Whoever put those things in there was really strong. Very hard to get out! Anyway I finally did get them both out and replaced the old gear lube with a synthetic. Old lube looked fine at 155k miles, a little dark maybe. When I took the fill plug out (before the drain plug of course) about a pint of oil leaked out, is this normal? It was on level ground. I'm guessing it was overfilled from the factory, I don't think it has been changed or even checked before.

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1985 300D Turbo ~225k
2000 F350 (Powerstroke) 4X4, SWB, CC, SRW, 6spd ~148k
1999 International 4900, DT466e (250hp/660 ft/lbs), Allison MD3060 ~73k

I think the fill level is to the threads on the fill plug. Hard to overfill.

Those plugs are usually VERY tight -- often overtightened and/or locktited down.

I was warned not to fill the rear end on the 280 unless the weight of the car was on the wheels -- the axle tube on the left side will fill with oil if it is lower than the rear end, and hold more than a quart ---- serious over fill when the axle is level!

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

I figured it should only be filled to the plug so that's what I did, it took slightly over a quart just like it should.

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1985 300D Turbo ~225k
2000 F350 (Powerstroke) 4X4, SWB, CC, SRW, 6spd ~148k
1999 International 4900, DT466e (250hp/660 ft/lbs), Allison MD3060 ~73k

I just did mine yesterday. Mine looked like molasses and was very low (explained driveline clunk and a slight whine). I used a cheater bar to take the drain plug off, but the fill was easy to loosen. I filled it with 80W-90 dino oil and I snugged them both really good when I was done.

I serviced my 1982 300SD rear differential on Friday. Must be the right time of year or something. I used a 17mm allen wrench. It required moderate strength to remove the drain and fill, but I did not need a cheeter bar.

I suspect this was possibly the first time mine had been changed as well. I have 137K on the vehicle. The color was very brown, almost a chocolate syrup color. I did not see too much in the way of metal particles though. I was able to do this at my buddies shop and had it up on a rack. I was able to place my finger in the drain hole and pull out some more fluid that did not drain on its own. There was some metal particles found when I did this, but nothing to be concerned about.

I refilled with the car up in the air on the rack. I filled until the gear lube started to run out of the fill plug. I am now wondering about over filling as stated by psfred in his thread. I have bulk gear lube and did not measure how much I put in. I did use a filling device that resembles a grease gun. You basically fill the canister and then push the plunger in to force the gear lube into the differential. It took approximately two and 1/3 of these to fill to the drain plug. The volume is probably close to a little more than a quart.

Wondering if any one can comment or confirm the possiblilty of overfilling the differential if it is filled with the tires off of the ground as it relates to a 300SD.

Thanks,
Rob

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'82 300SD 206K miles Anthracite Grey received 250,000 Km badge
'93 GMC Turbo Diesel 1-Ton Dually 113K miles Stolen 17 Jul 05
2005 GMC 2500HD Crew Cab D-max 22K miles Love it!
'68 Corvair Monza 110 Coupe 26K Sold
'66 Corvair Monza 110 Convertible 123K
'52 Ford 8N Sold
'66 Ford 3000 Diesel (204 hours) For Sale
'86 White 2-65 MFWD Iseki Diesel

You don't have to worry much about overfilling a 300D or 300SD if the car is level. You don't have an axle tube like the typical American vehicles. You have a differential box and then axle shafts. The differential box is mounted to the car and it doesn't move whether the wheels are supporting the weight of the vehicle or not.

So, no measurement is needed. Fill until the differential is full up to the fill hole and starts running out.

Ken300D

After the differential was so hard I was leary of taking on the transmission. I did anyway, changed the fluid, new filter, etc. Guess the car felt bad for the differential being so hard. Everything worked great, the t/c plug was even in the right spot to drain it when I crawled underneath much to my amazement. Fluid was pretty good looking, at least I thought so until I had the pan off and could see what was left in the pan, it wasn't real bad but a little dark, no pieces of bands or anything else in there luckily. I don't know when it was last changed but I've put over 25k on it in the last year. Drove it about ten miles and no leaks yet. Seems to shift smoother too.

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1985 300D Turbo ~225k
2000 F350 (Powerstroke) 4X4, SWB, CC, SRW, 6spd ~148k
1999 International 4900, DT466e (250hp/660 ft/lbs), Allison MD3060 ~73k

You can only overfill the W123/W126 and later cars if they are severely nose down while filling -- the oil will run back out the hole!

The 280 is a 1972 W108, with swing axles and an offset rear end. The hollow tube the axle runs in (the later cars have open half shafts with constant velocity joints) is open to the diff, so if it is hanging down, it fills up. This is a problem when you put the car back on the wheels, as the oil runs back and now the diff is seriously overfull.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

I've got a E300D and the diff seems to have a 13 mm plug. Half inch allen moves too much and 14 mm is too big. Of couse no one carries a 13 mm allen. Any suggestions?

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hlg

Do yourself a favor and use the right tool. These guys should be able to find you a 13mm allen wrench. If not call the dealer.

www.samstagsales.com

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LRG
1987 300D Turbo 175K
2006 Toyota Prius, efficent but no soul
1985 300 TDT(130K miles of trouble free motoring)now sold

Find a bolt with a 13MM head and jamb 2 nuts on it. Use a box wrench on the jambed nuts and you should be able to open the differential.
Consider some heat on the plug bolt to help loosen it.
Consider a grade 8 bolt for this, or a metric equivilent.
A grade 8 bolt has a rating of 150,000psi. A metric grade 10K bolt is 142,000psi and 12K bolt is rated at 170,674psi.You may have a hard time finding a 12K bolt. But you should be able to find a 10K bolt.
Dave

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1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

Thanks for the info, will try to find or make one. I have not seen mention of 13 mm in the threads here (mostly 14 mm). Do you confirm it is 13mm?

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hlg

Harvey:

Make sure the socket is completely clean, too -- doesn't take much crud and rust in there to make it appear to be smaller than it actually is. For the force required to remove the plug, a good fit is vital --- if it is really a 14mm fitting and you use a 13 on a dirty plug, you are likely to round it out, making a real mess out of it (this is from experience.....)

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Harvey,

Where do you live? If there is a Sears nearby they have 13mm Allen wrenches, as well as every other size up to about 22mm. I still have my original Snap-on 14mm unit from 1976 when they really were hard to find.

I second the recommendation to verify the size after cleaning out the hex hole in the plug. I have yet to see anything but a 14 mm hex socket on these or the transmission. But I have not tackled an E300D yet either. Good luck, Jim

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Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

Hi Jim. Unfortunately Sears no longer lists a 13 mm. They have all sizes up to 10mm then 12, 14,17, 19. Nothing else listed in the catalog and the local store is unaware of other sizes. You guys now have me so worried, I will go out and try again. I tried to fit a 14mm hex head bolt in today and no fit. Half inch fits loosely. And since half inch is 12.5mm (approx) then it is indeed 13mm. (I hope!). Anyhow I will have a 13 mm hex head soon, as I found that Snap On has it. (of course priced too high). Will report progress next week. Thanks all. Harvey

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hlg