vectorz

I saw a pretty major fluid leak under my '02 C240 this morning (about 1/3 cup) on my driveway. I put the car on ramps , unbolted the cover under what appears to be a tranny pan and see the entire pan area is covered in oil. The oil is a yellowish greenish color so perhaps you can verify whether this fluid is tranny fluid or oil. I only see the damp area as surrounding the tranny pan so I'm hoping that it's just a gasket. I saw a lot of search results of people having similar problems with that gasket.

Glyn M Ruck

Looks familiar - on my car it was just the drain plug - required a 10 cent washer. Otherwise it's the pan gasket - or less likely the front tranny seal.

01Benz

It could be power steering fluid.

vectorz

Ack, that is what I'm afraid of hearing. My car had developed the dreaded clunk-clunk noise when going over bumps and it was mentioned that it's common for this car to need a steering rack replacement when that symptom occurs. I'm guessing the two are related. Damnit.

So much for the "quality" of German engineering.

bumpnzx3

They have the performance and safety engineering down- they just struggle with the reliability part of the engineering.

The fact that it's greenish- makes me think coolant possibly. I'm not familiar with the layout of your car/engine. But, in other makes/models, I've seen leaks on the front side of the engine, that was blown back by the fan. Is it possible something like this is happening in your case? Have a look around by the front of the engine. Just something to check before you start throwing parts at it.

Glyn M Ruck

Before you start panicking - Some of this leak is certainly transmission. Secondly with your clunk - Has your car had new castor bushes???

vectorz

I thought tranny fluid = red? No I haven't had any new bushings.

Glyn M Ruck

Benz Tranny fluid not red - GM fluid red. At the age of your car castor bushes will be shot (known weakness) as will sway bar bushes - all cheap to replace. Please search the forum & DIYs - I've written so much about the subject - pics & all. If you can't find I will repeat all over again

Glyn M Ruck

Changed my castor bushes at 45,000Kms = under 30,000 miles

Glyn M Ruck

Here's the bulletin posting. If you search Castor bushes, control arm bushes, fluted castor bolts etc you will get the whole hog. Also see DIY.


Go to this link. Short thread on vibration but I posted all to it as well including factory bulletin. Other threads are so long it will take you forever.


https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...need-help.html

vectorz

Dude, that is priceless! Thanks and now I have a weekend project in store for me. Btw, it's still unclear to me what the tranny fluid color should be. There's no tranny dip stick on this car.

Glyn M Ruck

The fully synthetic tranny fluid that was recently topped up into my car after replacing the drain plug washer that was leaking from a genuine Merc silver bottle that I believe is packaged for them by Shell Germany was a straw colour with a slight greenish tinge - Typical antiwear additive "rainbow" Certainly not bright green - sorry - I come from the oil industry and I try not to use our jargon because it confuses people.

The synthetic base fluid used in this product will be water white but additives & possible addition of dye by the manufacturer will give it it's colour.

Glyn M Ruck

BTW, Don't forget to do the sway bar bushes and sway link rod bushes. I'll put money on them being noisy. Sorry. I don't have an exploded view of the front anti sway bar on file - only the rear. Maybe we can persuade Splinter to post an exploded view - He seems to have them all. Good luck

vectorz

Ah, that does describe the exact fluid I saw. Nice. Very nice

vectorz

For sure man. This noise has annoyed me for a year now. Time to take care of business, thanks to you

01Benz

I had a problem with tranny fluid leaking and it wasnt that much. But when dealership fixed it, they just changed some seal, it was maybe a $100 or so. I also had problems with power steering fluid leaking. One of the lines was leaking, and it was leaking alot. Under preasure, when turning car it can spray everywhere. I had to add fluid every couple of days. I cant remember, but I am almost positive that fluid was greenish color. Just check to see if you have enough fluid.

Glyn M Ruck

I was initially reluctant to try and explain fluid colour. Even though this is a synthetic I have no idea how long it has been in service. Products (even synthetics) darken in service. I don't know what mileage your car has done. I don't know whether the tranny has been flushed & oil changed any time recently. Suffice to say if the fluid is not black it's a good sign that it has not oxidised. Transmission fluids are not like engine oils that contain powerful detergeant additives to hold combustion by products in suspension & should darken quickly if they are doing their job. If transmission fluids stay clean & relatively clear it is a good sign. It means the transmission has not been overheated or over stressed. Fluid colour can also vary from one production plant to another & still be in specification.

Glyn M Ruck

Yes - this would be wise. We might have more than one leak here. Keep an eye on Tranny, PS & coolant. We know it's not engine oil. I also hope you don't have a Valeo radiator because they are known to leak coolant via the transmission cooler into the transmission fluid. If the photos are representative, however, the leak seems confined to the transmission pan. There is no oil on the heat shields etc.

vectorz

Glyn M Ruck, thanks again for your amazing insight Happy Holidays!

Glyn M Ruck

If you are going to replace the pan gasket etc. yourself there is a proceedure on Install University. You had better read this thread as well to make sure you get your fluid level correct.

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...lp-needed.html