I'll buy you a beer if you post this in the 163 forum, it will touch off a firestorm.

Good find, thanks for posting it. I'll need this info in another 25K, by then it should be readily available everywhere.

Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg

 

Apparently, this was available in Europe starting last August.

But, MBUSA still had 40 000 (40k) liters of the 236.12 fluid in hand at the time. (Dealer tech checked system wide inventory.)

Now I guess their stock is a bit low so their partner start releasing this in the USA.

Hope to see it on my local Wal-Mart but I am not counting on it because it has never stocked Mobil 1 0W-40.

 

I found out about this new and improved Mobil 1 formula in the W163 forum so they already know....they didn't attach the specs though (PDF)

 

So now you can pass on the specs file.

After Greg's post, I went there and saw some really huge "battles" there but I have never read or posted in that forum before.

What I have heard is that Mercedes continues to have "issues" with the 722.9 transmission and this new 236.14 fluid is thinner than the 236.12.

When I have the time, I will compile a table with the viscosity values for all these fluids that have specs sheets available.

 

loubapache,

Yes you are correct, here's the "proof" for your case...

 

Thanks, G-AMG, for the confirmation.

It is interesting to note that the Mobil ATF 134 is the ONLY one listed that is made by a USA manufacturer.

 

Actually, if you are interested in ALL the sheets, here's the "Official Latest, and Greatest" site for ALL MB Fluids:

Mercedes-Benz Operating Fluids-Extranet

 

Thanks gents,

Good to know, however, I am surprised that there's no listing for Valvoline Maxlife listed in 236.10 section (only Shell 3403). Regardless, Val Maxlife meets 236.10 spec (also Shell 3403 as indicated on the bottle) - which I just happened to pick up 5 quartz at $3.00 each at my local Walmart.

But looks like I may return them. I'll keep an eye on the Mobil1 134, if it's reasonable enough, I'll have to get all 12-14 quarts then. :thumbsup:

 

I personally would not worry about using the MaxLife. All it means is that they have not gone through the official Mercedes approval process. It costs $$$ to do that just as in any other approval/certification process. If one wants to be a certified tennis teaching pro, then he/she has pay a lot of money (court fee, ball, examiner fee, etc) to get certification from USPTA, for example. They might have been certified by the ATF 3403 - M1115 specs so they list that on the bottle. If you take a look at the chart in my previous post, (at least) the viscosity is very close to Shell ATF 3403.

The Mobil ATF 134 is going to cost much more than Max Life but much less than the Mercedes fluid. I have seen two reports from different Wal-Marts. One was $6.50 and the other $6.90 per quart. So they are going to be more than other ATF on the market (because they had to pay Mercedes to get the official OEM approval so they have to re-coop the cost).

My local Wal-Mart (it appears yours as well) is clearing out the MaxLife ATF from $3.73 to $3.00. I think it is a perfectly fine fluid for our 722.6 transmissions. That is what I am going to use in my next change.

Plus we are seeing vendors who sell OEM parts listing the MaxLife in the ATF section for our W210 E-class that has the 722.6 transmission (but a very high price comparable to the other 236.10 fluids). Take a look at this link. If it does not work, go to the site and put in your car and then chose Chemicls -> ATF. The Maxlife should be on the bottom of the screen at over $10 per quart. I have seen several vendors listing that.

http://www.mercedesparts.com/ShopBy...2L+GAS+FI++(112.941)@@E320&catid=Chemicals@@Chemicals&subcatid=ATF@@ATF&mode=PA

 

OK, here are the viscosity comparisons of the various Mercedes 236.1x ATFs that I can get a hold of. For obvious reasons, I cannot get any info on the secrete Mercedes brand viscosity.

There are many other parameters that are important to the performance of an ATF but here is just a rudimentary comparison of how thick or thin a particular ATF is.

A general observation is that the 226.10 (722.6 or 5-G or NAG1) fluid is thicker than the 236.12 and 14 (722.9 or 7-G or NAG2).

 

Jeff,

What I recall of that whole Valvaline Maxlife discussion was that their "claims" of 236.1 weren't quite substatiated...

 

Hi G-AMG,

I saw it in Valvoline sheet, this is the line where I was convinced that it meet 236.10.
Mercedes Benz 1995-2006: all 5 speed transmissions (with or without controlled torque converter lockup clutch) Shell ATF 3403-4 115, MB 236.10 MaxLife ATF


Hi loubapache

I won't need to worry for another 30-40k miles, but it's good to know either alternative fluid I decided to use, I can save 40%(Mobil1 134) or 80% (Val Max).

Thanks for all contributing on the forum and did the leg work, it's always good to have different choices.

 

I know the jaguar XJR uses the 722.6, so what kind of fluid does it use?

 

OliverK: It seems which ever car that uses these ZF NAG transmissions has debates in their respective forums between factory fluid or other fluids. I am sure BMW and jaguar have their own bottled fluid for their transmissions.

I did looked at two vendors who sell OEM Jaguar parts: fastlane and importec. Both places lists the Febi 22806 fluid as the ATF. This is the German Dex III fluid that also meets the Mercedes 2236.10 specs. It has the Mercedes part number (001 989 21 03 10) printed on the bottom of the bottle.

Autohausaz sold this one as well but it appears they no longer have it.

 

Have not been able to spot either at Wallys. Out of curiosity, where else can I pick up some Shell 3403 or Mobil 134 ATF?

 

That is the problem we have in the USA.

Most of these ATF 3403 (MB 236.10), ATF 3353 (MB236.12), and ATF 4134 or 134 (MB 236.14), etc are mostly made for the European market.

Mobil is about the only USA manufacturer among these making the fluids but its ATF 3353 was not available in USA.

I have seen two reports of the availability of Mobil ATF 134 in Wal-Mart. One was in San Diego and another in Alabama/Tennessee. So hope to see them in more stores or more people reporting.

There might be some boutique oil companies or online stores selling the Shell 3403 fluids but I do not think they get them via official USA distribution channels (I am not sure about this).

You might inquire about the Shell 3403 at Chrysler dealers because the Crossfire (also uses the same transmission) calls for Shell 3403.

I have not looked for Shell 3403 because I now have two choices. The Mercedes fluid or the MaxLife Fluid that carries the ATF 3403-M1115 specs. When I see Mobil 134, it will be my third choice.

 

Update: just bought the new and improved Mobil 1 ATF that meets MB specs for $5.00 a qt. at Walmart (marked down from around $6.50).
They only had 2 qts left which I bought.

 

Thanks, Sergio.

Any chance to take some pictures of the front and back?

Hope the clearance price is NOT a sign of a quickly discontinued product here in the USA.

 

Here are some pics. If it still makes you feel better, go spend $12-15 for the MB branded fluid....

 

Thanks for the pictures, Sergio, but this is not the one. I have seen this one in various stores. The one you posted does not officially meet Mercedes 236.10, 12 or 14.

The new one (ATF 134) should have 'New and Improved' on the bottle and I have not seen it yet.

 

It says it meets Mercedes spec 236.1 (read the label). What is the difference between 236.1 and 236.10? (last time I checked my math, they mean exactly the same thing)

 

I'm also leary. It says approved for and list spec's, (allison)


then recomended for and lists applications

and finally suitable for use in and has the mercedes specs. To me approved for and suitable for use in are TWO entirely different statements. if it met mercedes specs it would say so, not just "suitable for use in"

 

10 is after 9 and 1 is the first one.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14.

 

Then it should say 236.01, 236.02, 236.03,.....,236.09, 236.10 etc. Mathematically speaking, 236.1=236.10=236.100 etc, etc.
I guess they are not expressing it correctly.
So, I guess I'll return this fluid and use the Maxlife instead....

 

That fluid is

atf 3 that means it is fine in the 722.3 and 722.4 but not the 722.6.
just as 722.6 fluid is not fine for use in the earlier transmissions.
Sergio,that means it is fine for use in your 4 speed.But then again any atf3 will run in that trans.


also from the latest info from people that have used the 722.9 7 speed fluid which the new improved formula is meeting,if you do use that the shift quality is not great when using it in the 722.6.

so go onward with the debate.I will keep using 722.6 fluid and be safe.
You guys use whatever you want

 

OK. I get it. So this particular oil does NOT meet 236.10. That's probably why Wal Mart had it discounted; they're preparing to receive the new and improved formula.

 

Certainly hope that is the case.

Until it surfaces and is available, Max Life still is the choice for some of us.

 

I took a quick look on Mobil's web site and cannot find the 134 fluid anywhere. It may not be available here yet.

 

I bought the last 9 bottles of the "New Forumla" Mobil 1 synthetic ATF
from the local Walmart. It's for my Lexus, which uses Toyota Type-IV ATF.

The guy in the auto parts section at Walmart that this Mobil 1 synthetic
is discontinued...

He had no info about the new Mobil 134 ATF which is approved for MB 236.14.....
but he did say quite a few MB owners have asked him about it... too bad
he can't access the inventory info of Walmarts in other parts of the country.

 

not to be annoying, but we are talking about a difference of maybe $25 every 30k miles or so.

Why aren't we just using the MB fluid from AZautohaus or other online retailers?

 

not to open up another can of worms here... but the Mercedes 722.6 ATF is made by
Shell(and also Fuchs).... if you ask me, I trust Mobil more.... heck... even Mercedes
itself recommends Mobil products.(well... at least for engine oil) it's right
there on the Mercedes/Mobil 1 sticket in the engine bay of my Mercedes!

Mobil is a much better company than Shell or Fuches.

in fact, if the Mobil 134 ATF costs more than the Mercedes ATF, I will still go with the Mobil 134 ATF...

this is why I'm looking for the Mobil 134 ATF in, of all places, the local Walmart stores...
which has been very difficult... It's probably easier to find a Toyota Prius in Ann Coulter's
garage.

 

Look to see if it has "ATF 3403-M" in the back. This is the non-USA liter bottle so I do not know what is in the back.

 

Will do bud, in the meantime is this is made by Fuchs and is nearly half the price in the UK.

Fuchs TITAN ATF 3000 Multipurpose Dexron II ATF