First off the car runs and shifts perfectly. I recently purchased this car and so far so good. I love it.
Symptoms:
Very slow minor drip around the middle driverside tranny pan bolt. All bolts are torqued to 8nm.
The previous owner had the fluid recently changed. I think he/or somone who did the work put too much in. I know I am not the sharpest tool in the shed but I think I can read a dipstick. So correct me if I am wrong...
At a cold non running status, the fluid should be in between the upper and lower 90F marks correct? Mine is reading almost a inch above the 180F upper mark! at cold non running status
But wouldn't if the tranny was that overfilled it would be wreaking havoc?? I have put almost 1000 miles on it and it runs perfectly. The only issue is the very slow drip on the mid trans pan bolt.
Any help would be great, I can take fluid out but it is running great so I am wary I might mess something up.
Ok check the attachments. The fluid is in good shape, it is almost clear. You can see in the "wet.pdf" the fluid is much higher than the 180F upper mark. This is on a COLD engine. Please help...
Currently shares the garage with:
04 Volvo XC90, 75K
In remembrance of being sold:
82 240D (Original bio-beater)
04 Audi A4 3.0 Quattro (Fighter Jet)
86 Corvette (The Beast)
98 Honda V6 Coupe (Best car I ever owned)
93 Civic (2nd best car I ever owned)
02 Nissan Frontier (I still wish I had this...)
Last edited by CBFintheODD : 06-20-2008 at 07:48 AM.
You must have the engine running to check the fluid level. Don't rely on the cold marks either. These are very approximate.
Warm up the transmission by driving at speed for at least ten miles. Leave the engine running and park the car and run the shifter slowly through the gears. With the engine STILL RUNNING and the shifter in park, check the level with the dipstick. It is IMPERATIVE that the engine be running.
Use a lint-free cloth to wipe the dipstick. NEVER use a paper towel.
You must have the engine running to check the fluid level. Don't rely on the cold marks either. These are very approximate.
Warm up the transmission by driving at speed for at least ten miles. Leave the engine running and park the car and run the shifter slowly through the gears. With the engine STILL RUNNING and the shifter in park, check the level with the dipstick. It is IMPERATIVE that the engine be running.
Use a lint-free cloth to wipe the dipstick. NEVER use a paper towel.
Should the fluid level be between 90 and 180F? Thanks!
Hey, CB. Matt has this one squarely in the gunsights. This is not peculiar to MB, I have never heard of a car that the AT fluid was to be checked with the engine off. The peculiarity for newer MB is the temp spec and they can be very picky about that.
Please complete your BW online profile re vehicle and location as that can be very useful information. In this case if you are close to a Harbor Freight they have a couple of very affordable infrared thermometers, which is the best wary to ensure you are checking the fluid -- with the engine running -- at the correct temp. If you are not close to one then get it online which is usually a bit less anyway.
Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg
__________________ If the only prayer you say in your life is thank you, that would suffice. Meister Eckhart
When you learn from your own mistakes, that's experience.
When you learn from the mistakes of others, that's wisdom.
When you fail to learn from any mistakes, that's government.
I cannot see the fluid level very well, is it at the arrow?
What do the marks 90 and 180 mean? min level at cold engine and max level at hot engine?
You should be between the 90 marks at 90 degrees and between the 180 marks at 180 degrees.
The fluid level is likely at the arrow on his, since the engine is off. Without the transmission turning, fluid returns to the pan. How much fluid? NOBODY KNOWS! It will be different on every transmission, and will change over time. That's why the dipstick is calibrated to work with the engine running.
Let me add that if his transmission were really that far overfilled, he would have other complaints. Like "My car shifts very strangely, flares, and pukes fluid all over my driveway." In addition, the fluid on the dipstick may be foamy.
Hey, CB. Matt has this one squarely in the gunsights. This is not peculiar to MB, I have never heard of a car that the AT fluid was to be checked with the engine off. The peculiarity for newer MB is the temp spec and they can be very picky about that.
Please complete your BW online profile re vehicle and location as that can be very useful information. In this case if you are close to a Harbor Freight they have a couple of very affordable infrared thermometers, which is the best wary to ensure you are checking the fluid -- with the engine running -- at the correct temp. If you are not close to one then get it online which is usually a bit less anyway.
Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg
Hi Greg,
would you please explain the temp specs!
supposed I got an infrared thermometer, where do I measure the temperature? on the engine block or exhaust magnifold?
Thanks!
Last edited by texholdem : 02-04-2008 at 10:16 PM.
You should be between the 90 marks at 90 degrees and between the 180 marks at 180 degrees.
The fluid level is likely at the arrow on his, since the engine is off. Without the transmission turning, fluid returns to the pan. How much fluid? NOBODY KNOWS! It will be different on every transmission, and will change over time. That's why the dipstick is calibrated to work with the engine running.
at the correct temp. If you are not close to one then get it online which is usually a bit less anyway. 
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