Auto Fluid CLC 2010

[Ant747]

Hello peeps. In anyone's experience might it be OK to drain just some of the total auto fluid capacity from the gearbox and replace the exact amount that drains out rather than a full drop the cover and service? Car has only done 44k and is a 2010 model but I am beginning to feel slight 'variations' in the gear changes that I haven't felt before. Not particularly jumpy but sometime the changes seem slightly odd and not quite right? Thought replacing a pans worth of fluid might help in case I am wasting £3/400 on a full change that makes no difference. Car has only been driven statesman like and unstressed. Thanks in advance. Ant.

 

[Wighty]

Ideally you need the filter changing at 37,500 miles buddy . It’s £200 ish at an MB independent for a full change including filter .
However you aren’t wrong , yes you can drain from the sump and replace the 3.5L of fluid . Ideally you should buy a dipstick from eBay for £10 that will accurately measure the level (which is critical to correct gearbox function)
Use Fuchs ATF 4134 from eBay .
I drain my CLK gearbox sump and refill every year because it’s so cheap and easy , but I still change the filter every 40k miles anyway
There is plenty on Youtube for the 722.6 gearbox fluid change

 

[Ant747]

Ideally you need the filter changing at 37,500 miles buddy . It’s £200 ish at an MB independent for a full change including filter .
However you aren’t wrong , yes you can drain from the sump and replace the 3.5L of fluid . Ideally you should buy a dipstick from eBay for £10 that will accurately measure the level (which is critical to correct gearbox function)
Use Fuchs ATF 4134 from eBay .
I drain my CLK gearbox sump and refill every year because it’s so cheap and easy , but I still change the filter every 40k miles anyway
There is plenty on Youtube for the 722.6 gearbox fluid change

Ahh...thanks Wighty, much appreciated. For now I am gonna try the part empty and part refill to see if it improves it in any way. Its next service is about 50k or so so I will do a complete 'wash and clean' then. Is the engine switched off when drainng the pan for a part refill?

As one thought brings another, do you have any experience of changing clogged windscreen washer jets. I can get the air grill loose but can't extract it from the bonnet if you know what I mean? Thought about submerging them in to descaler to eat all the built up crud that's blocking them. Thanks. Ant

 

[Wighty]

Ahh...thanks Wighty, much appreciated. For now I am gonna try the part empty and part refill to see if it improves it in any way. Its next service is about 50k or so so I will do a complete 'wash and clean' then. Is the engine switched off when drainng the pan for a part refill?

As one thought brings another, do you have any experience of changing clogged windscreen washer jets. I can get the air grill loose but can't extract it from the bonnet if you know what I mean? Thought about submerging them in to descaler to eat all the built up crud that's blocking them. Thanks. Ant

Engine off buddy for just draining the gearbox sump . Get the dipstick though to measure the atf level when it’s hot at 80 degrees , on a level surface , engine running , gearbox in Park .
I only know the bits about cars that I’ve worked on , anything else is a mystery

 

[EmilysDad]

Ideally you need the filter changing at 37,500 miles buddy . It’s £200 ish at an MB independent for a full change including filter .
However you aren’t wrong , yes you can drain from the sump and replace the 3.5L of fluid . Ideally you should buy a dipstick from eBay for £10 that will accurately measure the level (which is critical to correct gearbox function)
Use Fuchs ATF 4134 from eBay .
I drain my CLK gearbox sump and refill every year because it’s so cheap and easy , but I still change the filter every 40k miles anyway
There is plenty on Youtube for the 722.6 gearbox fluid change

Do any MB gearboxes have provision for a dipstick? I'd have thought they all used a fill/level plug in the side or a drain plug with a overflow type set up.
Are you not confusing dipsticks with engine sumps that use electrickery for the oil level?

 

[Wighty]

Do any MB gearboxes have provision for a dipstick? I'd have thought they all used a fill/level plug in the side or a drain plug with a overflow type set up.
Are you not confusing dipsticks with engine sumps that use electrickery for the oil level?

5g buddy

 

[Jim2]

You can get the Dipstick easy on Ebay. They have a choice of different lengths, but for the 1200 mm one when inserted, it will overhang the tube, but that's not a problem. Its the black plastic tip that does the actual measurement, and it has a Diamond stoop on it to make sure that it only enters to the correct depth into the fluid.

 

[EmilysDad]

5g buddy
.....

I stand corrected. The last auto I had with a dipstick for the auto box was my MK1 Carlton ... the rest have had fill/level plugs in the side of the 'box.

 

[Jim2]

I stand corrected. The last auto I had with a dipstick for the auto box was my MK1 Carlton ... the rest have had fill/level plugs in the side of the 'box.

Yes but that was the standard back then........side plug on the box, if some came out ( of if you could feel some oil with your finger , it was fine.) Other wise, top it up. The back axle in the MB's still use this system. No electrickry....

 

[Ant747]

Engine off buddy for just draining the gearbox sump . Get the dipstick though to measure the atf level when it’s hot at 80 degrees , on a level surface , engine running , gearbox in Park .
I only know the bits about cars that I’ve worked on , anything else is a mystery

Thanks again and I can expect about 3.5 litres to drain out being just the sump or does it all come out?

 

[Jim2]

Thanks again and I can expect about 3.5 litres to drain out being just the sump or does it all come out?

No, it won't all come out. Just what is in the sump, and what ever drains down from the transmission it self. The longer you leave it draining the better. But the TC, cooling radiator and pipes will still contain as much as 60/65 % ( approx) of the total qty.

 

[Ant747]

No, it won't all come out. Just what is in the sump, and what ever drains down from the transmission it self. The longer you leave it draining the better. But the TC, cooling radiator and pipes will still contain as much as 60/65 % ( approx) of the total qty.

Thanks very much for the help.