Pinoi Ryder

Planning on changing transmission fluid and need your advise.. should i go with OEM from Mercedes or go for aftermarket synthetic one?

thank you in advance for all your help

rtbrjason

I went with OEM since it's not that easy to do a full fluid swap yourself and I didn't want to mix fluids. I did a drain, pan removal and new filter and topped the fluid up with almost 4 quarts. I drove it for about 1000 miles and then did a drain and refill again without removing the pan.

cetialpha5

I believe the standard fluid is ATF 134. You can get a case of it from a shell distributor. Typically around $60 for a case of 12 quarts. Punch in your state and check the locations for each distributor, they sometimes have multiple locations but Shell just lists them once.

http://www.shell.us/business-custome...r-locator.html

Pinoi Ryder

anyone tried non OEM ATF fluid? what brand did you use?

dave2001auto

Look in your owners manual for the approved aft. Google that number and bevo mercedes. Follow the link and a list of approved atf will appear. No us in paying dealer priced for repackaged aft. Dealer may be using one or two aft for all of the cars. Kind of like the motor oil. Many dealers use the approved non mercedes brands of fluids.

kajtek1

I made my mind long time ago to buy only MB fluids, or German equivalents.
Shell 134 is just few dollars cheaper and I refuse to be Guinea pig for small savings.
Years on forums show that lot of MB owners, who saved $5 using Zerex instead of MB coolant, sooner or later start overheating topicks.
Was the $5 worth it?

dave2001auto

Pentosin ATF1 is Germany and may be approved for the 5G, but is not approved for the 7G transmission. While Shell ATF134 and Mobil approved by Mercedes for the 7G transmission and used by many dealers.

Mercedes approves use of some of their new fluids (motor oil) for older models in spite of less protection, e.g. for some of the newer fluids may offer less protection use of 229.51 oil and 229.52 oils for better fuel mileage. Same with thinner ATF for better fuel mileage.

marc hanna

I just use the OEM. Around here, i can get it from the MB dealer at the best price.

Little tip: if you jack up the front of the car and leave the rear wheels on the ground you can get another litre or two out of the torque convertor without actually doing the proper TC drain.

samaritrey

Used Shell 134 ATF in both my 722.6 and now my 722.9 worked great and meets the 236.14 spec

Did a full flush on the 722.6 and ran with all shell 134 atf for around 40k before selling the car.
My new car with the 722.9 had a full flush around 23,000 miles ago and is shifting great.

kajtek1

Than we have W210 owner and 429,000 miles on it. His recent problem is catching of AC clutch. I wonder what ATF was put in this transmission?

dave2001auto

I would not call Shell ATF 134 aftermarket for mercedes _.14 ATF. Shell (134) and Fuchs (4134) are official suppliers for Mercedes for the _.14 AFT. Fuchs 4134 MSDS has the base is "group III+" or hydro-cracked with high V.I.

Country of origin (USA vs Germany is no indication of the quality for ATF nor oils today).

Shell advertises semi synthetic while Fuchs advertises Synthetic. Both are likely Group III with Group II additives. The plus is more of a market thing for high VI.

kajtek1

Shell is aftermarket for me.
It is MB approved, so are probably 20 or more ATF around the World, that I will not use neither.
You want to go cheaper, owners of W210 have whole success topic about using Valvoline in their transmission.
Again, I am not here to judge the fluid quality, I am just saying that using non-MB fluid proved to backfire in some cases.
You want to test it, go ahead and report back after 30,000 or more miles.
Just like guys on Valvoline did.

relinuca

I suspect that many problems encountered by DIYers following their transmission fluid changes might be due to their failure to follow M-B mntce. instructions and/or the proper vacuum drain systems, rater then using off-brand fluids.


Certain ZF transmissions are very unforegiving to DIYers.


Voice of experience here.


relinuca

dave2001auto

Don"t forget mbz dealers who don"t follow the wis.
The volume in the cooler is small compared to the tc that many dealers don't drain.

FCPEuro

Pentosin ATF 1 will work however the 1LV is the fluid designed and prescribed for Merc 722's. I normally package all my kits with the Pentosin however you have a MYRIAD of good options for the 722.6 from dealer, shell, fuchs, pentosin, valvoline etc. I'd say just pick a fluid, follow the change procedure and you will be OK. Don't overthink this one.

--Kyle

screw991le

OEM IMHO

splc

I think you are right about the ATF134 for older model MBs which use the OEM 236.10. The Shell ATF-134 is claimed to be a semi-synthetic oil, with lower viscosity, I believe ( I could not find the data sheet for the 236.10 oil). These older oils are hard to find and not cheap in the US. I am puzzled that MB has been admant about using the OEM or approved the ATF in their older cars, and then suggested that the 236.14 oil can be used in place of the older models. I do not know if they have the data to prove that...or the data to disprove non approved oils made by other companies that do not do business with them. Yes, I am talking about the Mobil, and Valvoline brands in the US...