Is The Transmission Doomed?
 

Listers,

My daughter drove her (my ex) '83 300D approx 25 miles yesterday with an unknown leaking trans cooler flex hose.

When she pulled into my drive she said the trans was slipping very badly. No ATF on the stick. Added a qt. of ATF and had her start the engine and go through the gears so I could check the fluid level.

I then saw the steady stream of ATF coming from the area of the right flex hose.

Ordered new hoses to install tomorrow and will check the steel line.

Anyone care to hazard a guess on the chances of the trans still working? It did have Mobil 1 ATF in it.

Thanks,

Wray

I bet it works fine.

The reanny fluid controls the clutches and brakes to control the planetary gear. Now with low fluid level the clutches may have worn a little but It will probably work as if it has another 10-20,000 miles on it.
Fill the tranny to the proper level and drive it. It will probably be OK. I dod this in a 240D. The tranny slipped and I found the level low. Filled it and ran it another 100,000 miles.
All the tranny fluid does is control the actuators not the clutch and band brake material. Those are in a dry environment. But they are clutches and do wear. How much can you allow it to wear, and how much did you wear, We wonnnt' know unless you take it apart. But if it works dont; mess with it.

If it does give you a problem. Then you can worry about it.

Dave

PS Consider operating it for a while and then change the fluid and filter. Check the fluid for material, clutch parts/material and or brake band material. If you find it then, you coul dconsider looking at the tranny. IF it is running fine, drive it.

I agree with dmorrison. It's probably fine, but depends on how much she pushed it. If they're slipping and you keep driving (like women tend to do) then you can damage them quick. It's all a matter of how much friction it saw and if it got the cooling it needed.

btw: dmorrison, the clutches are always drenched in fluid during operation. A dry clutch is a soon to be dead clutch.

Chevota
You are correct, must engage brain before typing. Just got off a long trip, need sleep or beer.

Dave

Yes, you appear to be low on fluid (beer).

Thanks, Guys.

Hopefully will have it back together this afternoon.

This car was my "Baby" before I gave it to my daughter as a college grad gift-I had purchased an '87 300D.

Had just about replaced/rebuilt most of the car.

Wray

The problem is the steel line. The rubber insulator is missing and the line is worn thru under the clamp. I replaced the rubber about 10 years ago when I replaced the flex hoses.

But daughter has had the car for 5 years and it doesn't get the frequent inspections it got when I drove it.

Will cut the line and splice it with a piece of P/S hose and clamps. Should hold till she can get a new steel line installed.

That's a job I won't do. Started having severe vertigo/headache problems a few years ago when working on my back under a car. Hell to get old. Really need a lift.

Wray

Drove the car about 20 miles this AM. Shifts fine. Guess we dodged a bullet this time.

Thanks,

Wray

Sweet. Glad to hear it.