Odd Piggy

I am preparing to change the transmission fluid and filter on my 2003 E320 RWD with the 722.6 transmission. Shell 134, Mobil 134, and Fuchs 4134 fluids are available only by mail order. When the car was built the fluid spec was 236.10 and that was available locally, but no longer. Has anyone ever used Pentosin ATF1 transmission fluid? A number of the local parts stores carry it, but it does not seem to be on the BeVo. Pentosin says it is appropriate for the current 236.14 spec, but so do others who i would not consider using. Pentosin is known for high quality fluids, but I am apprehensive about using something that is not MB approved. My default will be to get fluid from the dealer if no one has any positive input.

ldotmurray

I have the same year and model. I used Valvoline Max Life. A rep at Napa told me about it. It works well. I live outside of DC. Once I flushed the transmission I drove to Chicago and back. And two days later to Philly and back. My car runs perfectly.

Odd Piggy

Thanks for the quick reply. I have never used Max Life because it was not on the BeVo and a number of posts have warned against it. Your experience with an identical car is useful. Max Life is readily available. Can I ask how many miles are on your E320? Mine has 176,000+.

cetialpha5

You can get Shell 134 ATF from a local shell distributor. I think it's around $65 or so for a case of 12 quarts. Try this link:

https://www.shell.us/products-servic...r-locator.html

I think there's one in Houston at:

O'Rourke Petroleum Products
223 McCarty Drive
Houston, TX 77029, USA

Phone: 713-672-4500
Fax: 713-672-9425

ldotmurray

I purchased the car five months ago with 126,000 miles on it. It now has 130,000. My next tranny project is TC solenoids and valve body plate.

ldotmurray

The transmission in these cars were made for both Mercedes and Chrysler.

When a coolant hose broke I purchased the coolant from the dealership. It didn't need much. The rest I put in my BMW when I flushed the system. I will purchase some items from the dealership.

I use Mobil 1 0W-40 for European cars in both cars as well.

Odd Piggy

cetialpha5-

Thanks for the tip. I'll call them as soon as possible. If the price you show holds up it may be worth the 50 mile trip.

Odd Piggy

ldotmurray-

You sound pretty adventurous. I stick to the low and mid level maintenance & repairs (oil & filter, coolant, spark plugs, water pump, valve cover gaskets, trans flush & filter) and I have a very competent indie shop nearby for anything more challenging, it's just that this car has not really needed it. I will extend my efforts a bit with engine mounts and front ball joints & lower strut rods in the next few months.

Some things are surprisingly competitive at the dealers while others are absurd. Pentosin fluids are close to absurd regardless of where purchased.

722.6 variants were used in many non MB vehicles Crossfire, Sprinter, some Jeeps. I agree on the Mobil 1 0W-40 Euro engine oil. I have witnessed lab tests on it and it is the best mainstream engine lubricant available and Castrol Syntec LOE (now Edge Euro) is not far behind.

ldotmurray

@Odd Piggy

I never thought I was adventurous. I paid $4,200 for the car and wanted to learn how to work on my own vehicles. The car was a "mechanics special," meaning the dealership didn't want to fix the car for retail sale. I haggled on the price and picked it up the next day.

I can't afford dealer prices for repair so I figured I would work on it myself. With the help of YouTube and Pelican Parts I have learned/done a lot. I am 95% done with all repairs and have only spent ~$700. Pelican Parts has full repair tutorials on almost every facet of this car. I built my confidence so much I purchased a 1999 BMW 740iL with 150,000 miles. I haggled it down to $1,600 and it's my next project.

I have built a great relationship with the parts department of my local MB dealership. They know my situation and offer additional info on repairs. They also give me a small discount on the parts I do purchase from them.

cetialpha5

You can try putting in your zip code and see if there's one closer. There's lots of distributors in Texas and I think their site just lists the names of the distributors so it's possible that one of them may have a site closer to you. Mine was sorta easy to check out as I just had 3 distributors in my state, but one of them had 3 locations.

As for manuals, there's the WIS DVD which can be bought cheaply on eBay for around $10 or you can do Mercede's Startek system which charges about $20 a day for access. But you could download a lot of repair articles in 24 hours.

samaritrey

I would use that shell 134atf as the max life was not MB approved last time I checked

cmriv

Maxlife? Even the name scares me.... Shell ATF-134. 50% of shell gas stations stock this on their shelf for sure.

ldotmurray

I can only suggest what has worked for me. Again, the vehicle has a Chrysler tranny in it. My car shifts smoothly and I have no issues with it. I wasn't going to get tranny fluid from the dealership. I will flush it again at the end of summer. Maybe then I may try something different.

Odd Piggy

Apparently there is little or no experience with the Pentosin ATF1 since it has not even entered into the discussion. Is's a bit less expensive than MB ATF from the dealer but still high priced -- and unapproved.

I have checked every Shell outlet within reasonable distance and NONE of them have ATF134 - and there are a lot of them. Many of them have various Shell Spirax ATFs, S2, S3, S4, S6, but no 134.

I called Shell Commercial Fluids and they do not sell retail. The Mobil distributor says that Mobil ATF134 is not available in the US. He recommended another fluid that he did have in stock, but that's just another non-approved fluid. Mobil Express Lube says they would use their multi vehicle ATF in my car since it is older, but would decline to service a car with a 7 speed or one still under warranty.

So, I'm down to: making the 50 mile trip to get the Shell ATF134; ordering Fuchs 4134 or Shell ATF134 online; buying MD ATF from the dealer; or getting the inexpensive and readily available Valvoline Maxlife ATF at Walmart.

I'll make a decision soon and after a bit of running time, I'll post the results.
Thanks for all the input.

samaritrey

It does not have a Chrysler Transmission... its a Mercedes made and designed 722.6 5 speed. That said it was put shared and put into some Chrysler vehicles later on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merced...c_transmission
The problem with that fluid is it says Valvoline recommends which means it is not approved at all and is just a marketing thing. You say your in the DC area tons of places carry the shell 134ATF and last case I got was less than $60 for 12 quarts

The shell distributors won't order it for you? Every one I called up in my area either had it or said they would order a case and have it within a week or two. IMO if its only 50 miles what is that less than 4 gallons of fuel I would do it!

Odd Piggy

Thanks to everyone who replied with suggestions.

A nearby Shell distributor where I used to get the 236.10 fluid, which is apparently discontinued, reviewed the product order catalog with me and the only ATF currently available to him is Spirax S3. He says that he supplies all the franchised Shell outlets in the area, so further searching those would be fruitless. There is one company owned retailer that I had visited earlier where a number of the Spirax ATFs were available but who had no interest in even looking to see whether ATF134 was available.

I was about ready to just use the Valvoline Max Life and hope for the best.

However, as luck would have it, I found a Shell alliance distributor using the distributor search that had been suggested in earlier posts. He (actually she) offered the ATF134 to me at the insanely low price of $3.92 per quart. That's less than the Valvoline at the local Walmart. A 37 mile drive, all highway, round trip about 1.5 hours and problem solved.

alex gheith

I own 2006 e320 CDI I had problem with my trany check engine light and non kick down . check engine light will come on when I press gas al the way. got the code clean but when I do the kick down and take my foot to fast after kick downshift . it will shfit into neutral . and I put it in neutral and put back in to drive and will work again while I am driving. can any one help me please

meooem1

Hey idotmurry...what are the symptoms of your transmission that you are changing solenoids and conductor?