MarkwithaMerc
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 28, 2008
- Messages
- 106
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Heathfield, East Sussex
- Your Mercedes
- 1964 S Type Jaguar, 2001 E240 Estate
Just seen a coupla threads concerning gearbox oil leaks. I was in Somerset last week enjoying a beautiful week in our caravan when the wife noticed black patches all over the nice camp site. The local garage took a quick look and confirmed the auto gearbox oil cooler pipe, which runs under the radiators, was corroded and pin-holed. Said local garage didn't have time to cary out any repair but lent me their workshop to repair the old pipe. A quick job cutting the old pipe out and clamping in a length of reinforced hose, crimped at both ends and I was sure this would be OK.
I then took it to MB Taunton, (120 mile round-trip!), for a check-up of the oil level as neither the local garage nor I could find the dipstick! 1 1/2 litres of oil, (OK, FOC), and one hours labour and I reassured myself everything was OK. Got back to the caravan site, opened the bonnet and to my horror found a puddle of oil on top of the undertray and, yes, dripping on the nice campsite again! I haven't found out yet where this latest leak is but I suspect the oil pressure is higher than the crimped connectors are designed to handle.
Anyway, we set-off back and have just arrived back in Sunny Sussex without mishap but again the oil level needs checking, after renewing the pipe which I will do later this week, but I can't do it without a dipstick!
My first question is, how do MB getaway with charging 53 quid, (minimum charge), for checking the gearbox oil and all because they don't fit a dipstick??
My second is how can I measure the oil level after I have renewed this pipe? I am sure one of you kind people will have found a way of doing it!
Besides all the above, the car averaged 19.4 mpg and a speed of 39 miles/hr. Total trip was 526 miles! Very pleased with the product by not quite so with MB! (Nose-weight was about 68kg)
I then took it to MB Taunton, (120 mile round-trip!), for a check-up of the oil level as neither the local garage nor I could find the dipstick! 1 1/2 litres of oil, (OK, FOC), and one hours labour and I reassured myself everything was OK. Got back to the caravan site, opened the bonnet and to my horror found a puddle of oil on top of the undertray and, yes, dripping on the nice campsite again! I haven't found out yet where this latest leak is but I suspect the oil pressure is higher than the crimped connectors are designed to handle.
Anyway, we set-off back and have just arrived back in Sunny Sussex without mishap but again the oil level needs checking, after renewing the pipe which I will do later this week, but I can't do it without a dipstick!
My first question is, how do MB getaway with charging 53 quid, (minimum charge), for checking the gearbox oil and all because they don't fit a dipstick??
My second is how can I measure the oil level after I have renewed this pipe? I am sure one of you kind people will have found a way of doing it!
Besides all the above, the car averaged 19.4 mpg and a speed of 39 miles/hr. Total trip was 526 miles! Very pleased with the product by not quite so with MB! (Nose-weight was about 68kg)
