azeq

I have a 2005 E320 with 103,000 miles and I wanted to change the transmission fluid to do some maintance repairs. I took it to AAMCO to have them replace the Fluid, I took them a bottle of slick 50 transmission fluid and 8q of transmission fluid type Valvoine ATF
approved for MB NSB-1.

They replaced the fluid and turned on the car but the transmission never worked or engaged they indiacted its the wrong transmission fluid and I would need to get MB Fluid at the dealer. I towed it to a MB service tech and what I'm going to ask them to do is to Flush the system and replace it with MB fluid.

My Question, with what happened would this of damaged my transmission ?

06e320cdi

Just make sure they didnt drain the transmission and add the fluid to the engine oil. Stranger thing have happened. Cannot tell if you damaged something. Depends on how hard they were pushing it to try and engage.

Engineer1

What became of this transmission issue?

Engineer1

Ask me how I know the trans fluid wound up in the engine!

Efivehundred

How do you know the trans fluid wound up in the engine?

Engineer1

Because I pulled the same dumb a$$ move! I was hoping my first posting would be a bit more magnanimous.

My car is a 2003 E320. There are tons of postings on how to change the transmission fluid and filter as well as the electrical adapter that was leaking. I changed the electrical adapter, dropped the old fluid, changed the filter, cleaned up the pan, and refilled via the dipstick tube.

I started the car in order to warm up the fluid, but the car would not go into gear. Hmmm...I checked the fluid level with the dipstick tool and I could not get a good reading. It seemed like the pump was not priming, so I dumped in another quart. Still no dice. I sprayed the electrical connector and checked the Transmission Control Module for dampness. Still no go. The last thing I could think of was to check the new filter to make sure it was seated properly. I didn't want to do this as it meant dropping the new tranny fluid, but, I had no choice. Oh well...I put the drain pan under the car, pulled out the plug and.....not a drop came out!

I bet you are now thinking, "OK, where did the juice go?" I thought the same thing. From under the car, I could see the top of the dipstick tube. I followed it, by hand, all the way down to the pan.....Engine oil pan, that is!

After a minute or two, I found where the correct dipstick tube enters the transmission. I followed it back up to the engine compartment, right next to and below the engine oil dipstick tube. Without pulling the air cleaner boxes off, it is very difficult to see the transmission dipstick tube.

Needless to say, I had to change the oil again in order to get the trans fluid out as well as had to buy more trans fluid. The good news is, Mama has her car back!

starbrite

That's the dumbest story I ever heard, even from a newbie.

vettdvr

AAMCO change your fluid? what fluid was used,? did it meet MB spec?

Engineer1

Thanks Starbrite!

Engineer1

I did the job myself. It's an easy DIY if you can get under the car. I used Valvoline Max Life, which is OK for this transmission.

Flash Gordon

One has to be very careful when top off/replace any fluid in our cars. I recently have to top off the power steering fluid so the first thing I did was to come to this forum for the type of fluid I needed. The smallest container was one liter and I only used 1/20 of the bottle! The power steering was making noise when cold. I thought there was a leak or something. Turned out that the unit only needed a very small amount of fluid. Sensitive unit!

Efivehundred

Taking a car to AAMCO is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Mistakes happen.

Dexion

lol ok that was a good laugh, just as a reminder to everyone the Transmission dipstick tupe is right ahead of the firewall inbetween the furewall and the intake manifold! (aka the top rear of the engine cover)

vettdvr

That might be a dumb story but I did it first. I did my service myself before the MB repair disc was out. My car also has NO oil dipsitck and listed as such. So how was I to know the red top tube at the rear was the oil? It wasn't labled. So I did the same thing. Added transmission fluid to the engine and when started the car would not move. I only ran it about 20 seconds to find out. Then I looked way down on top of the bell housing to find the locking tab in red for the transmission dip stick.

This was great fun. Now I had to change engine Oil AND add more transmission fluid at $20/qt. So after dropping about another $150 for fluids due to my error and MB not properly labeling the tubes I wanted others to learn from the mistake. Unfortunately this was probably before many on this site were joined up.

We should learn from each others success and mistakes. This is how we help each other learn. Front airmatic strut de pressurization to install is another KEY point to learn if you ever plan to do this work.

So hopefully someone learns from my bonehead error. I hope they do and save some problems. My guess is AAMCO did exactly what I did.

One minor point. NEVER use any UN APPROVED OIL OR ADDITIVE IN A MB transmission. If you do let us know how it works out over the loing term. MB is pretty specific on the fluids.

Hope this helps everyone learn from my error.

When you begin to check number of post on each individual you will see I have well over 2000 so I have learned a lot on this site and my intent is to help others when I can. Sometimes I have been successful, sometimes not.

sub786

And you call yourself Engineer1

vettdvr

Sure I have made mistakes, for the lack of manuals, labels and markings anyone can make a mistake. But I publish so people can learn from it and not repeat it.

I don't know any Engineer who has actually done Engineering that hasn't made a mistake. But those that might admit it are of course few.

Engineer1

What, an engineers can't make mistakes? It seems like I am in good company! Where was your helpful post to make sure others didn't make the same mistake? If you have nothing constructive to say, why say anything?

Engineer1

Hi Dexion! Thank you for understanding my post the way it was intended; a bit of humor and a bit of a hard lesson. Perhaps the next guy can avoid this, apparently, common error!

The Valvoline trans fluid has not missed a beat.

franke320

Hi. Can you tell me if the trans fluid has to be filled from the bottom?

sub786

I have seen post like this before , where one mechanic dumped transmission oil through the engine tube. Which resulted in damaged transmission. When I refill I check several times with my hand to make sure funnel is in right place. Its easy to mix up. By the way do u know how to seafoam . I am searching for break booster tube ( E320 , 2003)

Engineer1

No. The trans in my E320 is filled via the tube located in the right, rear corner of the engine compartment. There are two tubes in the same place. The trans tube is the shorter one closer to the vehicle center line.

vettdvr

I thought it was funny too that someone else did the same thing I did. I also thought looking back what I did was funny. ............ But when I started the car put it D and it didn't move didn't think it was funny after I bought 8 qts of 0w40 / filter and 4 more transmission fluids. Total then went over $200 for fluids not to mention my frustration.

All of this could have been avoided if MB had clearly labeled the tubes.

But then I remember a generator on a 64 falcon that had a mushroomed shaft after trying to tap off the pulley. Amazing how far that generator could fly.

So of course I have made a few mistakes across the years. But 6 months ago when I Installed timing gears/magneto/timing/oil seals/and reassembled a Jabriu 3300 aircraft engine there were no mistakes. The engine went together like a Swiss watch and flew great. When taking off over the trees I know the engine was put together "BY THE BOOK".

ndh22

Thanks for the post. You saved me from mistakes I was sure to make.