|
DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| 722.6 Auto Transmission Fluid Change
I've updated the procedure I wrote up for changing the "Lifetime Service" ATF in the 722.6 5-Speed Auto Transmission used the the later model G's. It's attached below.
Please note that MB recommends no service on the transmission; and that the ATF is supposed to last for the life of the vehicle. Not sure how they define "life of the vehicle"; but it probably ends at about the same time as the warranty coverage. To me, changing the fluid every 50,000 miles seems like it would help the transmission to live a whole lot longer.
Attachments
----------------
 Transmission.pdf (69KB - 163 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Bruce
Veteran
Date registered: May 2006
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
Vehicle(s): 230GE, 300TD, 200D
Posts: 191
| RE: 722.6 Auto Transmission Fluid Change
Dutch,
I dont have a G with this transmission (230GE) but have a friend with an ML which also does not have a service interval. He has changed his fluid in it, but was not able to drain the torque convertor. I see you did not do that either. On the older MB sedans, there were two plugs at 180 degrees for draining the torque convertor. Do you have any idea how much old fluid is left in the torque convertor in this change procedure?
Bruce |
|
| |
|
DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| RE: 722.6 Auto Transmission Fluid Change
Bruce - 11/24/2006 1:07 PM
Dutch,
I dont have a G with this transmission (230GE) but have a friend with an ML which also does not have a service interval. He has changed his fluid in it, but was not able to drain the torque convertor. I see you did not do that either. On the older MB sedans, there were two plugs at 180 degrees for draining the torque convertor. Do you have any idea how much old fluid is left in the torque convertor in this change procedure?
Bruce
No real idea. The torque converter drain plug is no longer present on the later model transmissions. |
|
| |
|
hipine
Date registered: Jul 2006
Location: US, CO, Bailey
Vehicle(s): 460 1980 280GE w. 617A
| RE: 722.6 Auto Transmission Fluid Change
Even leaving the fluid in the converter, you'll be "miles" ahead just changing the fluid in the trans over leaving the same old fluid in there for ever. It's a real sign of the times that MB....er....DCAG embraces such silly concepts as "lubed for life", espcially in such a thing as the automatic transmission of a heavy 4wd truck. Ridiculous if you ask me. If one wants to get a more complete fluid change, simply perform the change once, then start the car and let it idle for about a minute or minute and a half, shut down and change again. With that short run time you'll have picked up the clean fluid, pumped it into the trans, and pumped the old fluid still in the converter out into the pan. Some mixing happens, sure, but not much and it's a pretty complete change this way. I haven't read Dutch'd procedure, but if it takes more than about 10 minutes to drain and re-fill, I'd probably be content with just changing it once. I do that double-change process on Cheryl's van which I've fitted with a pan that has a drain plug. But if I had to do it with the OEM procedure (drop pan to drain fluid) I wouldn't bother with the second change. -Dave G. |
|
| |
|
DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| RE: 722.6 Auto Transmission Fluid Change
hipine - 11/24/2006 5:00 PM
Even leaving the fluid in the converter, you'll be "miles" ahead just changing the fluid in the trans over leaving the same old fluid in there for ever. It's a real sign of the times that MB....er....DCAG embraces such silly concepts as "lubed for life", espcially in such a thing as the automatic transmission of a heavy 4wd truck. Ridiculous if you ask me. If one wants to get a more complete fluid change, simply perform the change once, then start the car and let it idle for about a minute or minute and a half, shut down and change again. With that short run time you'll have picked up the clean fluid, pumped it into the trans, and pumped the old fluid still in the converter out into the pan. Some mixing happens, sure, but not much and it's a pretty complete change this way. I haven't read Dutch'd procedure, but if it takes more than about 10 minutes to drain and re-fill, I'd probably be content with just changing it once. I do that double-change process on Cheryl's van which I've fitted with a pan that has a drain plug. But if I had to do it with the OEM procedure (drop pan to drain fluid) I wouldn't bother with the second change. -Dave G.
A new fill on this transmission is 9 liters. I drained a little over 6.5 liters with an over night drain. That leaves less than 2.5 liters behind or about 25% of a new fill. As Dave said, this is a heckuva lot better than no change at all.
Btw, it was just pointed out to me that the new fluid (Sheet 236.12) for the 7-speed tranny (and approved for use in the 5-speed) is about 2/3 the cost of the original spec'd (Sheet 236.10) ATF. Hard to believe that newer/better is cheaper. |
|
| |
|
G wizz
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Uk
Vehicle(s): Dont own a G anymore, Too expensive!!!!
Posts: 686
| Re: 722.6 Auto Transmission Fluid Change
in my 280 auto I changed it every 25k due to its heavy off road use, same goes for my G560, can do no harm, and I feel better doing it. |
|
| |
|
nadd
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: UAE, Dubai
Vehicle(s): G500 2016 LHD, numerous Chevys
Posts: 1285
| Re: 722.6 Auto Transmission Fluid Change
Thanks for the write-up DUTCH.
Was looking under the G500 after a long long absence and noticed the opening as shown in the photo below taken from mercedesshop.com, is this normal, or does some kind of plug go there?
TIA
 |
|
| |
|
DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| Re: 722.6 Auto Transmission Fluid Change
nadd - 11/29/2008 5:20 PM
Thanks for the write-up DUTCH.
Was looking under the G500 after a long long absence and noticed the opening as shown in the photo below taken from mercedesshop.com, is this normal, or does some kind of plug go there?
TIA
There are some rubber dust plugs that go in those two rectangular openings. Depending on the production date of your G500, you may or may not have the drain plug in the torque converter.
P/N for those dust plugs (2 of them) is: A.163.271.00.80
 (Tranny.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
Tranny.jpg (44KB - 12 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
michel bertin
Veteran
Date registered: Jun 2006
Location: SFO Bay Area, CA
Vehicle(s): '02 G500, '14 G550
Posts: 124
| Re: 722.6 Auto Transmission Fluid Change
Mercedes has actually evolved and most dealers recommend, even in writing, to replace the 5-speed ATF every 30K mi. The new 7-speed started that way from the beginning. |
|
| |
|
DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| Re: 722.6 Auto Transmission Fluid Change
michel bertin - 11/29/2008 6:15 PM
Mercedes has actually evolved and most dealers recommend, even in writing, to replace the 5-speed ATF every 30K mi. The new 7-speed started that way from the beginning.
Close, but not exact.
The 7G-Tronic is mandated for a fluid and filter change at 40,000 miles. One time only.
And there are far too may dealers who still say that the fluid should not be changed in the 5-speed.
 (ATF_Change.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
ATF_Change.jpg (95KB - 16 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Adoni
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Sacramento, CA
Vehicle(s): '00 G500, '15 C300 4Matic, '06 L322 G4
Posts: 1283
| Re: 722.6 Auto Transmission Fluid Change
My local dealer and mechanic both said the same thing,"Do you really believe lifetime?". Tey both recommend fluid change every 50k miles despite what the manual says. |
|
| |
|
Roly
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Australia
Vehicle(s): 1999 G500
Posts: 661
| Re: 722.6 Auto Transmission Fluid Change
I notice that the spark plugs are recommended to change at 60k/ 5y intervals. The earlier advice was 50k/ 4y.
Good to see official recognition of the need to replace g/box oil |
|
| |
|
nadd
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: UAE, Dubai
Vehicle(s): G500 2016 LHD, numerous Chevys
Posts: 1285
| Re: 722.6 Auto Transmission Fluid Change
DUTCH - 11/29/2008 10:36 PM
There are some rubber dust plugs that go in those two rectangular openings. Depending on the production date of your G500, you may or may not have the drain plug in the torque converter.
P/N for those dust plugs (2 of them) is: A.163.271.00.80
Thanks for that. Hope to order a couple tomorrow... |
|
| |
|
ewalberg
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Past: San Francisco. Present: Germany
Vehicle(s): 2000 g500
Posts: 1887
| Re: 722.6 Auto Transmission Fluid Change
on the flip side, spark plugs is probably one of the few things you can wait on. I've heard there's not much reason to change before 100k miles if you're using the recommended plugs due to the quality of the plugs and clean burning engines... i've got 80k+ miles on my plugs and it smogged tested VERY VERY clean... although i use fancy oil and change it every 5-7k miles, and some fuel system cleaner once or twice a year so that might be helping... granted catalytic converters have their affect on this too but i have 120k miles on mine so i don't think they're exactly rosy fresh. |
|
| |
|
paulunm
Veteran
Date registered: Jan 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Vehicle(s): 2000 G500
Posts: 124
| Re: 722.6 Auto Transmission Fluid Change
Looks like the fluid has again been replaced with a newer part number. This is what I'm showing 001989680313 |
|
| |
