycle cable... Save myself $50 - $75..
I just changed mine fluid... I was not hard at all..

I had the TC plug and no magnet. I brought the magnet to put inside, they gave me two doughnut shaped magnets, I put one in.. I haven't refilled it yet..

Thanks Guys.
Parrot of Doom. Is that the MB tool in the pic. Also bike cable and curtain wire? Is that really true? The MB tool; only the end of the tool is the measurement portion of it?

That is the factory tool in the photo.

Practice and locate the bottom of the pan and then mark the shaft of the tool with tape so it is easily repeatable...... Of course, that reference mark is only applicable to your engine/trans combo.

so that was just for his particular app? does anyone know what it is for a 01 cl600???

Looks like all 722.6's use the same factory tool.
http://www.peachparts.com/diy/mb_tools/mb_tools.php?page=30

Those pictures are for all 722.6** boxes.

Yes, anything flexible will do. You only have to mark the end using the measurements above. After all its only a bit of plastic attached to a coily springy thing. Take a look at your engine oil dipstick, theres nothing special about it, its just a bit of metal with a couple of lines on the end, and a handle/seal on the other. Since the gearbox dipstick isn't supposed to stay in, you don't need a handle or a seal.

It just has to hit the bottom of the sump, thats it. Why pay good money for something you can make yourself for nothing?

Use a bit of mains electricity earth cable if you like!

Oh bear in mind I'm not sure if US inches are different from UK inches, over here an inch is 2.54cm.

aahh, i didnt see the 722.6 there :)) great, this is really good info! thanks

If you want an accurate reading, use the tool. The valve body conductor plate has a“funnel,” which mates with the plastic tip on the dipstick, stopping and positions the dip stick several millimeters off the pan, for an accurate fluid reading.

Form a MB tech GTT group in your area, buy one tool and share it almost the group.

it looks like its just the cone at the end which is about a 16th of an inch. so just deduct this and youve got your measurement, right?

Does anyone have an overall measurement from the tip of the dipstick to the handle end (where the dipstick tube ends)?

After some trial/error, I came up with about 28" (from the tip to the tape mark on the shaft) for my W210/722.6 and was wondering if I was in the ballpark - or not down in there deep enough.

The dipstick I bought was for a 722.6, so the graduations on the tip are correct, but the length is WAY long... I stuffed it all the way in there and the level is either over full - or it went in too far.

Thanks,

Matt

I'm a little confused.

I purchased my 1989 206e used, and it already had an orange capped (locking) dip stick on the transmission refill port (at the rear of the engine near the firewall) installed (added pic of top of dip stick to this post - see below). I've always used the guides on this dip stick to measure tranny fluid levels at normal engine temp.

Have I been using the wrong gauge/tool to measure tranny fluid levels all this time?

This is the correct item for your car. That is the correct dipstick for your W124. You have a car that was designed in the "Engineered like no other car" generation. i.e. before the marketing department too control.

For later models , M.B. and the marketing department decided that removing the transmission and oil checking dipsticks would confuse the average owner and cause them to attend the MB stealership to get their fluid levels checked. A marketing coup. The stealership can then charge "M.B. pricing levels" for servicing - e.g. fluid changes etc.

The M.B. stealerships in my area charge a minimum for either an "A" or "B" service. e.g. for my W209 CLK240 the "A" service charge is a set amount - i.e. $ 960.00 plus consumables. A "B" service set charge is more than that again.

In my area market. For regular M.B. customers who change out their cars every few years I can tell you that they pay way under the RRP for their new car. The Stealerships make up for this discount with the routine service charges.

Removing the dipsticks has made it a little bit harder for DIY-selfers and Indie specialists.

Well, that's good to hear. Thanks so much for the response.

Now, I see earlier in this thread (post #4) an image of a gauge that show ATF levels at Temp = 25C & 80C, with the range for 25C being 1-2cm from the floor of the tranny pan and with the range for 80C being 5.5-6.5cm from the floor of the tranny pan. My OEM dipstick does NOT have such markings, it merely has a fluid range of acceptability. So, am I okay just making sure that the ATF level are within this range of acceptability at operating temp (80C), or should I mark-off the 5.5-6.5cm level on my OEM dipstick to make sure fluid levels are high enough at operating temp?

P.S. "Stealership".... that's very funny, hadn't heard that one before ;)

No, you shouldn't make any additional marks on your dip stick. The tool in the picture is specifically for the 722 transmissions, which your '89 doesn't have. Your transmission uses standard ATF, but the 722 is an electronic transmission that requires a very specific ATF made specifically for the 722 electronic transmission.

All you have to with your '89 is make sure the fluid level is between the two marks when the transmission is at normal operating temperature with the engine running.

No, you are correct, continue as usual for your car. The car in question here is one of the newer models, which had that dipstick removed.

Thanks for the input.

This thread really threw me a knuckle ball that pushed me back into my seat. Checked the ATF level with the information from this thread now in tow, and everything is a-ok!

:)

Thanks Parrot of Doom
 

I just want to thank you for the pictures of the dip stick.
Machester United Fan..?
Just a though

Thanks

Pedrodiesel

I installed the same amount of fresh transmission fluid in my 1997 E300d with 5 speed electronic transmission as I removed and the level on the Mercedes OEM dipstick reads abit over 25 degrees after driving the car for 30 minutes and 10 miles in 80 degree weather. Should I add to the 80 degree mark?

ANYONE?

If it were me and:

1) with engine running
2) temp of ATF is hopefully around 80C
3) Using the Mercedes dipstick as in the pictures

I would slowly add until level is within the 80C marks.

It usually takes me several tries to get a good consistent repeatable reading.

A question to the forum, generally driving around a bit will get the ATF temp close enough to 80C for this measurement?

Thanks

No. The tool being described is for 722.6xx 5 speed electronic transmissions which were introduced in the late 90s.

You forgot to mention that the car must be on level ground which is very important. You can check by placing a carpenter's level on the door sill.

Also the temperature must be at least 80C when measured or drive the car for 15-20 mins at highway speeds to get to maximum operating temperature.