Help me identify this leak
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From: Los Angeles
2005 clk320 cabriolet
Help me identify this leak
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.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
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.
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From: Los Angeles
2005 clk320 cabriolet
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.
So much for the "quality" of German engineering.
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From: STL
W203 C230SS
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.
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.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
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.
So much for the "quality" of German engineering.
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 109
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From: Los Angeles
2005 clk320 cabriolet
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
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
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
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
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
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Dec 29, 2008 at 05:44 PM.
Thread Starter
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From: Los Angeles
2005 clk320 cabriolet
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.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
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.
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.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Dec 29, 2008 at 06:13 PM.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
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 
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 109
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From: Los Angeles
2005 clk320 cabriolet
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.
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.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 109
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From: Los Angeles
2005 clk320 cabriolet
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
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Joined: Nov 2007
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01 C320
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.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
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.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
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.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Dec 29, 2008 at 07:21 PM.
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
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
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...lp-needed.html
