jkowtko

Okay I think whay they are doing is blowing the old fluid out of the cooling line and back into the drain pan. This would assume they are tapping into the line where it enters the radiator. I did this and simply gave it a quick puff through the radiator fitting hole to get the fluid out.

The dealerships who tap in at the return line banjo bolt are going to drain all the old fluid through the entire cooling line -- there is nothing really left to "blow out".

I don't think anyone actually does what is commonly called a pressuried flush ...

Stuka Bomber

I'll be sure to get full clarification on it but the service guy was assuring me it was a FULL flush and not partial with pan drop and all. He didn't specifically say that it was new filter and gasket but I'll be sure to ask.

I don't see how it's possible to flush myself for $80. Seeing as the fluid is $20 per qt and I need 5 of that alone. Plus the filter and gasket $25. Plus dip stick $20.

If I can do it for $80 ill do it. From the first page of this tread guys were posting $300-400 to DIY.

Stuka Bomber

I'll get it in writing. But he specifically stated "pressurized flush".

jkowtko

I found a case of Shell ATF 134 (236.14) for $65 ... got lucky, but Shell ATF isn't all that expensive. The MB brand fluid is ridiculously expensive. So my total was probably under $100.

I don't count the dipstick as part of the service because it's a reusable tool.

VVF

Guys, look what I found on "the other forum"
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w210...ml#post3573144

Also, by "power flush" they probably meant that they would use a flushing machine connected to the trans.
See here http://www.tannertransmissions.com/theater.php

$200 with a flush sounds like a good deal.
People are talking $200 just to drop the pan and replace the filter.

Stuka Bomber

Well just finished the job and when I was "googling the pan capacity" came across threads about the 722.6 trans pan needing to be replaced with a new updated version. I'm guessing the 2007 model year with the 722.6 already is the updated version. Correct?

Also found some threads stating you cannot add fluid via the dip stick tube. Is that correct?

mis3

My car is 2004, w209 with 722.6.
I did the ATF pan flushes a few times and the pan was never replaced but I did change the pan gasket everytime. When I bought the gasket from the dealership, they never asked me if it was an updated version.

Stuka Bomber

That's great news! Curious, when Doing the pan flush, how many qts did you use?

mis3

As I recall, my indie put in 4 liters of ATF.

jkowtko

I took a quick look and couldn't find anything about a new pan. Yes you have to replace the electrical connector socket (which leaks), but to my knowledge the pan was not upgraded. I did see an aftermarket pan with fins on the bottom, but that wasn't a Mercedes product. If you saw reference to a new pan from Mercedes, please share the link.

The 722.9 transmissions don't have a dipstick tube, therefore a cumbersome procedure of pumping new fluid in through the pan drain plug. But for the 722.6 the dipstick/filler tube should be the only way to put fluid into the transmission. So again please share any links you found on this.

Thanks. John

Stuka Bomber

John, I can find the links but I'm not certain they were referencing the current 722.6 variant found in w203s. I googled "mb 722.6 fluid change" and followed the links. I can find them again if you're still curious.

Found the 236.14 fluid on amazon of all places.

jkowtko

No need ... I just thought if you found new information specific to our cars it would be worth making people aware ...

Shell ATF 134 seems pretty available. There's a lot of it on eBay too. Shipping is expensive though, so if you can find it locally you'll save what looks like 30-40% on total cost. Fyi last year when I did my tranny I called the local Shell distributorships on the phone and found some close by for $65/case. If there is a Ryder in your area, they sell Penzoil ATF 134 which is supposedly just a relabeled Shell, for pretty cheap.

Stuka Bomber

So it appears that I put too much fluid in despite swapping exactly what I took out. Can I use suction on the dipstick tube to remove some fluid?

Took forever for my trans pan to reach 30C and it won't rise any further. Is it just too cold outside? Would excess fluid not allow the temp to rise to 80C? Even at 30C the dipstick says I'm full at 80C. Way over filled?

mis3

Not sure about ATF, I did suck out some engine oil from the dipstick tube. I used a plastic tube from Home Depot, 1/4 inch and 10 ft. I could not get the flow going but it served the purpose because I only had to remove about 300 ml.
Make sure the car is cooled down somewhat before your attempt because the hot ATF may melt the plastic.

To get the temp up to 80c, did you drive the car or let it sat idle? When I did the flush, I had to drive the car around the blocks a few times and measured the level afterward.

jkowtko

Tube -- it's just a filler tube so theoretically you should be able to suck fluid out of it if the diameter is small enought.

Temp -- Basically you just need to get everything up to full temperature. Drive the car on an errand 15-20 minutes away, and when you get back then check the level before shutting off the engine.

Stuka Bomber

Small updates, I havent been able to drive the car with the holiday this week. So far I have 4qts + 200ml in the trans and Im unable to suction anymore out. From what I understand the filter assembly can account for 50ml of that 200ml, So in theory I still have 150ml excess that I cannot get out of the trans without dropping the pan as I could not suction anymore fluid from the dipstick tube.

I used a turkey baster and a 10ft section of fishtank air line to suck it out. It would not flow enough to get a siphon action going.

I did take the car for a spin and with 150ml excess the dipstick still reads way above the 80C mark. When I parked the car I parked it on a hill so the fluid would hopefully run toward the dipstick tube and let me suction more out.

Does anyone know the exact filter and pan swap fluid capacity? Im at 4 qts (946mlx4 = 3784ml + 50ml for filter = Ideal is 3834ml total). I have 3984ml in it now that I may have to drop the pan to bleed out.

Javvy

Are you sure you are draining the trans fluid and not the engine fluid.....many people have commited that mistake before so you will not be the first one.....

javvy

Stuka Bomber

oh im sure, i replaced the filter and everything lol.

Im actually very mechanically inclined. Hot rods, cafe racer bikes, air bagged classic trucks, etc, etc. This merceded just makes me nervous

jkowtko

I don't understand how you can suck that much fluid out and still be above the full level.

Why don't you try pulling the drain bolt again and see how much fluid comes out. At that point you should be 4+ quarts low in the tranny.

Stuka Bomber

Drained the pan again today. Poured exactly 4qts back into the trans, took it for a 20 mile drive and my thermometer on reads 64C. It is wet out and 29F outside though. The dipstick still says I'm over max at 80C even when the pan is 64C. I tried with the car running and turned off. I'm startin to think I got the wrong dipstick from the seller.

Can anyone snap a pic of their dipstick with a tape measure next to it? This is very frustrating.

I'm about to take it to the dealer and have them do the B service and check the trans level.

jkowtko

Oh, I don't know if this is what's happening ...

fyi the dipstick does not go all the way down ... it sticks out of the tube about 6 inches when it hits the bottom of the pan. If you were pushing the stick all the way until the holder bottoms out at the filler tube entrance, then you were probably bending the tube at the bottom so it lays flat on the bottom of the pan -- in which case the entire bottom will be submerged.

Is this your issue?

Stuka Bomber

No sir. I figured that out quick lol. I'm just bringing it to the dealer tomorrow. There's no way it's over filled with just a 4 qt change. Truely a mystery.

Anymore ideas guys?

jkowtko

The only other thing I could think of is that you are not reading where the actual fluid level is. It's hard to see on these dipsticks ... the fluid gets pulled the tube so the tube is wet and makes the top severa inches of the dipstick wet ... it takes a bit of time to be able to figure out where the actual line of fluid is on the dipstick. Not sure if you are misreading the actual fluid line ...?

Otherwise I am baffled.

VVF

https://mbworld.org/forums/5499298-post9.html
Dipstick measurements for ya...

Stuka Bomber

Ill try one last time tonight when I get home from work before taking it to the dealer.

I was using a paper towel on the dipstick when I removed it from the tube. I sort of made an impression on the paper towel to verify the fluid level. Everytime, no matter 5 or 4 qts the level is right where the snake begins and the plastic ends.

Nevermind the fact that I can't seem to get the trans pan heated up to 80C. Maybe I'll try to catch the fluid at 25C later.