C280 Technical Information

[Sanjiv Ranchod]

I drive a 1995 C280 AMG, which is due for a major service soon (240 000 km). I would like to ascertain the following:

- Is Dexron 3 an acceptable ATF meeting the Mercedes 236.1 specification?
Is it recommended to renew the p/s fluid every 60 000 km, and if so, is Dexron 3 an acceptable replacement fluid?
- The agents have always recommended Bosch spark plugs, however would like to try out the Champion Eon 2 - safe choice?
- Would you recommned the changing of the diff oil, ever, with a 80W90 gear oil?
- What is a safe way to clean the engine - every time I hose the engine down, the vehcile splutters, due to wet leads, even if the cover is sealed off.
- Back wheels tending to have more wear on the inside of the tyre - rides on 225/45/17, and alignment check proves to be in spec - advice?

 

[Myros]

what little I know is yours

Sanjeev,
welcome aboard. Nice motor by the sounds of it.
As for the engine cleaning problem, just how dirty is your engine getting? If not bad enough to seriosly affect cooling etc, I wouldn't squirt liquid around it just for the sake of it. It might get terminal one day and leave you stranded.
The back wheel thing sounds like a camber adjustment problem. You say readings up to spec though, so maybe you're just stuck with lobsided wear as a problem. You could minimize it by switching fronts to rears (same side) every 2k miles or so.
Plugs, can't say for the Champions, but I've used Bosch multi-electrode types and NGK as well as Bosch Iridium electrode. Depends on how much you like to pay for them. They all work fine, particularly the 4-electrode NGK,(they were in my Beemer). I'm on Iridium now on the 280 and 500 and no complaints.
Can't say about the fluids, although I would have thought a 90 gear oil was about right for the diff. ATF-wise, call up your local Charlie Browns and have them leaf through their lubricants book to tell you whether Dexron or the others are suitable.