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  #1  
Old 08-07-2004, 12:59 AM
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Proper Fluids to Use

Would anyone have suggestions as to the type or name brand of oil, transmission oil, brake fluid etc., that one should use with Mercedes in general.

Thank you in advance

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  #2  
Old 08-07-2004, 01:38 AM
300SDog's Avatar
gimme a low-tech 240D
 
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Location: central ky
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dealership specs
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  #3  
Old 08-07-2004, 08:04 AM
Waitn For The Bus All Day
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: south east pa.
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Keen you failed to mention what model/year.

The owners manual for the earlier model states ATF for the power steering pump. DON'T do it like I did. Use regular p.s. fluid.

Use the search on this forum and you will see there is a lot of info on oils. Just wanted to catch you before you ruin the seals on an older pump.

Cheers,

Bill
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  #4  
Old 08-07-2004, 10:46 AM
Geezer
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Holland, MI
Posts: 1,316
Please, do read the Owner's Manual.

Mercedes will tell you what they recommend and they are far less passionate about brand names than about fluid specifications. Of course, they'll recommend their own brand when possible...

Brand Names are highly subjective; use of the search feature will back this up. See what everyone else here recommends.

Generalizations:
Proper level is better than too low.
Changing fluids is better than not changing fluids.
It's hard to kill a Mercedes with the 'wrong' Name Brand.

Best Regards,
Jim
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  #5  
Old 08-07-2004, 01:41 PM
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Location: Back in Colorado for now
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Since no one's really given you an answer other than "use dealer rec's", I'll give what I use in my 123 300D Turbo.

Power steer fluid: Febi/Bilstein Steering Gear - P/S Fluid, OR Valvoline synthetic blend P/S fluid (flushed system with and used for 4 months, use in all the US cars here.)

Brake fluid: ATE Super Blue racing Dot 4 (compatible with any Dot 3 or 4 fluid)

Coolant: MB factory coolant on this one (because I get it for less than Zerex G05, the consensus is to never use anything other than one of those two)

Oil: Delvac 1/Mobil 1 truck & SUV (5W40) OR for dino oil, Delvac 1300 15w40

Transmission (MB auto OR manual): Mobil 1 synthetic ATF (may try Redline MTL in the build I have in the basement when I install it)

Differential: Mobil 1 synthetic 75w90

Bearing Grease: Mobil 1 synthetic (the red stuff)

Door hinge grease: Mob 1 (in chainsaw sprocket greaser)

Chassis spray lube (various hinges, etc.): Superlube spray

Much of these choices have been arrived at since first working as a small-engine mech at 14 years old (after running away and working for a gardener/landscaper.)

In the last 20 years since the 123, many things have changed, lubricant technology has VASTLY improved and what MB recommended then is not even CLOSE to what there is out there today. Make your own choices, but there's a lot of info out there regarding oils, lubes, etc.
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  #6  
Old 08-07-2004, 04:04 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Pacifica (SF Bay Area), CA
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I'll follow Tom's example

Power steer fluid: Don't know - haven't changed fluid yet and haven't needed to add any.

Brake fluid: Valvoline SynPower synthetic DOT4 (only synthetic brake fluid I've seen that's compatible with DOT3 and DOT4 fluids)

Coolant: Zerex G-05 at the moment; will switch to Caterpillar ELC next time I flush the system.

Engine oil: Delo 15W-40 at the moment; will switch to a synthetic at some point (not sure which brand I will go with at the moment)

Transmission (MB auto OR manual): Don't know - haven't changed fluid yet. I will probably use Royal Purple synthetic ATF when I do change it, after a flush-run with a generic dino ATF (I don't know when the fluid was last changed).

Differential: Royal Purple 75W-90 synthetic

Bearing Grease: M-B factory green stuff

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  #7  
Old 08-07-2004, 06:16 PM
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Zero
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Milford, CT
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I'll jump on the bandwagin:

Car is a 1987 300SDL:

In the engine I use Mobil 1 15w-50

Coolent-MB dealer stuff

Power Steering-Bilstein stuff Fastlane sells

Brakes-dot 4 German stuff Fastlane sells

Transmission-Valvilene Max life, soon to be Mobil 1 ATF

Differential-Mobil 1 75w-90

Bearing Grease-I just used a good green bearing grease I had around. I'll be good and use the MB stuff when I do the rears.

In short read the owners manual for oil weight, and than use a good diesel!!! rated oil.

Any normal ATF will work fine, so will any dot 4 brake fluid. Take your pick on power steering fluid. But Mobil 1 seems to be the best for the diff.
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  #8  
Old 08-07-2004, 06:40 PM
123c
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I use whatever I have sitting around in the garage, that goes for all the fluids... I think I am using Delo 400 oil, some union 76 ATF fluid for both the transmission and power steering pump. Some prestone DOT 4 brake fluid, and Prestone Dexcool antifreeze. For the Diff I believe I have some Mobil 1 in there at this time...
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  #9  
Old 08-09-2004, 03:43 PM
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Location: Charlestown, NH
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May have missed one of the little items as I read through the previous . . . if you have a sunroof, use the MB sunroof paste. I learned this after using some other stuff. This forum mentions more than one source for it. Window and door seals/rubber I'm still trying to find the answer. I'll follow this one and see if someone chimes in with it.
Best of luck!

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