1998 r129 5 speed gearbox oil levels.

[wub]

Can anybody help here. I have recently dropped the gearbox oil pan, to drain the oil and replace the wiring loom seal. All back together and approx same amount of oil put back in, as i took out. ( i dident do the torc convertor drain). so i bought my self a Febi 722.8 gearbox dip stick to check the level and it was miles too long. So i bought another Febi one, this time supposed to be for the exact car, Febi 101378. But again, this is too long and when i insert it into the tube, there is about 400mm left out the top after i have pushed it in as far as it will go. And when i remove, there is oil all over the gauge bit and 50mm up the sprund dip stick. This makes me think its got to the pan and bent over and slid along the pan, so not giving a true level. Is there a dip stick the correct length for my sl500 98? i did read that some dip sticks have a thicker bit at the end near the black plastic gauge part that stops it at the correct height, but neither of mine have this?

 

[alexanderfoti]

Firstly, this is the correct dipstick.

Secondy, the dipstick does not go in all the way, you have to stop when you reach any resistance, insert it gently. If you push it too far, it will push past the stop and read incorrectly.

Thirdly, if you use the dipstick too soon after filling up the fluid via the tube, it will pickup residue from the tube and be heard to read

and finaly, you have to check the level with the engine running and the car in park, otherwise it will read too high.

Your dipstick does have the thicker stopper:

 

[charlysays]

Why not drain the TC? Most 1998 5 speeds have a drain on the TC and that's where most of the fluid is.

 

[wub]

So still not very confident i am getting correct reading. I pushed the dip stick in gently this time and found a tiny bit of resistence when there was 60 cm of the febi dip stick still left from the top of the dip stick tube. With that i had nothing on the dip stick, even though i had put in what i thought had come out. Just a tiny bit more pressure and the dip stick goes much further in and gauge area is completely covered. So looks like position 1 where 60cms was left out, has to be the correct reading and i need a lot more oil. Whats the thoughts, 60cm left outside the tub sound right?

Oh and dident drain the TC cause car is in park and battery off etc whilst i rebuild the whole suspension /ADS/ brakes etc. I decided i would drain down again once the car was up and running and done a few miles.

 

[Blobcat]

So still not very confident i am getting correct reading. I pushed the dip stick in gently this time and found a tiny bit of resistence when there was 60 cm of the febi dip stick still left from the top of the dip stick tube. With that i had nothing on the dip stick, even though i had put in what i thought had come out. Just a tiny bit more pressure and the dip stick goes much further in and gauge area is completely covered. So looks like position 1 where 60cms was left out, has to be the correct reading and i need a lot more oil. Whats the thoughts, 60cm left outside the tub sound right?

Oh and dident drain the TC cause car is in park and battery off etc whilst i rebuild the whole suspension /ADS/ brakes etc. I decided i would drain down again once the car was up and running and done a few miles.

As per above you need to check the level with the engine running…