Change of ATF fluid&filter on C220 CDI

[oulrichs]

All,

I've got a 2000 (W) C220 CDI auto estate with 165000 on the clock. After reading up on the issue I decided to get the ATF fluid and filter changed at the last (main dealer) service (£200 all-in). The box has not got a drain plug on the torque converter but I understood the fluid could be pumped out with the right euipment. When I picked the car up the bill only listed 4 liters of ATF. When I queried this they told me that it is not possible to drain the fluid from the torque converter so all they had done was to change the filter and main box fluid. Does anyone know if MB has a documented procedure to drain the torque converter? The only reason I paid them big bucks to do this was to do it properly. I'm not a happy bunny!

oulrichs

 

[colechelle]

i belive and i quote i belive there was a certain gap in that age group which didnt come with drains on the converter, i could be wrong, hope black will read this thread cause he will know that age better than me but as i said i m sure a few of them didnt!!

 

[undeckedhomer]

torque can be drained by takeing off the oil cooler pipe and running the engine ???

 

[oulrichs]

Yes, that was my understanding as well, the oil could be drained through the cooler pipe either by attaching a pump or running the engine. The unit is definitly of the "sealed for life" type with no drain plug on the torque converter.

 

[panason1c]

Drain plugs were discontinued near the end of 1999.

 

[BlackC55]

torque can be drained by takeing off the oil cooler pipe and running the engine ???

Yep. This the way to do it.

 

[oulrichs]

I've complained again to the MB garage. They say that changing the oil is not that important it's the filter change that matters. I'm not buying it. Even the best synthetic lubricant is going to be well tired after 8 years and 165000 miles in an autobox.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

If that's what they say, I'd say its time to go elsewhere.

 

[Copydeck]

Worth sticking to your guns on this one. If it is at all possible I would change the oil at that mileage.Sealed for life but what's life? Their definition could be a 100,000 or 150,00
miles.

 

[oulrichs]

I complained in writing to the service manager of the garage (it also helped that I had another MB garage quoting me to do the full job for the same price). They've now agreed to re-do the job free of charge getting all the oil out so I'm happy. I have to say that even the partial oil and filter change has made the box and gear changes a lot smoother. My reasoning is that If I want to run the box for another 100k miles until the next oil change I want virgin oil.

 

[oulrichs]

Got the car back after the full oil and filter change on Friday. Definetly another marked improvement in the operation of the box (so this has been well worth doing and will significantly extend the life of the box I think). Btw, I got the 722.6 gear box dipstick on order from the US (thorugh eBay). $36 including shipping (http://store.auctiva.com/kinetikco?rlid=4).