E320 trans pan chunks of metal
 

I'm working on a 1999 E320. It has the so called filled for life transmission. It is at 100k miles and getting it's first trans fluid change. I captured the fluid intpo a clean container (sometimes you should put the old fluid back in believe it or not). the fluid is dark grey almost black, not a trace of red.

Dropped the pan and found 15 pieces of steel (3mmx1.5mmx1mm). Other than that no traces of copper material, no sludge either. Trans has been shifting fine.

Are these chunks of metal cause for alarm? I'll replace the filter and fluid (will see if convertor can be drained as well). Some mechanics will put the old fluid back in if they think the new fluid will take down the trans while at his shop with a warning to customer that trans will soon fail.

I would be concerned if I saw any 'chunks' with considerable mass.:eek:

i don't think you can really worry about the chunks...what's done is done..

i'd put a clean fresh fill of mobil 1 in.

Can you post some pictures

Hmm, dark fluid and metal shards in the trans pan . . . you'll probably need a trans rebuild or get a rebuilt trans to replace it.

No, I am not putting in Mobil1. You must know that only MB trans fluid goes in these things.

these fill for life trans often get discolored after 60-100k miles. somne may even say that is normal. Just want to know based on real life experience what you've experienced when changing fluids on these trans. Does the new fluid with fresh viscocity coeff and detergent capabilities take these trans' down given the info i provided? Trans fluid has never been changed and it's been 100k.

BTW, I suspect the 3x1.5x1mm shards of steel are pieces of bearing races or cages.

If there are no transmission complaints I'd just go with it, especially if there are so few pieces that you can actually COUNT them. They may have been there since '99, break-in sort of thing. I would however put the magnetic pad in the pan. (MB mod). Sounds like you are doing a good job, absolutely agree with using the MB fluid for this trans.
Gilly

erubin, here is a post I made quite awhile ago you might enjoy:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showpost.php?p=702285&postcount=8

Gilly,

Thank you for your help. I did as planned with 7qts of MB fluid in so far. I removed 7 1/4 (from pan and torque converter) but the new measured level is up to the max cold level line with just 7qts. Tomorrow i will test drive to bring it up to temp (80C) and adjust level as necessary. Will measure temp with IR gun on the pan as i don't have a temp probe to go into the fluid. May need to find an empty long stretch of street if readaptation at any of the shift points is needed.

BTW, I have the document you may have refered to in your older post that shows 4 photos of pan sediments and how to consider them. If anyone needs it i have it as a pdf file. Unfortunately I only have the photos in black & white. The document is dated May 1998, and is called "All models with automatic transmission 722.6. Guideline for determining automatic transmission repair/replacement"

The car has an extended warranty to 100k and it is at 97k now. If it is going to fail better now than at 101k i guess.

Did you put the pad in, or too late?
Gilly

erubin, Gilly & all,

Any idea where I could find the original color photos showing the fluid color examples? I did a google search for May 1998 722.6 guideline etc. but didn't have any luck.

Here's a thread with a pic of the old stuff and some discussion:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=120239&highlight=722.6+fluid+color

New 722.6 fluid is bright red

deltajetfixer,

Thanks for the reply but I was looking specifically for the 4 color photos contained in the MB document erubin and Gilly were discussing. erubin has them in black and white but that wouldn't be as helpful as the color photos.

According to erubin they were included in a May 1998 Mercedes document titled "All models with automatic transmission 722.6. Guideline for determining automatic transmission repair/replacement".

Too late for the pan magnet. I was going to do it except for the fact it is the weekend and i couldn't wait till monday and then find out it wasn't available. i hope that isn't a big mistake. I believe the MB magnet looks like a waffle and about the size of an open book of matches. the tramns is under warranty for another 3K miles and didn't want to stick in any old magnet and have someone open it up and say this was not done professionally.

As for the photos, i only have them in B&W and the entire document is 400KB.

For now, just get a powerful magnet and attach it to the bottom of the pan from the outside.