Today I f***ed up by ..

[Conor]

...Accidentally opening the ATF cooler line while trying to remove my condenser.

Lost a couple tablespoons of ATF.

:Grimace.

 

[rich.g.williams]

Two tablespoons of ATF hardly likely to make any difference.

Might be a good time to swop some of the ATF in there, its hard to get all of it out but you can swop a good percentage of it. eBay sell Dipsticks or make your own.

 

[Conor]

Two tablespoons of ATF hardly likely to make any difference.

Might be a good time to swop some of the ATF in there, its hard to get all of it out but you can swop a good percentage of it. eBay sell Dipsticks or make your own.


View attachment 84095 View attachment 84096 View attachment 84097

Hopefully it won't make a difference.

But the biggest kicker is the fact that I did a full change a few thousand miles ago only lol.. Where does the dipstick go in?

So... this evening I proceeded to remove the regular radiator along with the condenser as it was looking a bit poor and the fins in bad shape.. more fluid came out of that too, which was alarming.

So to try and remedy things.. I took a syringe full of some left over ATF from service and forced it back into the feed pipe that had leaked before.. most of it stayed in.

Hopefully the net result isn't that much loss.

It does make me wonder though.. given the ATF level is so sensitive (needs to be filled at certain temperature).. what happens when you need to change a cooler and loose a bit of fluid. How does one top it up?

I wonder is the official method to open the sump plug, top it up.. get it to temp, then drain off and close sump plug as you do during a fluid change?

 

[rich.g.williams]

Which car is it? Which transmission is it?

On my car there is a transmission dipstick tube with a sealed plug and I would use that for level check and filling.

The transmission level (assuming yours is automatic) is not really sensitive, it's the ATF fluid itself that expands a lot as temperature increases, so MB give a dipstick level min max at 25 deg C and a min max level at 80 deg C

When changing the ATF it's difficult (impossible even) to get all of the old ATF out. After refilling it's a good idea to check the level two or three times on different days, (having driven the car between checks) that's assuming you want to do any of this yourself.

At this time of year, to check the ATF level my preference would be to leave the car standing on the flat overnight, then check the level in the afternoon and if the outside temperature is say 20 deg C then fill to the max line at 25 deg C, if the level measures too high then siphon some ATF out.

I think MB give a min max level at 80 deg C because its faster to check level at 80 deg C, the ATF is less viscous so you don't need to leave the car standing too long before checking at 80 deg C. Which is the the more accurate check (25 deg or 80 deg C) I wouldn't like to guess.

 

[EmilysDad]

which car is it? which transmission is it?

on my car there is a transmission dipstick tube with a sealed plug and I would use that for level check and filling ....

You're lucky to have a dipstick on any newish auto gearbox these days.

 

[rich.g.williams]

You're lucky to have a dipstick on any newish auto gearbox these days.

Do you mean a dipstick or a dipstick tube?

My (CL203) 2003 C200 Kompressor has a dipstick tube with a sealed bung, if you pull the bung you have to reseal it with a new "clip" a red piece of plastic.

I think MB make it difficult to check the ATF level because putting the wrong fluid in there can destroy the transmission or result in a whole lot of strange behaviour - both of which can have unsafe consequences.

 

[EmilysDad]

Do you mean a dipstick or a dipstick tube?

My (CL203) 2003 C200 Kompressor has a dipstick tube with a sealed bung, if you pull the bung you have to reseal it with a new "clip" a red piece of plastic.

I think MB make it difficult to check the ATF level because putting the wrong fluid in there can destroy the transmission or result in a whole lot of strange behaviour - both of which can have unsafe consequences.

Dipstick tube. My 1999 Omega just had a fill/level plug on the side of the box. EmilysMum's Citroen has a similar drain/level tube to that of some Mercs. I doubt MB make it difficult to fill or check the level to save us from destroying our auto gearbox

 

[daibevan]

Do you mean a dipstick or a dipstick tube?

My (CL203) 2003 C200 Kompressor has a dipstick tube with a sealed bung, if you pull the bung you have to reseal it with a new "clip" a red piece of plastic.

I think MB make it difficult to check the ATF level because putting the wrong fluid in there can destroy the transmission or result in a whole lot of strange behaviour - both of which can have unsafe consequences.

You can buy the clips for a couple of quid and get a dipstick on line.

 

[pgh13]

Which car is it? Which transmission is it?

On my car there is a transmission dipstick tube with a sealed plug and I would use that for level check and filling.

The transmission level (assuming yours is automatic) is not really sensitive, it's the ATF fluid itself that expands a lot as temperature increases, so MB give a dipstick level min max at 25 deg C and a min max level at 80 deg C

When changing the ATF it's difficult (impossible even) to get all of the old ATF out. After refilling it's a good idea to check the level two or three times on different days, (having driven the car between checks) that's assuming you want to do any of this yourself.

At this time of year, to check the ATF level my preference would be to leave the car standing on the flat overnight, then check the level in the afternoon and if the outside temperature is say 20 deg C then fill to the max line at 25 deg C, if the level measures too high then siphon some ATF out.

I think MB give a min max level at 80 deg C because its faster to check level at 80 deg C, the ATF is less viscous so you don't need to leave the car standing too long before checking at 80 deg C. Which is the the more accurate check (25 deg or 80 deg C) I wouldn't like to guess.

Don't need to leave it standing! You check the ATF level with engine running

 

[SL63 Mark]

I think MB make it difficult to check the ATF level because putting the wrong fluid in there can destroy the transmission or result in a whole lot of strange behaviour - both of which can have unsafe consequences.

I think it is more likely to be a cost saving issue, them dipsticks ain't free, you know

For the amount of use the average owner will make of it, better save the money and delete the tranny dipstick. Only an issue when active DIY folks like us get hold of the car, and want to start checking the fluids.

I don't believe my M157 engine has a dipstick either, nor did my 113k. However, the car is very good at telling you if you need to add oil, or change the oil.

 

[rich.g.williams]

I think it is more likely to be a cost saving issue, them dipsticks ain't free, you know

For the amount of use the average owner will make of it, better save the money and delete the tranny dipstick. Only an issue when active DIY folks like us get hold of the car, and want to start checking the fluids.

I don't believe my M157 engine has a dipstick either, nor did my 113k. However, the car is very good at telling you if you need to add oil, or change the oil.

I think the best cost saving strategy for MB and typical customer is to seal the ATF dipstick tube with a plug and a RED pin (like they do on fire extinguishers).

ATF contamination can't be removed 100% without completely disassembling the transmission and the torque converter (and that is welded together).

The wrong ATF can render the transmission unsafe so it's not a cost issue, try asking MB

 

[ajlsl600]

Hopefully it won't make a difference.

But the biggest kicker is the fact that I did a full change a few thousand miles ago only lol.. Where does the dipstick go in?

So... this evening I proceeded to remove the regular radiator along with the condenser as it was looking a bit poor and the fins in bad shape.. more fluid came out of that too, which was alarming.

So to try and remedy things.. I took a syringe full of some left over ATF from service and forced it back into the feed pipe that had leaked before.. most of it stayed in.

Hopefully the net result isn't that much loss.

It does make me wonder though.. given the ATF level is so sensitive (needs to be filled at certain temperature).. what happens when you need to change a cooler and loose a bit of fluid. How does one top it up?

I wonder is the official method to open the sump plug, top it up.. get it to temp, then drain off and close sump plug as you do during a fluid change?

Makers have made all that far more hassle than used to be, or needs to be. If tranny has no leaks drain when warm , measure what comes out, put same back in. Same with tc if u drain it. All that pump up thru tube in oil pan is simply made to get you into the f dealers wot WAS wrong with f dipstick. It was so f simple.
If I was every buying a car at the new cost 50k plus (I won't be unless lottery comes in, not easy as I don't do it!!) I wud not buy it if eng and or tranny has no dipstick, twas always a weekly ritual to check those each morning. And daily if away from home, good old days when makers were not at re inventing things that f worked instead of removing facility and dumping loads of electronic crxp on us made by successive lowest bidders.

 

[rich.g.williams]

For the 722.6 apparently the Dipstick part is W140589152100, the dimensions from the handle to the tip seem to be important, see diagram below, totally unverified by me.

 

[Snake Charmer]

I quite liked the workshop method of checking a Ford Galaxy 2.3 auto we had, get it up to temperature and remove an M6 screw from the sump plug. Any excess drains out, none comes out add!

 

[LostKiwi]

I quite liked the workshop method of checking a Ford Galaxy 2.3 auto we had, get it up to temperature and remove an M6 screw from the sump plug. Any excess drains out, none comes out add!

Same as for diffs and manual gearboxes except with them it's usually the filler hole that's used.

 

[rich.g.williams]

Don't need to leave it standing! You check the ATF level with engine running

OK check the level when the engine is running.

Yes now you mention it I have done that before, that said I don't understand the reason for that and I reckon, whatever the procedure, its a real pain knowing if the level is within limits or not. Perhaps the reasoning is that the Torque Converter is guaranteed full of ATF when the engine is running but its content is indeterminate when the engine is stopped.

I'm confused.

 

[Wighty]

OK check the level when the engine is running.

Yes now you mention it I have done that before, that said I don't understand the reason for that and I reckon, whatever the procedure, its a real pain knowing if the level is within limits or not. Perhaps the reasoning is that the Torque Converter is guaranteed full of ATF when the engine is running but its content is indeterminate when the engine is stopped.

I'm confused.

I believe that if the engine is running then oil is everywhere it should be in the correct amounts , the moment you stop the engine the ATF immediately begins to drain back into the sump which would then give a false correct/high reading on the dipstick.

 

[Wighty]

For the 722.6 apparently the Dipstick part is W140589152100, the dimensions from the handle to the tip seem to be important, see diagram below, totally unverified by me.

View attachment 84166

The dimensions from the handle to the tip are not important , the black diamond shaped piece of plastic at the start of the plastic reading gauge “locates” itself in a slot above the oil in the sump .

 

[Wighty]

If you make your own ATF guage out of curtain wire or similar , you need to know what the reading from the base of the sump to the top of the ATF level . This is the opposite to how the above gauge works .

 

[Wighty]

This picture is from another thread , it shows the black dipstick section to the right of the filter in its correct position to read the ATF level