W124 M103 acceptable transmission fluid ?
 

car stat: 1987 260E 2.6L M103

Hello, I wonder what common transmission fluid is acceptable for the older W124? By common I meant the ATF that you can just buy anywhere, like Walmart, Canadian Tires etc. You know the non-dealer stuffs. My transmission is slightly leaking so I figure whatever I put in to top up will just leak out during driving anyway, so why put the expensive dealers stuffs inside.

Can I just use a good quality Dexron*III/Mercon** from Walmart?

What does it means when the bottle says something like Dexron*III(H specification) ?

Thanks

Any Dexron 3 type product will work. Of course synthethic is better.

I use Valvoline DexronVI Full Synthetic, its backwards compatible with the older fluid spec and works great. Currently running it in 5 MB's with excellent results.

Do I have to remove the stuffs that the indy put in there last time I took it in for a checkup? Then refill with the new Dexron 3? Or can I just top it up and have the new Dexron 3 mix in with whatever is in there?

From what I know, the indy put in a generic Dexron 3 that comes in a large tank at his garage.

So they can be mixed without adverse health effect right?

I'm sure that any shop today would use a quality Dexron product.

You can mix any of those fluids.

I've installed Dexron VI in my 1990. The fluids are upward compatable.

Since you keep the fluid in for 30k miles.... the cost per mile for full synthetic vs dexron is negligible...

we use full synthetic in all of ours... transmissions shift great