HELP!! W123 Manual Gear box oil? 5 speed.

[100haggis]

Hi can anyone help me before close of play today? I know my gearbox needs ATF rather than gear oil but my local factors have a few different types and no mention of type "A" as specified in my owners manual? Used to put ATF in older Ford manuals but I dont recall there being different types?
Cheers Matt

 

[television]

My info shows that you use a MB 345.0 hydraulic fluid A001 989 24 03

 

[100haggis]

Cheers TV,

Apparantly that fluid is listed as power steering fluid for newer VW's etc? Can this be true?
Matt

 

[television]

I had a big problem in working this out as some of the 716 boxes use 70W.80W gear oil

 

[GEORGEROV]

Hi Matt, I would use a good general purpose atf such as Shell Donax TA or TX, which is recommended for your model. I daresay Malcolm is right with the modern Merc specs but the idea of using a hydraulic fluid in an old gearbox just grates with me.

 

[100haggis]

Yeah George I agree. My worry is it would grate in the gearbox too! I've opted for a Dexron 2 ATF which seems to better suit the age of the car and reflect product availability in 1983. Fingers crossed as my local MB dealer were not too helpful.
Matt