When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have the 2008 C300 4Matic and am looking to finally purchase the fluid to do a transmission drain and fill. I saw that Shell ATF 134 is on the approved list, and I can get 12 quarts for $80 from many different sources and it makes it very appealing. However, as always I did a bunch of research and found that the Shell product is a semi-synthetic, yet it is approved by MB who states to only use a full synthetic. I’m not trying to be cheap on purpose or anything but obviously that price is hard to beat. Has anyone used that fluid and if so, did you have any issues?
If this is a dead end I will just get the Fuchs, but I figured I would ask around and see your guys’ opinions on it.
Are you sure you need 12 qts to do a drain and fill? It should not be more than 5 or 6 qts from what I saw.
I would need roughly 9L for mine as both the transfer case and torque converter should be drained. Without those then yes 5 or 6 would be enough. Also not mentioned is I drive 60,000 miles a year so I do almost 2 changes a year, so extra fluid isn’t a concern at all. I just got the car a few months ago and just want to make sure I get a quality fluid.
I think the Shell stuff is OK. I've read where others have used it. Just make sure you use the ATF-134 (red) and not ATF-134FE (blue).
Check your VIN at www.lastvin.com and look to see if your data-card shows Code A89. If it does, use the blue stuff.
Being a 2008 it’s definitely the red fluid I’ll need. I’ll probably see if I can get a few more opinions on this but if everyone agrees it’s alright then I will definitely go with the Shell!
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by hmclaughlin67
Being a 2008 it’s definitely the red fluid I’ll need. I’ll probably see if I can get a few more opinions on this but if everyone agrees it’s alright then I will definitely go with the Shell!
It's MB 236.14 approved, so it is safe to use. And if you are changing fluid (and filter) every 30k miles, you should be fine. I use the Pentosin/Fuchs stuff, but I drive less than 9,000 miles per year, and my change interval is 77,500 miles/5 years.
It’s a little cheaper on FCPEuro, which is where I’ll get it from if I go that route due to the lifetime free exchange on even the oil.
Is it actually? I do see some products they exclusively mentioned the product is not eligible for lifetime exchange, so I did find that interesting, I can't remember exactly what SKU and which vehicle it was but I think it was the differential axle fluid.
Is it actually? I do see some products they exclusively mentioned the product is not eligible for lifetime exchange, so I did find that interesting, I can't remember exactly what SKU and which vehicle it was but I think it was the differential axle fluid.
I haven’t personally done it, but it doesn’t say anywhere it’s not eligible. I do it with my oil and such, the only thing I was aware of that isn’t replaceable is one time use stuff like oil additives but I’m not sure if transmission fluid is included too.
Edit: Just checked FCP website and saw this under warranty. Unless someone who’s done it chimes in, I see no reason to think it’s not eligible.
Last edited by hmclaughlin67; Feb 19, 2025 at 07:40 PM.
I haven’t personally done it, but it doesn’t say anywhere it’s not eligible. I do it with my oil and such, the only thing I was aware of that isn’t replaceable is one time use stuff like oil additives but I’m not sure if transmission fluid is included too.
Edit: Just checked FCP website and saw this under warranty. Unless someone who’s done it chimes in, I see no reason to think it’s not eligible.
I am not sure why but I need to find that listing again, I was helping another forum member yesterday finding differential fluid, and it said this wasn't eligible or something for the Lifetime Replacement Guarantee. So I was shocked to read that and wonder if and when they changed the policy.
I used Shell ATF134 when I serviced the transmission a few months ago. The transmission is running great with no issues. I bought 12 quarts off Amazon pretty cheap. I did not touch the torque converter, I just pulled the pan and replaced the filter. It took 6 quarts to fill it back up to proper level.
As long as you can ship the product back to FCP they will give you store credit for it. Im not sure how stingy they will be about missing fluids, example if your car leaked a quart of transmission fluid so only filled 4 quarts of a 5 quart container. I bet they will honor it within reason. Just remember you have to pay to ship the product back and they issue store credit to use.
Shell ATF 134 is specifically listed in the MB manuals.
Shell ATF134 is excellent. I bought it by the cases when we had 5 speed 722.6 transmissions that required 236.14 spec fluid in the fleet. All of those vehicles went past 185,000 miles.
Shell ATF134 is excellent. I bought it by the cases when we had 5 speed 722.6 transmissions that required 236.14 spec fluid in the fleet. All of those vehicles went past 185,000 miles.
Mine is it 181,000 so I hope I’m just as lucky lol
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
