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

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.

__________________
JBG
1985 TD wagon, 228k
running on grease since 3.07
AUSTIN, TEXAS

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.