This is a nice DIY project! Where did everyone purchase the transfer case fluid, from dealer or autozone/pepboys? If from dealer, what is the part number? Thanks!
Napa Autoparts. 4qt for both differentials. Napa's own brand is made by Valvoline at half the price of the bottle that has Valvoline printed on it. 2qt of Dexron III for the transfercase.
Do the differential first and use the spout from the differential oil bottle to screw on the Dexron bottle so you can pour it in and you are in business.
I just changed the fluids in the transfer case & both differentials in my vehicle at 95000 miles.
Just a few minute details that people might run into:
1) In the differentials the allen wrench size to be used is 3/8" NOT 10mm as noted in other posts. (maybe different VINS have different sizes so you must check)
2) My vehicle has the chrome bull bar with two steel protection plates on the bottom of the vehicle. The one that blocks access to the front differential fill hole
must be removed. Make sure you can remove it before you get all setup with wrenches, fluid etc. I went under my vehicle, laying on my back, to find the the threaded insert in the frame which holds the screw that holds the plate just spins and spins. I had to dremel off the head of one of the screws which took 20 minutes. tHe other srew was fine, but fell out later in the week from vibration, now it needs to be replaced, probably loc-tited also.
3) I used the might vac to fill the differentials without any problems. I also used
genuine MB 85w90 gear oil from the dealer. $25.00 per qt. I figured since the fluid is changed so infrequently why not spend a couple extra bucks on the original formula.
4) Transfer Case: Well, I went to MB in Greenwich and asked the parts guy for transfer case fluid. His doumentation said use power steering fluid, my manual said use dexron III ATF. So I used Redline Dexron III. Everything seems to be working fine.
5) I notice that one of the welded on bolts to hold the lower steel protection plate had been re-welded on because it probably popped off. MB must have a threaded insert problem. I noticed the spinning threaded insert on the rear license plate mount also.
6) Finally, I used the funnelw/wife pouring method to fill the transfer case. I didn't want to clean out the mity-vac.
Hello everyone, new guy here.
I read some of the replies about some of you checking the auto trans fluid and replacing it.
Now I am probably going to sound real stupid here. My owners manual says that there is no trans fluid dip stick to check or change the fluid. That it is a sealed unit.
I have not looked under the hood yet. This is my first Benz, wife loves it. Brownie points for me.
Going to use all the tips I have read about here to do the maint. myself.
Thanks everyone
Wayne
Going to do this change as well as the diffs next weekend. I can easily find either Amsoil or Mobil 1 ATF for the transfer case but the only synthetic gear oils I can find easily are Lucas and Castrol Syntec. Any comments, should I go with the Castrol or order either the Mobil or Amsoil and wait?
Thanks....
Found a place today that had Royal Purple 75w90 for the diffs, and Mobil 1 ATF for the transfer case. Unless someone says otherwise that is what I am going to use.
Opinions?
Thanks.
There is NO dipstick for transmission fluid level. The tranny is supposedly sealed for life. My transmission cooling hose leaked. So much for sealed tranny. The tranny filler cap has a plastic lock, that you destroy to fill the transmission. The level and temp are critical and do NOT use anything but MB fluid on this tranny. I believe this thread is strickly about the transfer case, which uses completely different fluid than the transmission itself.
Great postings here. I changed the fluid in the transfer case with Synthetic Valvoline ATF and also swapped out the fluid in the front diff. The fluid in the case was very black, but contained no metal shavings. The rear diff is tight and looks like I'll need a 10mm allen key to remove the fill plug so will have to fill that at a later date.
Howdy All, I changed the oils last night in the front diff, rear diff and the t-case(ML320). Oil looked used but not nasty. I put in Royal Purple. I've got a trip to Montana coming up and I'm curious if I'll see any improvement in mileage. I also had 10mm plugs on the diffs and 3/8in breaker-bar plugs on the t-case. I did the engine oil also and all said took 3 hours on my garage floor, no jacks or stands. It's a good thing I'm skinny. Thanks again for the input on the forum. These things are handy,
Chas
Last edited by Chas Stricker : 08-03-2007 at 07:34 AM.
Just a quick question (sorry if it is a dumb one). Is the transfer case the same as the transmission? I heard that when changing transmission fluid you have to be careful with the torque converter? Sorry, don't know much about automatics; I know it's straightforward on a manual car...
Just a quick question (sorry if it is a dumb one). Is the transfer case the same as the transmission? I heard that when changing transmission fluid you have to be careful with the torque converter? Sorry, don't know much about automatics; I know it's straightforward on a manual car...
Refer to page 1 of this post. I posted pictures so there would be no confusion. It is no where close to the same as a transmission in looks. The transfer case has 2 drive shafts in it. One going to the front (short) and one going to the rear differential (long).
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