[W126 Coupe] Re: (W126) Odd Trans Problem

[Dick Spellman]

Hi Markus:

I am not going to comment on Amsoil vs. other transmission fluids that 
meet the Mercedes specifications.  I just use regular fluid that meets 
the specs.  The last 126 I retired was at 300k on the clock with no 
transmission problems.  I will tell you that there is a drain plug on 
the torque converter and that you should always drain the torque 
converter when doing a transmission service.  It makes no sense to mix a 
liter plus of spent/dirty transmission fluid with new fluid.  The torque 
converter drain plug is accessed by dropping the pan and then using a 
socket wrench turning your flywheel on the engine clockwise until the 
drain plug is exposed.  If you look towards the front of the valve body 
with the pan removed, you'll see it roll by as the flywheel is turned.  
You or a second service attendant will  watch while someone turns the 
flywheel.  Obviously turning the flywheel in the wrong direction sets 
you up for chain damage, this I am sure your mechanic knows.

Regards,

Dick

mfmeyer at iwon.com wrote:

> I've been doing a lot of research on trans "servicing" versus 
> "flushing" as I would like to switch my trans fluid over to Amsoil, 
> like I have already done with the engine oil. I regularly "service" my 
> trans fluid every 25K miles. I don't do it myself, as most cars don't 
> have a drain plug on the pan so its too messy to do at home. I usually 
> ask for them to drain the torque converter "if they can" - meaning if 
> there's a drain plug there they can drain that too, if not, you can't.
>
> So...getting back to my Amsoil switch. Most places don't like you to 
> supply your own parts/fluid, so I started asking around if I could 
> change the fluid in the torque converter of my Taurus. I was told 
> there is no plug. So I guess in the past they have been dropping the 
> pan, changing the filter and gasket, and then adding in lost fluid. 
> Now I don't want to do this with Amsoil as then it will be a mix of 
> Amsoil and old stuff in the torque converter. So I started researching 
> on the web. Yeah - the Bible, right?! I was a little surprised in what 
> I found. I found out that most places don't recommend servicing if you 
> don't know the last time it was done, or the fluid isn't reddish, or 
> it smells burnt, etc. One place I found (http://www.goss-garage.com/) 
> emailed me back and recommended I "flush" the trans. In emailing back 
> and forth, they said if I can't find a place to use my Amsoil fluid, I 
> could do it myself by taking the lines off the radiator (trans cooler 
> lines), put the output line into an empty pan, and the input line 
> should have a line/funnel attached where you can pour new fluid in as 
> the old drains out the other line into the pan. He suggested putting 
> "flush chemicals" in first, driving for half an hour, then doing this, 
> and not even worrying about changing the filter! If I wanted to do the 
> filter, do it first, add in lost fluid with cheap stuff, then add 
> flush chemicals and do the actual flush itself.
>
> I am not sure yet how I want to proceed, as I read lots of warnings 
> about failures shortly after doing such a procedure. Most said it was 
> because the filters weren't being changed since flushing involves a 
> "closed system", and flushing could loosen up crud that then gets 
> stuck in the filter and causes problems shortly thereafter.
>
> Logic tells me to add the flush chemicals, run the car, then drop the 
> pan, change the filter, add in some cheap fluid to top it off, then 
> flush through with new fluid. I was warned that doing it this way you 
> need to be careful with your skin as those flush chemicals are harsh. 
> So now I'm wondering if I do the flush but skip the chemicals.
>
> This chain seemed like a good time to pose my thoughts here as well 
> and see what people thought, what they have been doing (dropping pans 
> and replacing fluid versus true flushes), etc.
>
> Comments? Thoughts?
>
> Markus
>
>
>
> Markus Meyer
> 484-919-9762 (cell)
> http://www.meyerprobateproperties.com/
>