Anyone know if a 2001 E320 (5spd Auto) takes regular dexron 2 or 3. I know it is Saposed to be a closed system with even no dipstick. But the car had a tiny drip leak. I bought the dipstic tool so I want to check it and add if it needs before I take it on a tripthis week.
Thanks

 

Hi,

You should use MB ATF fluid. Don't ask why it is different. MB put something special into it.

I guess a small top up wouldn't be a problem (yourcall) but the correct course ofaction is to use the correct stuff. Otherwise when you have shift quality issues you won't know where you stand.
Its IMPORTANT that you have the ATF oil at the correct temp etc when you check the level. An overfull box (this is why MB seal the unit) is everybit (if not worse) than a slightly low level.

More importantly it is important to find out what is leaking.
For oil to appear on the floor there must be a significant leak since the undertray normally prevents "drips" i.e. the undertray must be full!

Small weep is common from the electrical connection adaptor into the box and NOT the sump pan as many people think.

Stuart

 

Thanks Stuart for your help. I have never seen any spots of fluid under the car, the reason I know is the dealer said there was a small leak and it was $150 (parts and labor) to fix it. I approved the repair, but got upset about another thing with them so I said not to fix it at the end. I believe it was some external electrical connection, I may have the part name writtain on the receipt of the other repair they did. Should I run the car to a certain temp on the gauge then check it? I know it is a touchy subject. I have never had any shift problems whatsoever and I deffinately don't want to make it worse by overfilling it. Thanks again for thee info....
Mustafa

 

As you state it is the electrical connection that leaks....in fact it only barely weeps and although it shouldn't its hardly worth changing it for the amount of oil that escapes through this "leak".

If there are no other leaks I would suggest that the fluid level will be correct (unless somebody has tried to alter the level. MB are so confident that they don't provide a dipstick since overfill can be worse than underfill

However the oil temp (not the engine) needs to be at 80C or whatever and this is critical since oil expands with heat and therefore alters the perceived level in the transmission. Likewise the procedure needs to be completed on level ground.

Stuart

 

Get the new seal,warm the car up on a good drive around town,fill to top line of test stick with trans at 176f ,I think thats about 80c.remember the tester is not a dip stick so don't be alarmed when it does not seat fully in the tube like an ordinary dip stick,and by all means use the mb fluid to be on the side.
p.s. why not locate the leak and fix it yourself?good experience and you may save yourself a trans failure.