Good day to one and all,
I would like to know how often I have to change my 16!sparks plugs and if I can replace these with a compatible BOSCH/CHAMPION/NGK...
I have a 430 1999
Thanks to all that can help me.
Alberto
spark plugs need more frequent attention than 100,000 miles. I changed to NGK iridium's (NGK's are listed as OEM compatible) at 50,000 and noted immediate improvement. I also change my tranny fluid more frequently than 100, 000 because it's not synthetic fluid. Good ole Dextron III all the way in all the Merc's. There's no way that stuff last's 100,000 miles.
[:)]
That's the same book which got Mercedes sued for oil changes which weren't frequent enough for non-synthetic oil, they lost a class action lawsuit. But you can go longer with synthetic oil. Depending on your state you can get a free oil change, once from the dealer. http://www.bigclassaction.com/settlements/automotive.html
Bottom line is use some mechanical sense with regards to recommendations. Platinum plugs do not last 100,000 miles with the same degree of efficiency at 0 miles, yes they function but that's not the point.
Transmission fluid does not last 100,000 miles it's only dextron III. The good news is there's about 3 times as much of it in a mercedes as compared to a regular car, which is how they can say it's probly ok to wait that long, but not really.
Take it to a MB dealer or a non-MB dealer MB mechanic (that's what I do, but find a good one) to change it. It's a sealed system meaning there's no dipstip for the tranny but there is a tube on the passenger side close to the firewall, this is the transmission filler tube. There's not a dipstick because wiping a dipstick and putting it back in the transmission with lint can damage the system, that's how finely put together it is.
Again bottom line is do what you feel comfortable with, I personally am not ok letting tranny fluid go to 100,000.
By the way, spark plugs are relatively easy to replace, but transmission fluid is a whole lot messier and easier to muck up. Well worth a few bucks for the mechanic to do it and a transmission filter change.
The other thing is the transaxle oil. Do it at the same time using full synthetic oil. There's not a compatible synthetic transmission fluid, only dextron III.
You have some valid points and come from the same school of thought as me. It's a nice selling point to say that this car will run 100K before certain maintencance, but fluids are fluids and parts are parts....they just breakdown and wear out, so I say change them every 60K miles. It might be a little more expensive, but when you compare this preventative cost to the cost of a new MB transmission....it makes more sense.
No matter what car I have, I change the:
Plugs & Tranny Fluid every 60K
Fuel Filter and clean throttle body every 20K
Oil every 5-7K (synthetic only)
I had a Nissan Maxima hit 145K miles without a SINGLE problem throughout it's life. $0 in repairs.
I hope to have the same with my Benz.. knock on wood. [:p]
The other thing is the transaxle oil. Do it at the same time using full synthetic oil. There's not a compatible synthetic transmission fluid, only dextron III.
Good luck.
You write that there's not a compatible synthetic fluid... well...
Dexron III is not compatible with the electronically controlled transmission in the CLK. But you use it, so it seems to work for you fo far.
Mobil 1 is not compatible either, is fully synthetic, and people use it and it was worked for them so far.
So your argument that it is not compatible doesn't seem to make sense when you yourself are using transmission fluid that is not compatible...
(Dexron III/Mercon is listed as compatible for cars with the non-electronically controlled gearbox, which was never normally installed in US-spec CLKs.)
From alldata - if you know of a compatible synthetic fluid for an american spec transmission, what is it? Brand name and description please.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID
For MB automatic transmission (not including MB automatic transmission W5A580, model 722.6), transfer case (4MATIC), and MB manual transmission (except GL76/30-5 and GL275E) use:
Supplier Information:
Castrol, Piscataway, NJ / Toronto, Canada
Chevron Products Co., San Francisco CA
Citgo Petroleum Corp., Tulsa, OK
Exxon Company USA, Houston, TX
Texaco Lubricants Co., Houston, TX
Pennzoil Products Co., Houston, TX
Quaker State, Seneca, PA
Sun Co., Philadelphia, PA
Unocal Science and Technology Div., Brea, CA
Valvoline International, Lexington, KY
For MB automatic transmission W5A580, model 722.6 and Model 163 transfer case use:
MB Automatic Transmission Fluid
MB part no. 001 989 21 03 10
And what do you mean Mobil 1 is not compatible? A 0-40 or 0-30 weight oil is premuim oil and compatible with anything your switching from.
Not recommending full synthetic oil at oil changes of 7500-10,000 miles is what got them sued, and lost. This a valid time time between changes only with synthetic, not a distilled oil such as regular Castrol.
You can use plain distilled oil but it is a mixture of multiple oils with a much shorter life. Just change more frequently.[;)]
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