Lioninstreet

It's getting to be time to do a full fluids change on my 12 R350 (gas). The manual shows the following as approved in the Merc. specifications for operating fluids:

276 Engine Oil spec and capacity: 229.5 / 7.9 qt.
Coolant spec and capacity: 326.0 / 10 qt.
Windshield Cleaning Fluid spec and capacity: H2O/MB Summerfit @ 100:1 / 7.4 qt.

Problem is the manual doesn't seem to show the specifications and capacities for the 722.9 transmission (including the torque converter), the 4Matic transfer case, the front and rear differential, the power steering fluid, or the brake fluid.

If anyone happen to have access to WIS, the service manual disk, or knows these fluid specs and capacities could you post them here so they are in a centralized location? And if you have reference for other motors, please feel free to add.

efzauner

the transmisison fluid is normally changed along with the filter. You have to drop the oilpan for that. Even if you dont change the filter you still have to punch in an overflow tube into the pan to drain the fluid.. you then have to remove the pan to replace the drain pipe.. then you have to monitor oil temperature using Star system to correctly set the level overflow out of the tube. Few people do that themselves. Go to the dealer...
if you are going to do this sort of service yourself I suggest you get a subscription to Alldatadiy. It is 9 liters for my 2011 R350.

couple of resources.
https://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/servi...enance_manuals

fluid spec sheets
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevoli...ets-sort1.html

fluids look up table
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevolisten/229.5_en.html

Lioninstreet

Thanks for the links and reply @efzauner.

I'm not exactly a "go to the dealer" kind guy, have Star (granted only C3), and worst case could have my Indy manage topping off of the tranny fluid change after I do the 9 of the 9.5 quarts needed myself.

So I started working on a fluid reference guide for the W251 reflecting the appropriate MB specs for operating fluids. Then anyone could look them up using MB BeVo and see what they could find to save some coin over the crazy prices they get for fluids at the stealership (ex. $32 for a quart of tranny fluid, really? Shell ATF134 is $12 on amazon and a case of 12 directly from Shell $8).

BeVO online found here: https://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevol...ets-sort1.html

What kicked me to go in this direction was my power steering pump had started to whine a bit and needed to be topped off, no signs of leak, just low after 100k. Clearly the MB techs ignored it during standard service. I'm planning a full flush and burp of the power steering at around a 110k when I plan to replace all fluids. But in the mean time, a quart of the MB power steering fluid is $24, the Pentosyn that crosses over, something like $9.

Once I'm done with it, I could post the reference guide here if there is any interest.

efzauner

The approved fluid brands are listed in the above links. Apart from oil, they are not always easy to find. You can spend a lot of gas driving around looking. I have ordered online too.

Lioninstreet

It's true, some of this stuff could be a bit challenging to find locally. Most will be found either by calling around or on the internet. But no, the references posted are totally incomplete:

The maintenance guide in the first link only provides the sheet number spec for engine oil, the MIL spec for DEF in the diesels. But it does have the mileage guide for recommended service times.

The specification for operating fluids on the second link is useless unless you already have the specific sheet number that applies to our specific vehicles fluid.

The third link is the specific sheet number (229.5) for the R-Class's engine oil cross reference. But it only applies if you have the gasoline engines.

The appropriate sheet guide number for fluid specs are missing for:
Transmission Fluids, Brake Fluid, Front & Rear Differential Fluids, Transfer Case Fluid, Coolant, Windshield Washer Fluid, Spark Plugs, Pano Roof Grease, & Pano Roof Lubricant.

Of course oil is changed every 10k or less. But according the Merc maintenance guide posted in the first link, if you have a car with mileage over 60k-80k, most likely all the rest of this stuff should have been changed. I for one prefer not to pay stealership prices to have them do it or for that matter pay their whacked out prices just to get their fluids. All the dealers around me are owned by AutoNation and price at least 25%-35% over what is an already gouging retail pricing.

What I can source and change myself, I do. On fluids I can't change myself, at least I'll have the correct compatible fluids and pocket at least 50% on fluid costs, ultimately saving hundreds and hundreds of dollars. My indy can do the replacement and disposal for me.

Back in 2014 after the warranty had expired on my AMG, I did the full fluid / spark plug change the same way at 40k. I changed everything, and I mean everything, sourced it all myself, changed what I could, and had my indy change what I couldn't. The cost ended up under $500. A stealership would have easily been 2x - 3x that. I do drive the AMG harder than I do my R, so I also change the oil every 5k - 7k on it.

The plugs made it snappier to drive, the trans shifted better, and the brakes weren't as spongy. What came out of the differential was black and smelled burnt. This with only 40k on these fluids. So I'm sure that with 100k miles on my R, it will benefit from a good fluid change. Not to mention help to prevent expensive repairs.

So far I've found the correct compatible fluids for most everything except the $75 1.1lb tub of pano-roof grease (which you can get for $10 - $15 from Eurocharged or Mercedes Source in 1oz jars, more than enough to last a few years). Also, based on the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) the Mercedes roof lubricant ($89 for .5 oz) appears to actually be Dupont/Chemors Krytox GPL105 ($30-$35 on ebay).

efzauner

what we are looking for is an updated version of this:

https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...ceproducts.pdf

Lioninstreet

That .pdf a great reference for older cars. Problem is it only references the MB branded fluids, it's lacking the BeVo approved fluid reference codes, and there are no fluid capacities shown.

Below, straight out of MB Workshop Information System (WIS), are the capacities and fluid codes needed for maintaining the 2012 R350 with the m276 V6 motor like I have. As far as capacities on the earlier models, transmission capacity and all the rest is identical. For the differing gas model motors, Engine oil with the '06-'11 m272 V6 motor is 8.5 qt, and the '06-'07 m113 V8 holds 9.0 qt.

If you happen to be lucky enough to have an '08 m273 32 valve DOHC V8 5.5L motor or the '07 AMG m156 6.3 L motor and you want the specs and capacities, let me know and I'll look both the engine and trans specs up. Also, the 2wd '08 has different rear diff. fluid capacities and specs as well.

To use the information, just open up the approved fluid code in the link below, select the approval number, pick the brand that is available in your area, and go save some $$$. And if you have an earlier model, these fluids would be the updated, latest and greatest.

Mercedes BeVo Reference for Approved Non-MB Fluids

m276 Engine Oil: 7.9 qt / 229.5
Brake Fluid: .85 qt / 331.0 (DOT4+)
Diff Fluid Front: 1.1 qt / 325.7
Diff Fluid Rear: 1.1 qt / 235.7
PS Fluid: 1.3 qt / 236.3
Cooling Fluid: 10.0 qt / 325.0 & 325.6 & 326.0 & 326.6 all approved
ATF Fluid: 9.5 qt / Pre 8/2010 - 236.14 / Post 8/2010 - 236.15 superseded to 235.17
Transfer Case Fluid: .55 qt / 235.1

On the ATF fluids see the attached Merc TSB for further info and how to identify which model you have.

This should cover all the gas versions I'm still working on a cross for the Pano Roof Grease (001 989 46 51) and as I metioned above, the pano roof oil is actually Dupont/Chemors Krytox GPL105.

If you need something for a diesel that's not shown, PM me and I'll look it up for you and if you were able to use any of this, hit me with a thanks.

Lioninstreet

MBfluidSpec.pdf
MBfluidSpec2.pdf
Tried to post the Tranny TSB in my last post but the system wouldnt let me do it on an edit. Here's how to tell which 722.9 transmission you have and which fluid spec belongs in it.

Lioninstreet

There seems to be some conflicting info on-line about which trans fluid goes into the post 8/2010 722.9, (the Blue 236.15 ATF134-FE or the Gold 236.16 now 236.17 ATF D97(1)). The WIS TSB on this isn't exactly crystal clear either.

I'm heading over to my indy in the next week or so and will ask him to put my '12 R350 blue efficiency up on the rack and see if he can sneak out an oz. or two so we can look at the color. Mine has a delivery date of 6/12 so that's well inside the change over. At least we'll know what it's currently running on.

Not to mention I can confirm if the torque converter has a drain plug or not...

BenzBallin

Where is the Low or Max Guide on the Coolant Resevoir ?? i dont see it ?? Any help ?

Lioninstreet

I never saw one either. Only guide is the dash warning. You could make a homemade dipstick. that would do more for you than just eyeballing it.

Lioninstreet

Pulled the drain plug out of the pan, let out about an ounce of ATF, and confirmed my '12 blue efficiency with build date 06/2012 is running the Blue FE trans fluid. Best news is there is a torque converter drain plug (722.9 with deep dimple pan).

10 L of 236.15 approved Pentosyn ATF 134FE is $100 delivered (less than half from the stealership) from Rock at the moment. The pan gasket and filter is pocket change

Baby is going on the tranny fluid nipple... At 108k, a change is prolly overdue.