zerocover

I'm getting ready to do a transmission flush and am debating between fluids.

Here are the facts, I know shell and Fuchs both make OEM trans fluid and both have approved fluids for sale.

I can get Shell ATF 134 for $5 a quart
and Fuchs Titan 3134 for $12 a quart
MB OEM is also about $12 a quart

My question is there any reason forum members seem to prefer Fuchs? Why not save money? (unless there is something different about the fluids I dont know about)

Star Rider

Damn! I bought a quart of MB tranny fluid for my car at the steelership and it was $18!
Sing it with me now! - Iiiiiii Love New York!

Can't go wrong with the MB fluid.

pcy

zerocover, you must take 'automotive fluids' class by Glyn. :-)

I would only put fluids approved by MB. As is, we have enough problems with our cars, why purposefully invite more problems by putting questionable fluids.

zerocover

See approved fluids attached below. (Check the last one on the list)




Now if both are approved is one better then the other? Or are they totally equal by design?

samaritrey

From my understanding the Shell 134 is actually approved

EDIT
Zerocover beat me to it

From reading what glyn said it looks like for the trans oil they are required to use the same base oil and meet the same specs so they all should be the same/have so few differences it won't matter if you change every 36k. Unless anything comes up soon I will use it for my flush.

Carsy

I think it is sensible to use the cheapest MB 134 approved fluid that is locally available.

I have a Mobil bulk depot in my town so will be using the Mobil 134 AFT.Will try to buy in a 20 litre drum.

You should have lots of confidence in the Shell Company products . It is a huge multinational.

WorstNightmare

Get the Shell 134 ATF.

you can purchase it by the case from www.lubricants.com if you need to.

It's approved by MB, and is much cheaper than the stealership pricing.

I picked up an OEM filter, and pan gasket for $30.

Still waiting to get fluid.

The MB ATF Fluid is just rebottled Mobil 134. Just FYI.

(Confirmed it through my buddy, who is an MB Mechanic)

Also, talk to Glyn on here. He's very knowledgeable on this topic, and helped steer me in the right direction.


-Matt

pcy

zerocover, I see Shell 134 is approved product by MB.

If you are flushing the entire trans fluid, then I would say use any trans fluid that is approved by MB.
On the other hand, if you are only dropping the pan and replacing only part of the trans fluid, then I would replace it with MB trans fluid (assuming the fluid in the car is MB fluid). This is to ensure we don't mix two different fluids in the trans.

Glyn M Ruck

Use the Shell. It is fully approved & there is only one approved additive system in this product. We have been recommending the Fuchs Titan because it was the cheapest approved fluid online. It only recently came to light that the Shell ATF 134 was available at a civilised price.

fookoo303

Does anyone know if local parts stores sell aft-134? I've been searching online and the shipping costs are pretty high.

Glyn M Ruck

splinter quoted a damn good shipped price the other day.

samaritrey

I found a link to this in another Mercedes forum while researching the shell 134 Very good price and good shipping.

http://www.ryderfleetproducts.com/ry...#ProdReviewTab

zerocover

Good Shell it is!

I just wanted to be sure it wasn't like one was synthetic and the other dino oil. If they are required to use the same base stock then I'm plenty happy.

fookoo303

Sweet! thanks trey. You cant beat that price. I was pulling up 35 dollars for shipping on other sites.

Glyn M Ruck

Huh! - More happy customers

EDIT - here is the thread with Splinter's Shell Recommendation - same as Trey's so that's your best price we know of.

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

johnand

Well, the Fuchs Titan is full synthetic, and the Shell is a hydro-cracked fluid. Seems that this day and age, that hydro-cracked fluids are pretty similar in performance to synthetics. I will let Glyn chime in to school us on that subject.

IMO, if you properly service your transmission (every 36K), it should be a non-issue.

zerocover

This is kind of need to know information. Is the mobil full synthetic?

Glyn M Ruck

They are in fact both made with Gp III base oil of 180/185 VI which is right at the top of the Gp III range. There has been a blurring of the term synthetic or fully synthetic over the past few years & today you can call a Gp II a synthetic.

Shell is being conservative by calling their product Semi Synthetic & Fuchs is saying Synthetic Gp III - makes no difference - they are the same. Both products will perform equally & both are fully approved & use the same additive at the same treat rate. Group III and above base oils all suffer the same additive miscibility problems which is why Benz is so fussy about this formulation.

Base Oil Category Sulfur(%) Saturates(%) Viscosity Index
Group I > 0.03 and/or < 90 80 to 120
Group II ≤ 0.03 and ≥ 90 80 to 120
Group III ≤ 0.03 and ≥ 90 ≥ 120
Group IV All PolyAlphaOlefins (PAOs)
Group V All others not included in Groups I,II,III or IV


A convenient rule of thumb for classifying API Categories is :
Group I : Base oils produced by solvent extraction/solvent dewaxing
Group II : Base oils produced by severe hydrotreating
Group III : Base oils produced by hydrocracking and/or wax isomerisation

Excuse the text editor - It won't let me tabulate.

splinter

^ Appreciate you sharing your vast expertise with us, Mr. Ruck.

Quite pleased we’ve a pro bono tribology professional in our midst sharing the straight scoop.

samaritrey

+1

lkfoster

+1

Moviela

Great information Glyn. Thank you for all the contributions. You certainly are a South African treasure.

johnand

Thanks Glyn, as always your expertize and knowledge is greatly appreciated I was unable to find that Fuchs datasheet earlier.

I agree that the dilution of the term "synthetic" in the lubrication industry has really made it difficult compare products. I remember the whole Castrol Syntec debacle.

Glyn M Ruck

Indeed - and what you may term synthetic in Germany varies from elsewhere etc.

My goal is to keep people on the forum using approved products because I understand the effort behind them but I do not condone the price gouging that goes on. It's good to see Shell adopt a fair pricing model.

Shell does have access to proprietary base oils from some of their in-house refineries where they can take very narrow, purpose specific, cuts. But good for them. They invested in these plants when others did not.

pcy

Glyn, if I am only replacing part of the trans fluid (like 4 to 5 qts), would you recommend I use Shell 134 ATF? Currently trans is filled with MB ATF.

In other words, my question is - can I mix Shell 134 ATF and MB ATF in the trans?