CLK Rear differential oil change
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 11
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From: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
I currently drive a 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK 500 Elegance Coupe (C209)
CLK Rear differential oil change
Good evening, members.
I've tried to source a thread on changing the rear differential oil of a CLK - 209 series. I could not find a sticky note on this. If there is a thread on this, apologies for the re-post.
Can one advise as to when this must be done (every x years or x kilometres?)
I drive a 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK 500 (M273, 5.5L) which currently has 83 400km's on the odometer.
Thanks in advance,
Kind regards,
Alexi
I've tried to source a thread on changing the rear differential oil of a CLK - 209 series. I could not find a sticky note on this. If there is a thread on this, apologies for the re-post.
Can one advise as to when this must be done (every x years or x kilometres?)
I drive a 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK 500 (M273, 5.5L) which currently has 83 400km's on the odometer.
Thanks in advance,
Kind regards,
Alexi
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 44
Likes: 3
From: New Jersey
2006 CLK500 cabriolet
Best place to look for this answer is in your owner's manual. If you don't have one, you can easily find a pdf copy on the internet, perhaps even on the MB web site.
On my 2006 CLK500, the book says "Hypoid Gear Oil, SAE 85W90". I ended up using "Mobil-1 75W90 Synthetic". You'll probably hear 5 different opinions from 4 people. You have to decide for yourself what is best. You certainly can't go wrong using whatever your manual says. Up to you.
On my 2006 CLK500, the book says "Hypoid Gear Oil, SAE 85W90". I ended up using "Mobil-1 75W90 Synthetic". You'll probably hear 5 different opinions from 4 people. You have to decide for yourself what is best. You certainly can't go wrong using whatever your manual says. Up to you.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 73
Likes: 11
From: West Linn, OR
CLK350 2007
My experience w/lubricants has been that it is better to buy them at the dealer, and generally are not that expensive... specially something that needs changing every 6 years - BTW don’t forget to change the oil fill plug.
You can find the instructions here:
http://benzbits.com/w203/
You can find the instructions here:
http://benzbits.com/w203/
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 11
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From: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
I currently drive a 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK 500 Elegance Coupe (C209)
Thank you, @kb24forlife24 
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 783
Likes: 108
From: PA
E Coupe C207, ML W166, ML W164, Sprinter 1500/144, W111 SB220 Fintail(s), A5 chassis Beetle 5+5
Yes, just in time. This is a AMSoil corrosion test of various GL-5 gear oils. Lucas is always a poor performer in the lab, with Royal Purple not far behind. There's some wear and sheer tests that I didn't bother to save, but yes....Mobil 1 is ideal, and usually the actual oem fluid in many cases. SynPower or another mainstream brand can be fine too, and I def recommend AMSoil or Redline in all cases.
Redline has a nice library of lube White Papers...
https://www.redlineoil.com/technical-info
https://www.redlineoil.com/Content/f...Tech_6.20_.pdf
I'm not even that picky with GL-5 gear oils, but GL-4 Manual Trans Fluids, that's worth "worrying" about. 9/10 times the answer there is Pennzoil Synchromesh from a practical standpoint, but the Redline MTFs are excellent, if not the best.
https://www.redlineoil.com/Content/f...Tech_6.20_.pdf
https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/produ...ion-fluid.html
Mercedes don't have a lot of MT cars, but watch out for "tuner" retailers who want to put 75w-90 in a manual trans! Often they are using GL-5 or a combo product that is too slick for synchronizers and too thick compared to modern MTF, that is as thin as ATF or even thinner!
Back to gear oil, yes Mercedes back speced to an 80 or 85 weight gear oil, but 90 is still fine. Redline has a range of thinner gear oils and info on their tech pages.
Redline has a nice library of lube White Papers...
https://www.redlineoil.com/technical-info
https://www.redlineoil.com/Content/f...Tech_6.20_.pdf
I'm not even that picky with GL-5 gear oils, but GL-4 Manual Trans Fluids, that's worth "worrying" about. 9/10 times the answer there is Pennzoil Synchromesh from a practical standpoint, but the Redline MTFs are excellent, if not the best.
https://www.redlineoil.com/Content/f...Tech_6.20_.pdf
https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/produ...ion-fluid.html
Mercedes don't have a lot of MT cars, but watch out for "tuner" retailers who want to put 75w-90 in a manual trans! Often they are using GL-5 or a combo product that is too slick for synchronizers and too thick compared to modern MTF, that is as thin as ATF or even thinner!
Back to gear oil, yes Mercedes back speced to an 80 or 85 weight gear oil, but 90 is still fine. Redline has a range of thinner gear oils and info on their tech pages.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 591
Likes: 3
From: Mid-Atlantic USA
W203 & W204 3.0L 4matics & MR2 Supercharger
Yes, just in time. This is a AMSoil corrosion test of various GL-5 gear oils. Lucas is always a poor performer in the lab, with Royal Purple not far behind. There's some wear and sheer tests that I didn't bother to save, but yes....Mobil 1 is ideal, and usually the actual oem fluid in many cases. SynPower or another mainstream brand can be fine too, and I def recommend AMSoil or Redline in all cases.
Redline has a nice library of lube White Papers...
https://www.redlineoil.com/technical-info
https://www.redlineoil.com/Content/f...Tech_6.20_.pdf
I'm not even that picky with GL-5 gear oils, but GL-4 Manual Trans Fluids, that's worth "worrying" about. 9/10 times the answer there is Pennzoil Synchromesh from a practical standpoint, but the Redline MTFs are excellent, if not the best.
https://www.redlineoil.com/Content/f...Tech_6.20_.pdf
https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/produ...ion-fluid.html
Mercedes don't have a lot of MT cars, but watch out for "tuner" retailers who want to put 75w-90 in a manual trans! Often they are using GL-5 or a combo product that is too slick for synchronizers and too thick compared to modern MTF, that is as thin as ATF or even thinner!
Back to gear oil, yes Mercedes back speced to an 80 or 85 weight gear oil, but 90 is still fine. Redline has a range of thinner gear oils and info on their tech pages.
Redline has a nice library of lube White Papers...
https://www.redlineoil.com/technical-info
https://www.redlineoil.com/Content/f...Tech_6.20_.pdf
I'm not even that picky with GL-5 gear oils, but GL-4 Manual Trans Fluids, that's worth "worrying" about. 9/10 times the answer there is Pennzoil Synchromesh from a practical standpoint, but the Redline MTFs are excellent, if not the best.
https://www.redlineoil.com/Content/f...Tech_6.20_.pdf
https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/produ...ion-fluid.html
Mercedes don't have a lot of MT cars, but watch out for "tuner" retailers who want to put 75w-90 in a manual trans! Often they are using GL-5 or a combo product that is too slick for synchronizers and too thick compared to modern MTF, that is as thin as ATF or even thinner!
Back to gear oil, yes Mercedes back speced to an 80 or 85 weight gear oil, but 90 is still fine. Redline has a range of thinner gear oils and info on their tech pages.
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 783
Likes: 108
From: PA
E Coupe C207, ML W166, ML W164, Sprinter 1500/144, W111 SB220 Fintail(s), A5 chassis Beetle 5+5
People think the GL-4 and GL-5 supersed each other, like one is better than the other. The specs just describe different kinds of gear oils for different tasks. GL-5 for gears is as slick as possible, and has other requirements like corrosion resistance. It's "FM" additives makes it a "friction modified" gear oil for diffs. Other types are for limited slip for gears that run at right angles....etc. Just like we have different ATFs, including ones for CVT, etc...
GL-4 is different simply because of limited use of FM additives, solely so the shift synchronizers are able to grab onto each other and spin-up for the next gear. GL-5 makes a mess of this process. Combo GL-4&5 fluids like Royal Purple are not ideal for either....ask AMSoil or Redine! That's why there are separate products, like Pennzoil Synchromesh ONLY GL-4.
GL-4 is different simply because of limited use of FM additives, solely so the shift synchronizers are able to grab onto each other and spin-up for the next gear. GL-5 makes a mess of this process. Combo GL-4&5 fluids like Royal Purple are not ideal for either....ask AMSoil or Redine! That's why there are separate products, like Pennzoil Synchromesh ONLY GL-4.
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 591
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From: Mid-Atlantic USA
W203 & W204 3.0L 4matics & MR2 Supercharger
I noticed one was GL5 wasn't recommend for gearboxes, so I worried it would be recommended for the rear diff, this is the statement that got me posting here;
"GL-5 has roughly twice the amount of EP additives compared to GL-4, which is why it is often used in high-pressure circumstances such as in a front axle and rear axle differential. Sulphur/Phosphorus additives however have an unfavourable property: they can react aggressively towards bronze and copper. This can be disastrous for the synchromesh rings of a gearbox. Therefore it is not recommended to use GL-5 in a gearbox unless the manufacturer allows this."
Thanks again ! ! ! - NP
"GL-5 has roughly twice the amount of EP additives compared to GL-4, which is why it is often used in high-pressure circumstances such as in a front axle and rear axle differential. Sulphur/Phosphorus additives however have an unfavourable property: they can react aggressively towards bronze and copper. This can be disastrous for the synchromesh rings of a gearbox. Therefore it is not recommended to use GL-5 in a gearbox unless the manufacturer allows this."
Thanks again ! ! ! - NP
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 783
Likes: 108
From: PA
E Coupe C207, ML W166, ML W164, Sprinter 1500/144, W111 SB220 Fintail(s), A5 chassis Beetle 5+5
Yes, by "gearbox" they mean a manual transmission. I know it's confusing.
The notion that sulphur/phosphorus additives will corrode yellow metal parts, like bronze synchros is very out dated. Those type adds aren't used since 20 years ago.
There's an "MT-1" spec from API that indicates a fluid is safe for yellow corrosion...
https://www.oilspecifications.org/api_gos.php
The notion that sulphur/phosphorus additives will corrode yellow metal parts, like bronze synchros is very out dated. Those type adds aren't used since 20 years ago.
There's an "MT-1" spec from API that indicates a fluid is safe for yellow corrosion...
https://www.oilspecifications.org/api_gos.php
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 783
Likes: 108
From: PA
E Coupe C207, ML W166, ML W164, Sprinter 1500/144, W111 SB220 Fintail(s), A5 chassis Beetle 5+5
For absolute clarity: GL-5 is for differentials and is usually called "gear oil" or for "axles", GL-4 is for manual trans "gearboxes". The only difference being the coefficient of friction.
https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/produ...le-75w-90.html
https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/produ...ion-fluid.html
https://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/produ...le-75w-90.html
SAE 75W-90, API GL-5 is the primary service fill rear axle oil for many passenger cars and trucks. SUVs and Trucks in particular may be equipped with limited slip differentials. Pennzoil Platinum® Axle 75W-90 contains sufficient limited slip friction modifier for many applications.
Synchromesh Fluid is designed to offer optimal protection for moderately loaded gears in manual transmissions. This high quality manual transmission fluid is formulated for good low temperature flow to maintain shift characteristics even after a cold night2. Corrosion protection is added to help protect your transmission.
