Manual gearbox oil

[Dr Buz]

Hi,

I'm new to this forum. I have a C180 1997 Esprit manual (which so far has been unbreakable). However, could anyone please tell me at what mileage the gearbox oil should be replaced. I can find several references to auto boxes but not manuals.

Thanks in anticipation.

Buz

 

[television]

Hello Buz, no real time on this so why not do it at 75k some details here

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=25928

 

[Dr Buz]

Excellent!
Thank you very much, Malcolm.

 

[David Nock]

I change my manual car's gearbox and transmission at 25000 miles for longevity but I'm not constrained by miles or time. (very low miles and got plenty). Hope I get longevity also.

 

[Dr Buz]

Dear All,

Thank you for your information. Can I ask; how many litres will the gearbox need? Will be replacing the oil within the Xmas holidays, hopefully.

 

[Aussie Nick]

Hi Buz. It will need a couple i would think,at least. Do you know how you are going to drain it and then fill it? Also there are different types of gear box oils.Some are for manuals and others for auto.

 

[Dr Buz]

Hi,

I was going to call at the local stealership with the engine and chassis numbers and get the correct oil along with a new drain plug washer. Then I was going to drive over a pit so I can gain access to the gearbox drain and filler plugs.

 

[television]

Thats the best way to do it, in comfort, sorry I cant give you the amount but Aussie Nick is some where near correct.

 

[Aussie Nick]

Buz .You may need to get a little plastic manual pump to pump the oil in from the top plug in both the gear box and diff. If different oils are specified for one or the other,as I expect, you should buy two pumps to avoid contamination.They dont cost much.

 

[Dr Buz]

Thanks Aussie Nick. I did wonder about that. I wasnt quite sure whether i could get the bottle high enough to trickle it in. Silly me didn't think about using a pump; D'oh!

 

[Dr Buz]

Update:

The stealership suggested that the gearbox needed, “… we think just over three litres of oil, so I’ve given you four so you don’t run out.”
Ok.
£60.
Not so ok.

In fact, only 1.5 litres of oil drained out of the box. I measured what came out and put the same back in.
What did come out was as black as tar, which, I suppose, was to be expected for 90,088 miles. Surprisingly, there was only a small amount of swarf on the magnetic sump plug.

To anyone having a go at this job, I would say only attempt it if you know how to use a spanner and have some mechanical experience. And a syringe with a tube so you can squirt the oil into the filler hole.

It wasn’t a beginner’s job simply because it was very difficult to get at the drain and filler plugs in the absence of a pit. (I had a few problems there. I ended up with the car on jacks on a slight slope to keep the gearbox horizontal so the oil would drain properly).

That said, with the oil changed, the box feels so much smoother when changing gear. It is not quite so tractor-like.

Still, the engine’s oil filter from the stealership was only half the price that I have been paying in Halfords!

 

[David Nock]

It's usual to fill to the point that oil comes back out of the filler plug hole. If you've lost oil in the past you'll be low on gearbox oil now. I would double check and top up. Sorry but 'scrawming' under is all part of the keen DIYers day! Hot tip - Get an old (clean!) pair of underpants or knickers on your head to keep the muck at bay! Top it up right away and you'll find it's a lot easier now you've been thro' the learning curve.

 

[big x]

Hi Buz. It will need a couple i would think,at least. Do you know how you are going to drain it and then fill it? Also there are different types of gear box oils.Some are for manuals and others for auto.

Actually the oil is the same. Both take MB ATF. My BMW 523i manual box also uses the thinner weight ATF and the capacity is only 1 litre.

adam