When to change Auto gear box oil?

[Highlander]

I have a C240 (54K miles) and a C230K (45K miles)
The main dealer says they are both due a gearbox (auto) oil change and wants to charge an eye watering £197 per car!

The service booklet makes no mention of auto box oil change frequency. When should I change the oil/filter and can a good Indy do the work?

 

[brandwooddixon]

What model year are your vehicles?

Some MBs had no service interval stipulated for autogearbox oil replacement being termed "sealed for life".

An independent should be able to do the work I would think BUT be careful with the oil chosen. I've heard bad things about non-MB oil being used as a replacement.

There's a DIY thread on oil replacement for W210 - I don't know how well this relates to your cars though.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Its a bit pricey. I think you should negotiate £30 or so from each price.

Make sure you ask the dealer if the system will be flushed completely. If they won't, then the prices are a ripoff.

An independant would easily be able to do it. Its a job that is well worth doing, the changes will be nicer and your gearboxes will last a lot longer.

 

[Highlander]

Thanks for info guys. The C240 is a 2002 model and the C230K is a late 2003 model. Could the gearboxes be rated "sealed for life"? Both gearboxes are currently performing with no probs. In any event, is it safe to leave change for another 10K miles?

I looked at a couple of threads on MB america owners club and they seem to say that job cannot be done correctly without an MB dipstick ( at $60 cost) and box needs to be filled to max to avoid air bubbles. Any comments on this please?

 

[wireman]

The older models have a 36000 mile transmission service and a dipstick.
I would do it soon rather than later. If it was 60,000 miles I'd say do it now.
Find an indie to do the job, there is about 2 hours max in doing it, most of this waiting for it to drain and refill.
The dipstick is of course essential and the indie should have one.
You will also need a filter and gasket from MB, about £25-40.
The fluid is probably the merc only stuff at somewhere around £8 per litre, you will need 7 or 8 litres of this. If it ain't the fancy stuff Dextron2 is acceptable but please check with MB.

So at about £100 for the bits is the extra £90 or so worth it?
At £197 and 45,000 it works out at 0.44 pence per mile.

If you do it yourself keep everything operating theatre clean, one bit of grit and the transmission could be damaged. Do not over tighten the sump bolts on reassembly or the sump will leak untill you fit a new one.

There is a thread (in the DIY) about this task, have a look at it to see what's involved.

Mr Haynes manual is very helpfull and worth having if you intend to do any amount of maintainance work to the car.

The fill level is quite critical and must not be over the max mark or damage will result.

 

[vijilants]

Make sure you are equipped to remove a broken sump bolt if it happens.

It does happen - happened on mine and needed a torch on it to remove it.

Personally i'd if you don't have the correct tools to overcome such problems and don't have decent clearance under the gearbox to work, leave it to an experienced independent or gearbox specialist to do this.

 

[David Nock]

Thanks for info guys. The C240 is a 2002 model and the C230K is a late 2003 model. Could the gearboxes be rated "sealed for life"? Both gearboxes are currently performing with no probs. In any event, is it safe to leave change for another 10K miles?

I looked at a couple of threads on MB america owners club and they seem to say that job cannot be done correctly without an MB dipstick ( at $60 cost) and box needs to be filled to max to avoid air bubbles. Any comments on this please?

If you're going to keep 'em I would certainly get the job done. If you're going to trade 'em in another 10000 miles, then, in my opinion,there's every chance they'll easily do that mileage and more. I believe the 'change fluid' info is a recent addition to the service regime by MB to prevent long term problems occurring. On the other hand, if as suggested, there is a 36000 change interval in your book then that's another matter and you should act on it.

 

[Rory]

I have a late 04 C270CDi and the dealer wouldn't change mine under ServicePlus as it's not called for on my car.

MB modified the service schedules on slightly later cars than mine to call for a one-off change to 37,500miles (60,000KMs) or 4 years, whichever is first.

The dealer had no explanation as to why my car doesn't need need the change. I'm somewhat miffed about it as it knocks some value out of ServicePlus, but on the other hand, some things are better left alone and the less the dealer meddles with the car, the better.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

some things are better left alone and the less the dealer meddles with the car, the better.

Sorry but that is wrong. Leave the ATF alone and the gearbox will die prematurely.

 

[nickcc101]

Dipstick for £19 from ebay usa seller, oil from inchcape £10 ish per litre (7 litres) gearbox filter and gasket both from inchcape (check web site www.mercedes-benz-parts.co.uk ) all for the 7226 autobox. Suggest you only use Mercedes auto gearbox oil. Oil needs changing after about 60k miles.

 

[jberks]

Sorry but that is wrong. Leave the ATF alone and the gearbox will die prematurely.

seconded. Change 45-50k - it does no harm and may save your gearbox.

 

[Rory]

Sorry but that is wrong. Leave the ATF alone and the gearbox will die prematurely.

Define prematurely? MB say it's sealed for life, but again, without defining "life".

As long as I don't own it at the point when it dies (and I don't intend to) then bluntly, it doesn't really matter.

 

[Rory]

seconded. Change 45-50k - it does no harm and may save your gearbox.

It shouldn't do any harm, but in the factory they'll be filled in clinical conditions. In the workshop they won't. There's also the potential to damage the cover bolts and I'm sure various other opportunities to mess up.

On the models without a torque convertor drain plug then you'd never know if they'd gone to the trouble of pressure changing the fluid.

 

[jberks]

It shouldn't do any harm, but in the factory they'll be filled in clinical conditions. In the workshop they won't. There's also the potential to damage the cover bolts and I'm sure various other opportunities to mess up.

On the models without a torque convertor drain plug then you'd never know if they'd gone to the trouble of pressure changing the fluid.

Sure, but on the same principle you shouldn't change the engine oil either. In fact, ideally don't open the bonnet, that way you're sure to never mess anthing up. I had a friend that never serviced his car in 50,000 miles. Was very proud of the savings he'd made and the fact that he'd never been ripped off by a garage. At 100k however (he'd bought used with 50k already on), it blew up and he had to scrap it. Well worth the near £500 he'd probably saved - I don't think.

Bottom line is that you are trusting the mechanic to do a proper job and know what they're doing. After all, changing atf isn't rocket science and should be well within the capabilities of a half decent mechanic.

In any case, the benefits, both in the longevity of the box itself and the improvements in changes found by many who have this done at 80k+ (made no noticable difference to mine but then it had only done 45k) make this a valuable preventative maintenance activity.

If someone chooses to take the risk, then that's fine but they should know the risks.

 

[television]

Sorry but that is wrong. Leave the ATF alone and the gearbox will die prematurely.

Yes I agree 100% with what you say,, do it now

 

[Parrot of Doom]

It shouldn't do any harm, but in the factory they'll be filled in clinical conditions. In the workshop they won't. There's also the potential to damage the cover bolts and I'm sure various other opportunities to mess up.

On the models without a torque convertor drain plug then you'd never know if they'd gone to the trouble of pressure changing the fluid.

You don't need clinical conditions. Do things with even 50% care and there is no chance whatsoever of any dirt getting in. You drain it at the bottom, give the pan a wash and dry, clean your hands, make sure the funnel you use to refill is clean, and there isn't a problem.

The bolts on the pan can't be over-torqued, they have special collars that prevent it.

In fact the only way I can see anyone messing things up is if they under or over-fill the box - and with a dipstick (plenty on Ebay), that is next to impossible to do.

As for your attitude of "it doesn't matter" well to be honest mate, it matters to me if I'm buying a car from people with that attitude. What goes around comes around, one day you'll be stung badly by that. Karma.

 

[Rory]

As for your attitude of "it doesn't matter" well to be honest mate, it matters to me if I'm buying a car from people with that attitude. What goes around comes around, one day you'll be stung badly by that. Karma.

I know what you mean, but my car is on ServicePlus and they won't do it because when MB changed the schedule to include an ATF change it doesn't quite cover my car - the bulletin starts from VIN numbers "a few thousand" later than mine.

I'm blowed if I'm going to pay £200 in addition to the monthly ServicePlus cost for something that I was assured would need doing and would be covered before I bought ServicePlus. In fact, if I'd realised how little servicing my car really requires (ie what is strictly necessary, not what the dealer tells you) then I probably wouldn't have bothered with ServicePlus.

It's just the same with oil changes - you'll probably be horrified that my car runs to 18K between changes. However there was someone on here the other day who services his own MB, it had done something like 150K+ miles and he only changes the oil at the same kind of interval.

Also, I will be able to pass the car on with a completely clear conscience because is has been maintained precisely to MB's requirements.

 

[kevin22]

As this gearbox was origanaly sealed for life and then decided to change at 60,000 miles the torque convertor does not have a drain plug so you cant change all of the oil only approx. 4 litres.Renewing this makes a big difference to the quality of the gearchange especially when readapting with star diagnosis therefor leave it to the dealer or local independant with Star.

 

[nickcc101]

You don't need clinical conditions. Do things with even 50% care and there is no chance whatsoever of any dirt getting in. You drain it at the bottom, give the pan a wash and dry, clean your hands, make sure the funnel you use to refill is clean, and there isn't a problem.

The bolts on the pan can't be over-torqued, they have special collars that prevent it.

In fact the only way I can see anyone messing things up is if they under or over-fill the box - and with a dipstick (plenty on Ebay), that is next to impossible to do.

As for your attitude of "it doesn't matter" well to be honest mate, it matters to me if I'm buying a car from people with that attitude. What goes around comes around, one day you'll be stung badly by that. Karma.

The collars stop you overtightening and squeezing out the rubber/neoprene gasket but you can still overtighten the bolts and shear them off or strip the threads in the gearbox.