Wess

I'm planning on flushing my tranny with BG synthetic ATF. This product is made to MB specs according to the label. My friend, who is a mechanic swears by this product and will be doing the flush with his machine. The flush entails putting a quick clean additive for around 20 mins in the tranny and then flusing the system. Also BG conditioner is placed into the tranny after the flush. Has anyone gone this route and their opinon? I have a 00 e430 with 90 k on it. The tranny somtimes runs up to 2000 rpms before shifting out of low gear. I haven't checked the owners manual yet, but what is the capacity for the tranny? Thanks...

TMAllison

I personally don't like the flushing concept for a trans. Others will disagree.

I would not use the conditioner if it is a friction modifier as it could work contrary to the modifiers MB specifies in their fluid.

You might want to use the newer MB 722.9 fluid (3353) if yours is slipping. Fiction was tweaked in that fluid.

Reading adaptation values with SDS would be preferable of course.

Check your OM for fluid quantity. Some E430's had close to 9.5L factory fills IIRC.

usaims

Flushing the tranny are the reasons why transmission shops are so busy.

I have heard that flushing the tranny will move internal parts inside the tranny. I wouldn't do it.

usaims

Musikmann

I don't like flushing either. Have the pan drained, the filter and gasket replaced, and check for a pan magnet; add one if there is none. Replace what is drained with OEM MB ATF. As mentioned there is a "new and improved" ATF designed for the new 722.9 tranny that is backwards compatible. Your tech will need a MB dipstick too, the fluid level is critical in these transmissions. There is a lock pin on the ATF fill tube so you'll need one of those too (old one breaks when removed). Capacity in my E320 is 8L but your E430 might require more. That info should be in your owner's manual.

martz

Ditto- Drain and refill ONLY!!!!! and of course with filter change......

Wess

I spoke with the BG rep at my friends garage today. He told me that their machines do not flush the tranny. They have no pump. The only pressure is what the tranny creates. The lines of course are hooked up to the cooler lines to the radiator. The output line pushes in the old fluid thus causing the new fluid to return to the tranny. When you observe the color difference on the machine, you know that you have replenished the system with the new fluid. There is no back flush created, I told him my concern about the filter releasing debri if it were back flushed. My friend maintains around 15 ambulances for the City he told me that he has never replaced a tranny and some have run up to 300k. There was no sales pitch by the rep he just stopped by to drop off supplies, no profit will be made on this job, just costs for materials. I am still up in the air though. Thanks for the imput

TMAllison

If yours has a torque converter drain plug just drain it. If not, I might use their machine although I'd forego the secret sauce AND use the correct fluid. 722.6's dont' last long on the wrong fluid.

I'd have it scanned first if it were mine; that will tell an expirienced tech what parameter(s) has been exceeded and can no longer be self adjusted internally.

Doubtful fuild is going to resolve a mechanical problem.

Theropode 430T

I can recommend a transmission flushing, but in your & your cars interest, leave out the "cleaning additive". They only used ATF to flush my cars transmission!

usaims

Don't flush your transmission with those machines. The pressure from the machine is going to move internal parts resulting in you rebuilding the transmission. Which can cost up to $5000.

Just drain, replace filter and gasket.

A transmission mechanic told me that there business is thriving because of those flush systems.

usaims

saintz

USaims, did you get a flush and then have problems? Did they just flush, or did they change the filter as well?

In addition to what you mentioned (pressure knocking stuff loose), the other problem with a lot of flush jobs is that they don't change the filter, meaning they've pressure washed stuff loose and it's jammed your filter, and then they just leave it.

Wess

I will be doing the tranny tomorrow at my friends garage. I am first going to drain the pan, change the filter, gasket and then refill the tranny. I am then going to hook the cooling lines up the to the Bg machine and run the new fluid into the the tranny. There is no pressure created by this machine. You start the vehicle and the return line takes the new fluid from a reservoir tank. The old tranny fluid is pumped out from the tranny to a holding tank. Once the color changes on the Bg Machine window, you have finished. I will then check the level with a mercedes dipstick. My buddy insists that we don't need to change the filter but I will. I guess I confused people with the word "flush". This is not a flush, this is just replacing the fluid. There is no pressure created by this machine like I previously said. My buddy did his daughters bmw without the filter change and noticed a difference right away. I will post my results......

ohlord

is not an ambulance transmission nor a BMW transmission that is the catch in your use of the machine. Unless it is the transmissions own pressure doing the fluid. DIY using cooling lines and no external pump are on www.benzworld.org w210 section.if the bg unit you are using is a non pump unit your setup will work but don't use any chemicals or additives.And using a universal fluid in a 722.6 trans is only begging for problems.Unless it meets mb specs by the number it is not fluid you want in that pricey transmission.BG is only rated up to 236.10 and electronic controlled 722.6 trans needs 236.10 236.12 or 14 so you are playing Russian roulette if the bg is not rated NAG1 722.6.But hey if the bg guy says it is fine in an ambulance trans and you believe it is fine in the 722.6 it is your transmission.
Be sure to underfill and then bring it up to the correct level at operating temp in park with the engine running.The correct level is for the best performance and shift quality the top of the 80c mark.
Have fun

Note BG takes no liability for misuse of their product so why not use the real deal oem fluid you can pick it up for 11 bucks a liter and it is 722.6 rated.
Before you fill with bg univ call and ask them. Then you won't be playing with fire.

saintz

I think you've got it right.

Definitely change the filter. The filter is tiny (much, much smaller than your engine oil filter and it's meant to last 10 times longer). Once you look at it, you wonder how it's sufficient to catch tens of thousands of miles of clutch material. Ideally, you would change the filter after you flush, but if your system generates no extra pressure, you're probably good enough.

Let us know how it goes.

Theropode 430T

The ATF change wasn't done with one of those "flush systems", my specialist used just a small electric pump, hooked up to a car bat. he pumped around 5 liters of ATF through the system. You could very well see the difference, at the end the ATF looked still new, in the beginning it was much darker!
(By the way, the fella is like our "210-forum" mechanic , he allready changed the ATF at 30+ cars, over the last 1,5 years, no bad experiences !!! )

Ausmbtech

Ok, here is the story.

flushing is really good for vehilces that either don't have a filter or only have a strainer than isn't reachable without pulling the transmission out of the car. many FWD cars are a good example of this. I flush transmissions in Volvo's and Saab's without hesitation.

A MB has a very fine and easily accessable filter so I really don't like the idea of flushing a MB transmission as it doesn't need it/don't solve the problem of the dirty filter.The filter blocks up very easily. There is also a magnet in most transmission pans that requires cleaning. For MB transmissions I recommend dropping the pan, replace the filter and pan gasket, clean the magnet in a lint free cloth (fit a magnet if there isn't one there), clean the pan before reinstalling. For vehilces with a torque convertor drain then drain that too. If it doens't have once then don't worry about it. Also a good idea to replace the electrical plug socket if you don't know when it was last done.


Be wary of something that says it's approved for MB. many fluids are approved for MB, doesn't mean it's approved for YOUR MB.
Unless it specifically syas it's approved for MB spec 236.10, 236.12 or 236.14 then it's not approved for your car.

Wess

Didn't get time to do the tranny today, however, I talked with the BG rep today about concerns of some of you have with this fluid. The rep told me that this fluid is rated up to 236.10 like Ohlord previously stated. He told me that this fluid is the right fluid to use for the 722.6 tranny but would not recommend it for the newer 7 speed tranny. The going rate for MB fluid is $18.50 per litre from the dealer. An after market, Meyle, makes it to MB specs is $11.50 plus shipping. I will be paying $82.50 8 litres of BG. Another friend of mine is an Amsoil dealer and can get their ATF fluid for MB spec to 236.10 for around $8 a qt. How much more protection does this tranny need, is 236.10 good enough? Thanks for your imput!

ohlord

in the 722.6. First the capacity is 9.5 liters. Second you are going to drain it remove the pan and the filter and fill again when all buttoned up.Then you are going to use a dual diaphragm fluid change unit to flow fluid through the system(which means the new fluid you put in gets mixed with the old nasty graphite polluted fluid in the torque converter and then needs to be flushed with clean fluid until it all runs clean.) Figure about double the fluid you estimated if not more.
Amsoil?don't use it

Ausmbtech

[QUOTE=Wess;3721250]How much more protection does this tranny need, is 236.10 good enough? [QUOTE]

As long as it meets 236.10 then it's all your transmission needs. The later 236.12 and 236.14 have only come out in recent years for the 7 speeds, but it's backwards compatible for the 5 speed.

Wess

Thanks for all the imput. After thinking everything over, I will pull the pan, clean it and put a magnet in if there is none, drain the convertor if there is a drain plug, put the new filter on and gasket. I will then fill the tranny and utilize the dipstick. I will not use the machine since there is a need to use it. The tranny will already be filled with the good fluid. Sorry for beating this one into the ground!

Musikmann

From what I've read several times, the TC drain disappeared sometime in 1999. Depending on your 2000's build date I guess there's a 50-50 chance you have a drain. Good luck.