Did it really burn through over 1 liter of ATF?
 

Noticed some revving when shifting between second and third the other day so I checked the trans fluid. Dipstick was DRY. :eek:

I am VERY wary of adding too much fluid like I did last April--ended up taking the car in for a transmission fluid/filter change soon after as it was due anyway. So it's been about 8 months, maybe a little more, since it was topped off; I put about a half pint in a few months ago, nothing more.

So I start adding, checking, adding, checking (you know the drill). Basically I can only add, let it sit, drive it again and check once warmed up--I can't keep checking immediately after adding more fluid b/c the dipstick is unreadable due the new fluid along the cylinder that hasn't drained down yet. Sometimes after adding there is fluid along 1/2 the dipstick going WAY up past the max mark, but it's more like a wispy line of fluid that could have come from the tube walls, not the reservoir. I can't be sure, ever, immediately after adding fluid, so I just get in the car and go, hoping for the best, remembering to check it again the next day. What a process.

So after about 4 days of this process, and after adding all the ATF I had on hand (a little over 1 liter: about a bottle + 4 ounces or so), I'm relatively sure I'm back to the proper level. The car is shifting fine, though I haven't driven it since Friday, which was the last time I added ATF as well.

Is it possible I've burned through that much ATF in 8 months? I'm almost positive there is no leak, definitely none I've noticed. Where did this fluid GO?????

Sorry if this is incredibly ignorant. I'm puzzled. I wish I knew more about the nitty gritty of my Benz, but I don't. I'm sure I will keep learning as I go.

To wherever the leak enabled it to.

Sounds like you need to clean up underneath your car real good with a degreaser cleaner, drive it a bit and try to find the leak. It probably only leaks when your driving it, that's why you may have no puddles and only lose a little bit at a time. Or just keep checking it after driving it and top it off.