This was copied from the post at the following link, any thoughts?
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w163-m-class/1351093-interesting-transmission-fluid-information.html?highlight=transmission+failure
A customer of mine sent in a part we produce to have us look at it. His stationary showed he owned a transmission shop. I had to call him today to get some information on our product, but he seemed like a really nice and intelligent guy so I asked him about the hub-bub of Mercedes transmission fluid and related subjects.
Come to find out he was a wealth of information. The reason that MB spec's their own fluid is not the fluid itself, but an additive that they have put in after the fact. He went on to say that as long as we used a Mercon V fluid, we would be fine. The additives in Mercon V are virtually identical to the MB stuff.
He went on to add that the 722.6 transmission is used in a host of Chrysler vehicles even including some Jeeps and they are all using Mercon V. He told me that if I was to simply drain out the pan and refill each year, changing the filter every other year, I would never be into his shop with a failure. I asked if every year was overkill and he said no. While the fluid may do ok to 60k, the strains put on that fluid every day and how pitiful the filters are make him want to change it frequently. I figure $15 per change on non filter years is pretty damn cheap.
His preferred fluid that he uses in his own vehicles, is Valvoline Mercon V synthetic. For the price (~$3.50/qt) he said it is about as good as you can get.
The wealth of knowledge that he had demonstrated to me that he was not just talking out of his butt.
Use this information as you wish, but I am going to follow his advise and do a drain and fill this weekend. Will do it every year from now on.
02-03-2008, 05:17 PM
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