automatic gear box oil change

nrg220

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220cdi Elegance Saloon
Does anyone technical know why some C Class autoboxes have oil for life and others require a change every few years. Mine is a w204 09/2007 C220 5 speed auto, and based on the greabox ref MB says the gearbox oil never needs attention, ie changing or topping up (unless a leak occurs)..just curious what the differences would be that would allow this lifetime spec as it seems odd to me. I only asked as there was no reference to changing it in the service manual

Thanks :confused:
 

mercmancdi

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I found this strange as well i bought a 2007 e280 cdi and the gear box oil was changed at
39000 mls and now mercedes say it never needs done again but i often wonder would it be best to hget it changed again
 

television

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When this 722.6 made its debout in 06-96 it was said MB sealed for life.

Interesting that all cars that were on assist had the fluid changed at 37k miles on a once only basis.

It has been long proved that the fluid needs to be changed every 40k miles. We have had hundreds of post where everyone comments how much smoother the box is with new fluid and a filter
 

range rover

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automatic gearbox oil change

I had a 2003, I think , c220cdi and it left here without an automatic transmission oil change ever at 80,000 miles and it was used to do quite a lot of trailer work, it was my landrover, looking back now, many times I was hauling way above the sort of load which was legal, my only saving grace was I didn't travel above about 40 when fully loaded, but the car went down on the back quite often when my load decided to stand near the front, silly I know, when I think what could have happened in an emergency.
On the whys and wherefores about changing the auto oil, I have read on another thread/make, that if the oil was changed regularly it was ok to keep doing so, but if say you get the transmission flushed at 60or70,000 miles it is possible in the flushing process to dislodge foreign matter which would then be mobile in the new oil change. So in summarising, I don't know if oil was recommended for a change in the c220, but I know it's not a service item on my s class, I also realize I would feel very bad about this advice if I ever have to change the transmission, even though it is very unlikely MB would say their advice was wrong all along
 

mercmancdi

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i have 100000 mls and m b said thats fine it only ever needs one change between
35 and 40000 so i guess they should know
 

television

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i have 100000 mls and m b said thats fine it only ever needs one change between
35 and 40000 so i guess they should know

The are wrong and well proven to be wrong all over the world on every forum
 

television

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I had a 2003, I think , c220cdi and it left here without an automatic transmission oil change ever at 80,000 miles and it was used to do quite a lot of trailer work, it was my landrover, looking back now, many times I was hauling way above the sort of load which was legal, my only saving grace was I didn't travel above about 40 when fully loaded, but the car went down on the back quite often when my load decided to stand near the front, silly I know, when I think what could have happened in an emergency.
On the whys and wherefores about changing the auto oil, I have read on another thread/make, that if the oil was changed regularly it was ok to keep doing so, but if say you get the transmission flushed at 60or70,000 miles it is possible in the flushing process to dislodge foreign matter which would then be mobile in the new oil change. So in summarising, I don't know if oil was recommended for a change in the c220, but I know it's not a service item on my s class, I also realize I would feel very bad about this advice if I ever have to change the transmission, even though it is very unlikely MB would say their advice was wrong all along

In answer to the above most but not all MB dealer now accept that this needs to be done at every 40k miles. And no it is not in any service book or elsewhere from MB, if they were to admit they were wrong it would open the flood gates.
 

jberks

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My dealer did mine at 45k, I had it done again at 100k. I will probably repeat it at 150k. I'm well aware that the service schedule doesn't mandate it, but for £135 or so, it seems very sensible preventative maintenance to me. After all, hydraulically it may be ok, but this stuff also lubricates the mechanisms, and would you leave any lubricant in for that period knowing the stresses and temperatures it has to undergo?
 

television

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It should be done every 40k miles, you should see the state of some of the fluid that comes out on some boxes, the box will be very much smoother and better changes once its done.

The box is full of valves etc and many moving parts, no lubrication fluid will last for ever, it should be done along with a new filter
 

mercmancdi

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I agree i am going to see about getting my done as at 100000 mls in 4 years with the last change at 39000 i think it deserves it
 

mercmancdi

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Does anyone technical know why some C Class autoboxes have oil for life and others require a change every few years. Mine is a w204 09/2007 C220 5 speed auto, and based on the greabox ref MB says the gearbox oil never needs attention, ie changing or topping up (unless a leak occurs)..just curious what the differences would be that would allow this lifetime spec as it seems odd to me. I only asked as there was no reference to changing it in the service manual

Thanks :confused:

QUESTION if you were to asked by someone going to test drive a 2006 e320 cdi
7tip automatic who has never drove a automatic before how would they know if gearbox is working as it should . I was asked this and although i drive an auto
i did not feel qualified to advise
 

jberks

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QUESTION if you were to asked by someone going to test drive a 2006 e320 cdi
7tip automatic who has never drove a automatic before how would they know if gearbox is working as it should . I was asked this and although i drive an auto
i did not feel qualified to advise

The questions you should ask are
1) Are the changes silky smooth (e.g. no jolts, bangs etc)
2) Does it change gear or is it holding onto gears when you'd have changed up on a manual? (When warm).

To be fair, any faults on an auto gearbox should be pretty obvious. If it's nice to drive it should be fine.
 

Silver_Star

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QUESTION if you were to asked by someone going to test drive a 2006 e320 cdi
7tip automatic who has never drove a automatic before how would they know if gearbox is working as it should . I was asked this and although i drive an auto
i did not feel qualified to advise

JBerks has pretty much summed it up. However I would also make sure the kickdown works. Ie foot to the deck and it should drop a cog.
 

television

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That box should be clear of any glycol issues, just test for smooth changes on both light and full throttle as above
 

mercmancdi

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Thanks he test drove the car this morning and wants me to go back with him in the morning . He said the gear change seemed nice but only when he ran up to a set of traffic lights he said he THOUGHT he felt atiny bumb as if it was dropping into bottom gear but he wants me to go with him as he thought it was very slight and running up to the lights with no throttle. Would this be normal to feel a slight nudge down into 1st as for the kick down he was surprised at the power (he said it made him sit back in his seat)
One other thing he named was he though it could have changed up slightly sooner
but to honest i thought this of my own e280 cdi
 

delboyuk2508

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I don't understand why any manufacturer would say that the auto gearbox oil is sealed for life.

I changed mine 2002 w203 a couple of weeks ago, fitted a new filter and flushed the torque converter, parts cost me about £80 from GSF, made a huge difference to the smooth gearchanges, even my wife noticed the difference LOL.

I used the reference details of the sequence which was posted on here by Ollie, bought a dipstick off Ebay for about £3 that made sure I got the level spot on as that can cause major problems if you don't get the level right.

I used a couple of DIY ramps that I have had for years, took me, on my back, about 1.5 hrs to do properly, you just gotta take your time and do everything methodically.

If I can find the link to the instructions I will post it here.

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/howto/115863-how-change-automatic-gerbox-oil-flush-722-6-box.html

Hope this helps anyone reading this
 
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