superangrypenguin

My understanding is that there's a transmission dipstick for the fluid level but it's covered by a plug. I know we can buy the dipstick by providing a part number, but where the [expletive] is the dipstick?

I can't find it for the life of me!! Danke

Carsy

On my 5 speed ATM you remove the cap by first breaking the end off the little red tab & pushing the tab down.

I kept the long piece which goes down & locks the cap, to use again.

There is no dipstick , you will have to buy one. MB would not sell me one so I bought it elsewhere. Try googling or Ebay.

dennish

There is no dipstick(on w204). Fluid level is maximized by an overflow tube attached to the bottom of the pan. Read the sticky. Much info. there. Older models have a tube from engine compartment to transmission. Yes, on those cars you must purchase a dipstick.

superangrypenguin

Sorry, sticky, where?

Apologies for the idiotic post. Just for the record, mine's a 7g tronic (non plus). Thanks!

dennish

Stickies are the the first posts on the 1st forum page(on top). There is one devoted to transmission fluid

Carsy

I would conclude if you had a dipstick tube in your engine bay with a locked cap that your ATM was dip stick compliant ?

superangrypenguin

Yeah, so no dipstick which would mean then that there's no way for me to check.

I suspect my guess above is right, sigh

Carsy

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/mercedes-transmission-dipstick

superangrypenguin

I can't find the hole for that puppy. That's the main problem...

cvx5832

If you have a W204, you don't have one. I've been in and around the engine and transmission and if it's there I managed to miss it the last 9 years.

Thankfully it's still easy to check. The standpipe arrangement is brilliant. Crack the drain plug with the engine running and if nothing comes out, you're low.

superangrypenguin

Is there any other way? Seems rather crude to me

The SA told me that they know how much they have pumped out, so they know how much to pump back in. Is this true?

Carsy

Earlier W204 7 speeds had a dip stick .

W204 diesel 5 speeds have a dipstick.

cvx5832

I have an early W204. And I don't have one. Maybe in your part of the world.

cvx5832

Only seems crude, but actually quite elegant. If you want to top it off just run the car and pump .5 quart through the drain plug. When the overflow slows to a trickle, plug it up and you're done.

Adapters are available on eBay, Amazon, etc. for about 10 bucks, pump for about 5. And since it all happens at the bottom, you don't get fluid getting all over the transmission as you would with traditional fill plugs that go on the side.

Give it a shot! Our cars even have a TC drain plug which a lot of autos don't have.

superangrypenguin

Thanks for the suggestion. Is the transmission **** about potential overfills? (much like how we're supposed to be **** about not overfilling engine oil?)

Just concerned I may cause a problem which is overfilling the damn thing. Thanks

cvx5832

I doubt it. It will be very clear when the fluid is gushing out (overfilled) vs a trickle when you fill it correctly. It will be very obvious when it transitions from one to the other.

dennish

Note of caution. When checking or adding fluid car must be perfectly level and fluid at correct temp. with infra red thermometer.

B737

errrr not so fast.
the fluid needs to be at specified temperature (45c for most), and the "dribbling out" rate is rather subjective. Using a IR thermometer really isnt appropriate either, so bust out your STAR or iCarSoft. While this isnt out of the ordinary for transmission fluid procedures its hardly optimal, and certainly could not be any further from 'elegant'.

unless the transmission is leaking there's no reason to go poking around to 'check it'. if its not functioning right then checking the fluid level isnt going to make it better.

cvx5832

Have you done it? I have. When the fluid reaches the top of the standpipe it will be obvious. Generally speaking, if one can't tell when it goes from a gush to a drip then I don't recommend being under the car doing complex things.

All procedural details aside, the system is absolutely elegant. But that, as you say, is subjective.

B737

lol there's that word again. I will do it. I've done it on many different vehicles types and I can tell you that you are drinking way too much Benz Kool-Aid if you call that "elegant".

cvx5832

Elegant elegant elegant elegant elegant elegant elegant elegant elegant elegant elegant elegant elegant elegant elegant elegant elegant elegant elegant.

Just kidding.

Lol cheers, agree to disagree.