Changing my ATF on my 1983 300d tonight. My fluid level has always been on the stick when measured while idling, at temp.

I drained just the pan, changed filter, did not touch the converter, and get this......

I got a whopping 1 quart out.

What is the deal?

It's mind boggling. Is there THAT much fluid stuck elsewhere in the system?

Did you pull the pan and filter, or just pull the plug?

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

The torque converter holds a fair bit, I want to say something like 3 quarts... A full fill is something like 6 quarts. You should have gotten more than just a quart out of the pan.

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Current stable:
1995 E320 157K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 125K (SLoL)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Gone and wanting to forget:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™) [Definitely NOT a Benz]

I did the pan and filter. Testing now, letting it idle after a little drive and going to check again

IIRC, with just the pan and filter it's about 1.5-2 qts. and about 4 qts for the torque converter.

Some Mystery ,Ill give it a guess ,reason a flow wont move in some cases , air above and the release of liquid below may cause a suction.Your trannie breather clogged with the trannie dipstick tight on tube somehow.Always do the converter, you can get a 27mm socket on the frt crank bolt and move the engine clockwise with one hand and reach at the tc with the other waiting for the drain nut on the tc, I beleive a 5 or 6 hex tool.Thats the liquid thats going to bring you to a complete trannie service.A new filter can then do its job with fresh fluid.

******* When Looking at the Engine FROM THE FRONT ***********
Clockwise....

Which is not the standard way of describing things on vehicles.. it is usually from the drivers point of view..
thus the Warning to potential new people....

IF you turn the engine backwards you are likely to drop a link of contact with the Injection Pump.... so just turn it clockwise when looking at it from the front nut...

And the FSM specifically warns against using the Power Steering Nut... to turn the engine because that is a tapered fitting....and you can make it into an interference fit.. .which you do not want...

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1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=10414

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=156207&highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

Bolt at location was given and its direction of turn would go off that described movement was my intention of detail.Or it might be safer to say turn the motor in the direction of crank while running to make it diy simpler.