Towing with an auto box - Do I need a transmission cooler?

[SJMaxson]

I'm considering towing a caravan with my 1994 E220 auto estate (although not until next year, at the earliest).

Any suggestions about this?

I've heard that when towing with an auto box, you need to fit an additional cooling mechanism to the transmission?  But I've also heard that this is uneccessary with a W124 because of the self-levelling rear suspension.

Any advice from anyone more experienced in these matters than I am?

 

[dave elcome]

Towing with an auto box

You are leaving yourself wide open to flack by admitting to being a caravaner on this forum, but at least i've now got an ally to share some of the flack!!

The answer to your question is most certainly YES, the cooler you can run you auto box, then the longer it will last. In my humble opinion the best cooler kits are supplied by Kenlowe, http://www.kenlowe.co.uk/ and there technical assistance is second to none.

As for the point re the self levelling suspension, this has no bearing on the decision about fitting a transmission cooler, so dissregard that bit of info.

 

[fuzzer]

Towing with an auto box

Ding , Ding ,  ... unclean , unclean ...

 

[fuzzer]

Towing with an auto box

Im only joking ...

 

[dave elcome]

Towing with an auto box

Told you so, just wait until Mr Gayle picks it up!!

 

[Andy]

Towing with an auto box

Hi all,

I will endevour to keep my personal feelings about caravaners out of this.

I would agree with Dave E with regard to any assistance to keeping the box cool under this sort of load will be of assistance. But is it necessary I am not so sure. Over the years I don't know of any customer who has fitted a auxillary oil cooler for the gearbox, when towing their caravan. Merc boxes are very strong. They have an oil cooler as the gearbox oil passes through the engine radiator. And knowing how MB tend to go OTT with their specs. I sure that that the normal cooling will be adequate. So long as the oil is at normal level and good condition. IE hasn't done more than 36k.

Hope this helps.

Regards

Andy @ www.mercedesservicing.com

 

[Matt Crooke]

Towing with an auto box

Dave/Andy/anyone else!

Caravans again im afraid, the inlaws have one, and they have said we can use it when we want. But we wont always be able to use my father in laws car to tow it. Would it be motoring suicide to try to tow using my 190 with 151k on the clock now. It has never towed before, and ive got a feeling that starting to tow on such high mileage would finish the old girl off. Am i being over cautious here or what?

 

[Russel Weston]

Towing with an auto box

My Old 230E had a tow bar fitted from day one and was bought specifically to tow. Personally I would not like to tow with anything less that 6 cylinders but hey this 230 did okay. The caravan was 18" and built in 1980 so quite heavy. No oil cooler was fitted as Benz SA advised that it was not necessary. The car has now done 266k km and the box is still fine. No rebuild, I dont even think it has had any attention at all.

 

[Matt Crooke]

Towing with an auto box

Russell

I have to agree on the engine size, i have towed several times (not just caravans by the way chaps!) and a 4 cylinder always seems to struggle. My 2.8 granny was excellent at towing anything. trouble is the petrol gauge went down as fast as the speedo went up!

 

[Russel Weston]

Towing with an auto box

Living in Africa, with vast distances to travel I got hold of a Crysler Valiant, 1976 3.7l straight 6. It was a light truck( Ford P100 type thing)it was a beauty to tow with, but thirsty as well, so I put two Merc 80l tanks in behind the seats, added a common feed to the existing 90l tank giving a range of about 1500 miles. This could be done towing as the engine was hardly working at all.

 

[Stewart Smith]

Towing with an auto box

Hate to go over old ground Andy - but did we ever decide what oil to put in them dodgy early auto 5 speeders? - I'd like to do mine ASAP myself.
( Update - did steering idler bush last night - nothing wrong with old one - blooming rip off Merc dealers. Glad I didn't pay £50 labour for it)

 

[Andy]

Towing with an auto box

Hi Stewart.

If we are talking about the early hydraulic box which should be in your vehicle. Then Dextron II automatic transmission oil is the correct one. There are many different manufacturers. The electric boxes no diffinitive answer as yet. So I stick with the MB stuff.

Did you check the steering idler for lift as well as side to side play. Its unlikely that even the stealership would report something that there is no problem whatsoever. Labour charges are a different issue!!!!!!!!!!

Regards

Andy @ www.mercedeservicing.com

 

[Stewart Smith]

Towing with an auto box

Nope - didn't check - but put the new one on in any case - at £15 its virtually a service item I guess.  I think mine is the electronic 5 speeder. I could be wrong - I didn't know there were any 5 speed hydraulic boxes. I definiteky wany to change the oil in it though - anyone else got a spec for the oil in a 5 speed auto box?

 

[Andy]

Towing with an auto box

Hi

If the switch on the side of the gear stick says E\S then its a hydraulic box. If W\S then its electronic.

Regards

Andy @ www.mercedeservicing.com

 

[Stewart Smith]

Towing with an auto box

W/S.    Ta.

 

[fuzzer]

Towing with an auto box

Whats the official line  .. what does w/s stand for ?

Winter and standard

Winter and sport

??

 

[Andy]

Towing with an auto box

Hi

WINTER & SUMMER i think.

 

[Stewart Smith]

Towing with an auto box

So says the handbook.

 

[Matt Crooke]

Towing with an auto box

We seem to have agreed in the past that the E/S switch on the hydraulic box (like my 190 has) doesnt seem to make any noticable difference at all....does it on the electronic boxes?

 

[Anonymous]

Towing with an auto box

The S/W on the electronic boxes makes the car a lot more sluggish , and a bit smoother. Not sure if there is any fuel advantage as i just leave it in s.


(Edited by Fuzzer at 12:38 pm on July 31, 2002)