Synthetic ATF in 190E transmission?
 

I may purchase a '90 190E (see earlier post on: Reliability of '90 190E?) that has 134K miles on it. As I 'd like to keep the A/T operating for as long as possible, I'm considering using a synthetic ATF in the transmission. Anyone have experience with this or info on it? I'm also trying to decide on A/C system servicing: keep the R-12 or convert to R-134a. Automotive A/C only gets used occasionally during several (3-5) months out of the year in my area.

After I bought my TD, I put Mobil 1 ATF in. Then about 5 weeks later I get a copy of the Factory approved service products, and NOT ONE of the 12 ATFs listed was synthetic. Not even regular Mobil ATF was listed. Now, I haven't gone out and dumped the Mobil 1 out of my tranny, but it definetly made me think. Only some of the newest MB cars require synthetic ATF, and it's MB specific.

I ran Redline synth oils in the tranny and rear dif from 80K to 140K miles in my 92' 190E 2.6....no problems...in fact the rear dif 'howl' went away after the new oil. I run the same in my 500E too...no problems also. Give it a try.:)

I have Mobil-1 synthetic ATF in my 400E as well, no problem at all. I regularly check underneath for leak, there is no leak from the transmission.

I have been using Mobil-1 synthetic ATF in all my cars, it's also in the transfercase and P/S pump in my 4X4, I am very happy with it.

Be careful, sometimes change is the *worst* thing you can do for a cars longevity! Speak to an automatic specialist if you want a definitive answer, but I would suggest continuing with whatever it has been using for most of its life up until now.

later

It is just lubricant ... if it meets the standards, then it will probably be fine. I have switched every car I have ever owned to synthetic engine oil, auto transmission, manual transmission, and rear end differential ....never an issue (not a huge data set, but consistent with what I have heard from many, many others).

Pretty human nature story here ... folks that have switched recommend doing so (cause they did it) and folks that haven't switched don't recommend it (cause they haven't done it).

Course, I also am over-generalizing the heck out of the topic.

Seriously, use the best lubes you can afford - they are and will increasingly be, synthetics.