Took my car to Jiffy Lube for oil/filter (normally go to a Euro shop, was in a hurry). They mentioned the usual oil and tranny leaks and sent me on my way. I haven't checked the tranny fluid level since I acquired the car last fall. I searched this site and my owners manual, both of which confirm that I should be reading a fluid level of 10mm below the min line (I assume it's the lines at the very end of the stick) when engine is cold. I go to check the fluid on my cold engine (not driven in the last 3.5 hours), and discover a tranny flud level 20mm OVER the max line. Now from what I have read on this site, overfilling is a very bad thing. I don't think the Jiffy gang did this (heck, I think this was there first Mercedes to change the oil, much less know where the tranny check is), and therefore I am assuming I've been driving around like this for some time. Am I missing something? Fluid is a medium red, doesn't appear dirty. My shifts are abrupt under normal acceleration, made less abrupt if I slightly lift off the gas right before the auto's next gear shift.

I plan to do the more accurate check in the morning with the engine idling after a few minutes. But how quickly do I need to drain off the potential excess, if this is truly an overfill condition? I'll be pretty unhappy if the Euro shop from my previous fluid service is to blame

Thanks.

Let the car sit overnight on a flat surface. The dipstick has a low and high mark near the botton end that slides down the tube.

Start the car in the morning. Pull the stick out and wipe clean with a very clean lint free cloth. Stick back in. Hold for a few secs. and remove. The fluid level should be about 10mm below the lowest mark on the stick - the low level line.

To test the hot fluid level, drive car at least 15 miles. I prefer 20.
Do the same thing and while idling on a level surface. This time the fluid level should be no higher than the highest mark on the stick.

__________________
Mike Murrell
1991 300-SEL - Model 126
M103 - SOHC
"Fräulein"

As the FRAM commercial goes: you can pay me now ($) or you can pay me later ($$$$$$$$$$).

When I bought my '93 300E two years ago the first thing I did was to have all the fluids changed including the tranny. I wasn't all that expensive and I was assured that my newly acquired vehicle's innards were clean.

__________________
Reno

'93 300E 4Matic
'98 Nissan Altima
'00 Yamaha Road Star Silverado

Granted on the fluid change. It was done recent enough that I'm still showing good red color on the dipstick. The previous owner was an extended family member, so I am comfortable with the service history.

I rechecked this afternoon after a short drive. Got an accurate, between the marks reading this time. I'm not sure what happened on the cold reading. Got the same +20mm after several readings when cold. Anyway, note to self to do checks with idling, warm engine.

FOr the time being... I'd atleast try and siphon some out!

__________________
2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)