2000 C230 ATF Fluid
 

Hi everyone, I have a quick question that I wasn't able to find the answer to in the archives.

My wife's C230 now has 30K miles on it and I wanted to replace the "lifetime" fill ATF in it just for peace of mind. After all, I want it to last for a very long time and am willing to do the inexpensive things to it that will hopefully prolong it's life.

I have the MB dipstick, filter, gasket, and fluid, all genuine MB items. My question though is with the fluid, the part# is A 001 989 21 03 10. Is this fluid synthetic? It doesn't say much of anything on the container except one note in English that says "For automatic MB transmissions, according to MB specifications for service products, sheet 236.10."

I was hoping they sold me the right stuff for her car, can anyone confirm this from the P/N I have.

Thanks all,

Dale

That should be the correct fluid! It is a synthetic fluid made by Shell oil company only in GERMANY & just for MB.:cool:

Thanks M.B. Doc, I'm going to change it today. Would you recommend having the supercharger oil replaced as well or is that truly a "lifetime" fill? I know a lot of people may view this as a bit of overkill but I'm a firm believer in preventative maintenance, which will hopefully keep it trouble free!!

Thanks for your time,

Dale

Did you buy the dipstick from your dealer? How much was it? Did you know that the temperature must be quite precise to measure the fluid level? If not, you will under/over fill it, and damage the transmission. The dealer uses a computer to determine when the fluid temp is precisely 80C for level setting.

Good luck. I paid the $60 in labour and had the dealer do it. Cheap compared tot he potential for damaging the 722.6 tranny...

Yes, I bought the dipstick from the dealer and believe me this is not brain surgery. The dipstick is well marked for different temps.

I did learn one thing though and that is there is no drain plug in the converter. Kind of a let down because I was hoping to change all of the fluid. I'm not sure about your 98 but I know my 2000 doesn't. Confirmed from about 20, very slow, revolutions and lots of bright light, NO DRAIN. Oh well, I guess MB is serious about there lifetime fill to the extent of not putting a drain in the converter.

Dale

No drain plug on the torque converter anymore? That's disappointing.

My 97 C280 was the first year of the permanent fill 722.6 tranny, and it still has a drain plug on the torque converter.

If it's there, it sure is hiding good. I just cleaned everything up and put it back together but I'm going to wait to put the fluid back in it until I hear definite confirmation on the drain plug non-existence. Maybe I need new glasses...:-)

I see there is a part number for one on this site under the parts section. Anyone know for sure?

By the way, as far as changing the filter and making sure the right amount of fluid is in it is quite easy. At 1K miles I removed the pan and replaced the filter just to make sure all was clean with no shavings from the factory, and it was. MB did an excellent job of making sure that transmission case was clean before it was assembled. That's why I already have the dipstick and have done it before. I didn't bother looking at the converter at the time because the pan and fluid was immaculate so I didn't worry about it. Now that I want to drain it the plug is nowhere to be found. HMMM!!! Maybe I do need glasses.

Hi:
The removal of the drain plug for the torque converter seemed to be a phase-in (phase-out?) beginning around 2000 model year, about the same time they started with the touch-shift.
I agree that doing this job is not "brain surgery", but MB does specify that the fluid is checked at 80C. I would not trust the other temp markings on the stick to be accurate when they indicate to check at 80C. And even though there are markings for different temps, how do you know what the trans oil temp is? In other words, which temp do you use, you can't tell 60C from 80C, at least not from the standpoint that it's calibrated to what the temp sensor on the contact plate says the temp is.
Gilly

Thanks Dan, that's what I suspected concerning the converter drain. You saved me a unexpected trip to the optometrist!!

Dale

That's the problem that I had with doing it myself. I couldn't see how to determine when the trans fluid was at 80 degrees, without accessing the trans temp sensor.

My dealer "plugged in" and set the level with the fluid at 80C. Pretty simple, I'll agree, but beyond the capability of my hand tools at home.

Remember the 'ol days when you checked fluid levels at "hot?"

John and Dale:
To look at the flip side of the coin for a moment, one wonders just why the level is supposed to be so critical? What real harm would there be in estimating the temp? What if the next time I were to do a job requiring the removal of the trans oil pan that I just use the sds and a stop watch and watch how long it took to reach 80C? Or I belive they actualy do print a fill capacity, maybe just use that, because on the pre-722.6 transmissions, I just use the fill capacity they give anyways. Only problem now is do they print a fill capacity for the one's with no TC drain.
Gilly

I am a pretty simple minded individual but for the life of me I can't figure out why they just don't mark the tranny dipstick for a "cold" temperature range. Then it would be as simple as checking oil in the morning, on level ground, before you have even started it up.

Thanks everyone for your time and responses, everything is done and working well.

Maybe someday as I learn these cars from working on them I too can assist others on this excellent site. You all are the greatest.

Dale

95 E320 - 141K miles and still extremely fast!
00 C230K Special Edition - 30K miles and also a wonderful car.