Check your manual transmission fluid

[Palangi]

After having owned my 240D for about 9 months, I finally got around to replacing the manual transmission oil. When the old fluid drained out, it was about 1/3 water, followed by 2/3 milky oil-like substance. I imagine this was the original factory fill and the car has probably gone through deep water a few times in its 20 year life.

With a fresh fill of Redline MTL, it's happy again.

I wish I had been ready with the camera, but I just wasn't expecting the glop that came out of there.

[dieseldiehard]

Did you remove the side cover and do a close inspection?

I wonder how all that water (if it is water) got in there? Maybe it went thru the top vent but it seems to me it would have to be literally under water a while to let much in.
My 220 manual tranny was clean as a whistle, I collected the fluid thru a large strainer as it drained (tranny off the car) and found a tiny bit of brass from the synchros, O/W no glop or anything. Redline MTL is great stuff, nothing better IMHO.
DDH

[Tirebiter]

Check your diff oil too.

[TomJ]

Originally Posted by Palangi

After having owned my 240D for about 9 months, I finally got around to replacing the manual transmission oil. When the old fluid drained out, it was about 1/3 water, followed by 2/3 milky oil-like substance. I imagine this was the original factory fill and the car has probably gone through deep water a few times in its 20 year life.

With a fresh fill of Redline MTL, it's happy again.

I wish I had been ready with the camera, but I just wasn't expecting the glop that came out of there.

Been using Mob 1 synth ATF, but would like to try MTL in the latest acquisition, where's best place to buy?

[Palangi]

Redlne's website has a list of retailers. Most of them seem to be in California, but one of them happened to be local.

I dunno how all that water got in there. Way too much to have been just condensation. I think I will change it again in a few weeks. I changed the differential lube oil some time ago. It was OK, no water or metal.

[lietuviai]

Until I got my 230CE, I never realized that MB's run ATF in their manual transmissions. Everthing I've ever owned before with a stick always ran 90W.

[Gurkha]

Water in tranny at any time is not good at all, if it has been there for a long time, the damage is done already. If the oil was never changed during the lifetime, in this case it is 20 years, it is a severe case of neglect, wonder what else in this vehicle has been neglected. Goes to show how sturdy, well made the old MB vehicles used to be. The water could be a result of accumulation of condensation over the years and the other likely culprit for water getting into these particular trannies is the shifter link seals. Over years, they deteriorate and don't seal well letting oil out and other stuff like water, dirt in.

I change the oil in my tranny at 10,000Km and when I do some heavy off roading in water logged areas, I change my oil even more frequently. I also re-grease my wheel hub bearings. I have been extremely satisfied with Mobil-I ATF as well as gear lube and have used this in all vehicles including my Accord.

If your gears arent grinding or suspicious noise is coming out of your tranny, change it to a cheap ATF, drive it for a day or so and flush it out. This way, all the filth accumulated would cleaned up hopefuly and then change to Mobil-I ATF and use Mobil-I gear lube in your differential. Make sure you flush your differential using the same procedure, except use gear lube in this case.

[Palangi]

Yep, this old car shows quite a bit of neglect, but, little by little, I'm getting it back in shape. Transmission is smooth as butter, but I will definitely replace the fluid again shortly. Differential has already been done, and appears to be in good shape. Next mechanial issue will be replacing the timing chain. After that, I will have the seats redone, then probably get it repainted. It just takes time to work my way through everything.