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Old 03-27-2013, 12:59 PM
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Stretch Stretch is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Somewhere in the Netherlands
Posts: 14,461
Here are my answers to your questions - but you really need to confirm whether you have got water contamination in the transmission or not.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Knuckleballerr View Post
A. How can I confirm rusted bearings?
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You'd have to take it to bits to be 100% sure - they will eventually feel as rough as a badger's arse though
Quote:
Originally Posted by Knuckleballerr View Post
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B. What about transmission cleaners like "Seafoam transtune". I wouldn't expect a miracle out of it, but perhaps it would really clear some of that gunk out. Not just this transmission; but any old MB diesel tranny.
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The only parts that I think will benefit from some sort of cleaner / flushing are the parts where there is flow. If for example you had really grotty fluid and you wanted to clean out the torque converter then this kind of thing might help so long as you drained the system...

...much like doing a fluid change (!)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Knuckleballerr View Post
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C. Whats your opinion of actually changing the fluid? I keep hearing that its best to leave the fluid alone so that the transmission can actually grip when shifting. But I feel like this is terrible advice.
What does Larry Bible say about engine oil changes? (Answer - often and hot - or something like that!)

One of the many things you can do for any transmission is to change the fluid and the filter regularly. In my climate (very wet and damp) I think on an infrequently used vehicle once a year wouldn't be a bad thing even though you'd probably never be any where near the recommended driven distance - but that's much much more frequently than what most people would consider. I've even seen threads where people think that changing your brake fluid once a year is over kill => not where I live it isn't!
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