transmission fluid replacement (RED or BLUE)
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 32
Likes: 6
From: SF bay area, California
GL350
transmission fluid replacement (RED or BLUE)
Hi,
I recently perfromed(300Miles driven after that) transmission fluid change. Being a newbie at this, I went to OREilly auto parts as the mercedez guys were out of fluid(rest of the parts I took from the dealer like filter and seals).
The old transmission fluid looked like it never was changed, its 2103 GL 350 with 105K miles....the fluid was almost black.....anyways, I replaced the oil. later I realized that the dealer recommends blue fluid.
now I have the blue fluid from the dealer but after listening to my story...the dealer service guy scared the hell out of me by saying that I have already run the red fluid so I might not get away with just changing the blue fluid....I might have to get it done from them(for which they ask $800 for normal service, which they believe is not in my case, so it might cost me more)...they believe since I have run the car with red fluid so it has gone in all over the place like all the pipes and torque converter so now mixing it with blue will be an issue??????
Please advise the way forward....I got 10 quarts of blue fluid form the dealer with new filter and seals cos I already contaminated it with red fluid......So should I just flush the entire red fluid by pumping in the blue fluid or just fill in whatever amount comes out of the transmission? or should I repeat the process couple of times and I should be good....or just play into the fear factor that stealer is playing on me
I recently perfromed(300Miles driven after that) transmission fluid change. Being a newbie at this, I went to OREilly auto parts as the mercedez guys were out of fluid(rest of the parts I took from the dealer like filter and seals).
The old transmission fluid looked like it never was changed, its 2103 GL 350 with 105K miles....the fluid was almost black.....anyways, I replaced the oil. later I realized that the dealer recommends blue fluid.
now I have the blue fluid from the dealer but after listening to my story...the dealer service guy scared the hell out of me by saying that I have already run the red fluid so I might not get away with just changing the blue fluid....I might have to get it done from them(for which they ask $800 for normal service, which they believe is not in my case, so it might cost me more)...they believe since I have run the car with red fluid so it has gone in all over the place like all the pipes and torque converter so now mixing it with blue will be an issue??????
Please advise the way forward....I got 10 quarts of blue fluid form the dealer with new filter and seals cos I already contaminated it with red fluid......So should I just flush the entire red fluid by pumping in the blue fluid or just fill in whatever amount comes out of the transmission? or should I repeat the process couple of times and I should be good....or just play into the fear factor that stealer is playing on me
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 14,695
Likes: 4,584
From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
Options:
1. Do nothing, if your transmission is functioning OK. Risk of long term problem, but this is hard to predict/possibly unknowable.
2. Take the fluid and filter you purchased to an Indy and have them do the job.
3. Pay the money at the dealer. They will likely not take your filter and fluid unless you purchased it recently from them.
Contamination is unpredictable in the long term. If you change to the correct fluid, you may or may not have problems. The lowest risk option is #3, but it is not risk free.
1. Do nothing, if your transmission is functioning OK. Risk of long term problem, but this is hard to predict/possibly unknowable.
2. Take the fluid and filter you purchased to an Indy and have them do the job.
3. Pay the money at the dealer. They will likely not take your filter and fluid unless you purchased it recently from them.
Contamination is unpredictable in the long term. If you change to the correct fluid, you may or may not have problems. The lowest risk option is #3, but it is not risk free.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 32
Likes: 6
From: SF bay area, California
GL350
The only thing different I feel is slight vibration on idle in the entire dash and steering. it was not there before....could this be transmission related? other than that transmission is working fine.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 648
Likes: 144
From: Yeast Coast, Canada
GL550 X164
To get the 2103 MY, you've gotten serious connections at MB! I know it's a typo, you meant to say 2013. 😀
A few questions.
Did you change the fluids yourself or was it done at an indy shop? It does not sound like the dealer did it the first time. I'd assume they would have caught the fluid was not right.
Did you drain the TQ? If you did, you would have used 9L of new fluid.
Did you measure how much fluid you drained?
Did you flush the cooler?
Without knowing the answers, my thoughts. If you did not drain the TQ, you already have a mix of the two fluids, approx 50/50. If you drained it, but did not flush, you already have a mix of the two fluids, but in high % favouring the red. I don't recall how much the cooler/lines hold, but it's not much, maybe not even a litre.
I would replace the fluid, filter, gasket, tube all again, but perform a flush to extract as much of the fluid as possible. Even a flush would not remove all old fluid completely, I don't think, so you will have a little bit of old fluid mixed with new.
Whether you choose to have the job done at home, at indy or dealer us your call. I can't comment on your quote, but my dealer quoted me $600 Canadian for transmission service, which does not include draining the TQ. They might think I own an MB and I'm stupid rich haha I'm only sensibly wealthy. Actually, with the MB cost of parts in Canada, it doesn't sound too bad of a price.
A few questions.
Did you change the fluids yourself or was it done at an indy shop? It does not sound like the dealer did it the first time. I'd assume they would have caught the fluid was not right.
Did you drain the TQ? If you did, you would have used 9L of new fluid.
Did you measure how much fluid you drained?
Did you flush the cooler?
Without knowing the answers, my thoughts. If you did not drain the TQ, you already have a mix of the two fluids, approx 50/50. If you drained it, but did not flush, you already have a mix of the two fluids, but in high % favouring the red. I don't recall how much the cooler/lines hold, but it's not much, maybe not even a litre.
I would replace the fluid, filter, gasket, tube all again, but perform a flush to extract as much of the fluid as possible. Even a flush would not remove all old fluid completely, I don't think, so you will have a little bit of old fluid mixed with new.
Whether you choose to have the job done at home, at indy or dealer us your call. I can't comment on your quote, but my dealer quoted me $600 Canadian for transmission service, which does not include draining the TQ. They might think I own an MB and I'm stupid rich haha I'm only sensibly wealthy. Actually, with the MB cost of parts in Canada, it doesn't sound too bad of a price.
Last edited by expl0rer; May 6, 2021 at 09:31 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 258
Likes: 50
R320, Astro, JSW, ST4
Sounds like the dealer service writer did their job (, and scared you out of trusting yourself!)
But, if you did it once, you can do it again. Get 10 liters on hand because your going to flush it completely:
(transmission, torque converter, cooler, and lines).
Be sure to pickup a torque converter drain plug and o-ring for the cooler line.
You can do this!
But, if you did it once, you can do it again. Get 10 liters on hand because your going to flush it completely:
Be sure to pickup a torque converter drain plug and o-ring for the cooler line.
You can do this!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 32
Likes: 6
From: SF bay area, California
GL350
Here is an update, thanks fir all the valuable advise:
1. I got 10 liters of fluid from dealer, the blue one with filter, seal, washer and screws
2. asked him how would he handle it, he said he would do the service three to four times within 3 miles of driving the car without flushing...and charge me $800 per service....so I figured I can get a used transmission from used car parts in the price....and decided to do it myself with a trusted friend( who is expert in DIY on cars)
4. Opened the transmission pan, drained the fluid, cleaned all residues, replaced filter and seal...closed everything back
5. opened the transfer case ji and drained oil from there, refilled with blue fluid about little more than half quarts
6. flushed the fluid by using the pump from bottom until the the oil level reached the recommended level and stooped draining while the engine was running...I ended up using 8.5 quarts.
The car is running smooth after that, hopefully not screwed up anything big time.....will keep you posted....
1. I got 10 liters of fluid from dealer, the blue one with filter, seal, washer and screws
2. asked him how would he handle it, he said he would do the service three to four times within 3 miles of driving the car without flushing...and charge me $800 per service....so I figured I can get a used transmission from used car parts in the price....and decided to do it myself with a trusted friend( who is expert in DIY on cars)
4. Opened the transmission pan, drained the fluid, cleaned all residues, replaced filter and seal...closed everything back
5. opened the transfer case ji and drained oil from there, refilled with blue fluid about little more than half quarts
6. flushed the fluid by using the pump from bottom until the the oil level reached the recommended level and stooped draining while the engine was running...I ended up using 8.5 quarts.
The car is running smooth after that, hopefully not screwed up anything big time.....will keep you posted....
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Super Member
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 648
Likes: 144
From: Yeast Coast, Canada
GL550 X164
Here is an update, thanks fir all the valuable advise:
1. I got 10 liters of fluid from dealer, the blue one with filter, seal, washer and screws
2. asked him how would he handle it, he said he would do the service three to four times within 3 miles of driving the car without flushing...and charge me $800 per service....so I figured I can get a used transmission from used car parts in the price....and decided to do it myself with a trusted friend( who is expert in DIY on cars)
4. Opened the transmission pan, drained the fluid, cleaned all residues, replaced filter and seal...closed everything back
5. opened the transfer case ji and drained oil from there, refilled with blue fluid about little more than half quarts
6. flushed the fluid by using the pump from bottom until the the oil level reached the recommended level and stooped draining while the engine was running...I ended up using 8.5 quarts.
The car is running smooth after that, hopefully not screwed up anything big time.....will keep you posted....
1. I got 10 liters of fluid from dealer, the blue one with filter, seal, washer and screws
2. asked him how would he handle it, he said he would do the service three to four times within 3 miles of driving the car without flushing...and charge me $800 per service....so I figured I can get a used transmission from used car parts in the price....and decided to do it myself with a trusted friend( who is expert in DIY on cars)
4. Opened the transmission pan, drained the fluid, cleaned all residues, replaced filter and seal...closed everything back
5. opened the transfer case ji and drained oil from there, refilled with blue fluid about little more than half quarts
6. flushed the fluid by using the pump from bottom until the the oil level reached the recommended level and stooped draining while the engine was running...I ended up using 8.5 quarts.
The car is running smooth after that, hopefully not screwed up anything big time.....will keep you posted....
