Changing transmission fluid on my W123 (722.3 automatic) [W123 Transmission series PART 1]
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- čas přidán 3. 12. 2022
- The first step in getting your W123 shifting perfectly is making sure the maintenance is up to par. (This same procedure and series will also apply to nearly every Mercedes of the similar era that uses a 722 series automatic transmission, you may just need to track down a slightly different filter or pan gasket.)
After well over 200,000 miles, and 40 years on the road, I have no idea when or if the transmission fluid has ever been changed in my W123.
Figured with the quantity of longer trips we've been doing it might be a good idea to change it out.
Supplies I used:
➡Filter and pan gasket: amzn.to/3OVvRjx
➡Valvoline Full Synthetic ATF I used: amzn.to/3FjWw6g
➡Lubegard Red: amzn.to/3VECGYO
➡Magnets used in pan: amzn.to/3iuxloT
Tools used:
➡Neiko Metric Hex/Allen sockets: amzn.to/3Vomc7C
➡Socket set (You just need a 1/4 ratchet, 13mm socket, and 3" extension): amzn.to/3ugEawC
These links are likely affiliate links that earn me a small commission from qualifying purchases - Auta a dopravní prostředky
![W123 Vacuum system troubleshooting [PART 1] (Most Common Central locking problems) Plus DIAGRAMS!!!](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/TkLAKd4zlgs/mqdefault.jpg)
Supplies I used:
Filter and pan gasket: amzn.to/3OVvRjx
Valvoline Full Synthetic ATF I used: amzn.to/3FjWw6g
Lubegard Red: amzn.to/3VECGYO
Magnets used in pan: amzn.to/3iuxloT
Tools used:
Neiko Metric Hex/Allen sockets: amzn.to/3Vomc7C
Socket set (You just need a 1/4 ratchet, 13mm socket, and 3" extension): amzn.to/3ugEawC
These links are likely affiliate links that earn me a small commission from qualifying purchases
That is pretty awesome you where able to get the torque drain plug in position with using the power steering belt! Like you say just go slow... Thanks!
Its much easier to gently rock the engine over with that power steering bolt than get a socket on the crank bolt, especially when its not a huge rush or super fine detail thing like setting timing or something.
Thanks for a great tutorial. It’s time for me to do the transmission oil change on 240d. Now, more confident to do it myself 👍
Good deal! Keep that 240d healthy!
Thanks!
Nice info.
And we're just getting started on the transmission stuff 😁
Great video
Thanks man
I will change transmission oil and filter on my 95 w140 s350 turbodiesel
Great! Hope it goes well and keeps your transmission top top shape for years to come!
Great video. I will never use this information in my life.
Excellent! But it is information you now have in your brain, so you have a leg up on anyone who doesn't know about 40 year old car transmission fluid changes.
Valvoline still makes Dexron III ATF, which is what’s recommended. I was even able to find it all Walmart in 1gal jug for $20. It comes in a blue container.
Great to know, I'll check it out next time I'm at walmart!
I recommend Chevron (also Texaco Havoline) ATF MD-III. Kent Bergsma recommends it too, and I've had good luck with it.
Good deal! I've been very happy with the maxlife stuff I used, but I'll keep the Chevron name in mind and try that next time I service it!
Yel yel yel 🤗😜
Great channel, so glad I found as I recently purchased an ‘83 300DT!
I did all the vacuum repairs and tuning but still have a hard shift into 4th. Great shifts and timing for 1-3. Did you ever solve your shifts?
Thanks!
I've got fairly good shifts, the fluid and filter didn't change much, it looked like it had been done sometime fairly recently before I got the car if I had to guess, I still need to do the other videos I was planning in this transmission series, I haven't gotten around to digging into that stuff, but they will be coming likely before summer!
Don't look like you use a new crush washer or washer on the transmission pan drain bolt, right? Suppose you didn't have any leakeage reusing the same washer, correct?
The filter kit did come with at least one new crush washer, I'm not 100% sure where it went, or if I even remembered when I was assembling it, but I've had no leaks.
Great video! May I ask the following : how many miles since last tranny rebuild?
as far as I'm aware, the trans has never been rebuilt, which would put it at 220,000 miles or thereabouts, It does appear it has been well serviced, which tracks well with the condition of the rest of the car aside from the few things that are often overlooked.
I wanted to understand why the 300sd w116 came with the 722.1 transmission and what is the difference between the two. In addition to this longer character
I believe the main difference is the W116 model transmission was set up to start in 2nd gear for a smoother "more refined" start. the later W123 models got transmissions that were set up to start in 1st, which made them feel way snappier but also made for a jerkier start. Past the difference in the valve body to cause that, I'm not aware of any major differences.
The 4 speed trans in this car is very interesting. I have been in the 7g tronic trans and the design internally is very similar as well as the pan and gasket. The issue with the 7g tronic was that the trans control module is integrated into the valve and solenoid body, and the micro traces broke. Tried rebuilding and nothing doing. I wish Mercedes made a purely mechanical 5 speed. These cars (i have the w116 300sd) have poor highway gearing roaring in the 2600-3k rpm range for today's speeds.
I agree. I love the simplicity of my w123 and really the design of basically everything, but it would sure be nice to have an extra gear or two. The 4 speed works great for most of our driving, but a long highway trip and depending on speed limits and how crazy all the other drivers are, I've ended up spinning 3000rpm or sometimes even closer to 3500rpm for hours. And while the car doesn't seem to mind one bit, it is a little noisy and even dropping that to 2500rpm would make for a much nicer ride at higher speed, I have a different ratio rear diff sitting in my garage that I snagged at pull a part, and I debate if the lower cruising rpm would be worth the loss of acceleration off the line. I will likely end up swapping that in when I do my axle boots.
@@trythistv the 4 speed takes off in second gear during normal acceleration, if you boot it, it goes into first. I doubt the acceleration will be much effected.
That is true of the w116 trans, my very first car was a w116, a gold 1980 300sd. One day I should do a recap of all the cars I've owned. The w123 version of the transmission starts in first all the time, so there is pretty good acceleration, and I think the 2.88 rear would do just fine especially with the car always starting in first. Might even smooth out the w123 a hair, from what I understand the w116 trans starts in second to make for smoother acceleration with less of a "jackrabbit start" feeling
@@trythistv i had no idea the logic was different between the w123 and w116.
yes, I think at 70 MPH it's around 3300!
Hello, Is anything damaged if I turn the crankshaft in the opposite direction?
You should be very careful turning the crank the wrong way, I have heard stories of it causing the timing chain to skip, specifically on the non turbo engines because the turbo engine uses a ratcheting tensioner while the non turbo engines just have a spring if I recall correctly, I have turned mine backwards accidentally and have not had any bad things happen, mine is a turbo engine, I wouldn't make practice of it, but if you just turned it a little bit I wouldn't be too worried.
I have a w123 with 722.122 4 speed automatic. They advise atf dexron II D oil?
From my findings most of the older dexron specs are near impossible to find, and I haven't been able to locate a tsb type thing from Mercedes that gives updated recommendations, so a good fluid that claims to be compatible is about the best I've settled on. My transmission has been great with the fluid I used in this video, I believe it was Valvoline maxlife full synthetic, your 722.122 is a slightly earlier trans, but would internally be very similar to my 722.3, years ago I had a w116 that had a 722.1 of some sort, and it was essentially the same other than a different pan and filter. Of course it's your car so you decide what is best for it, but I would have no hesitation using a fluid similar or the same as I used in the video.
@@trythistv i checked specs of MB and ATF dexron II D is posible to use. Same oil can also be used for powersteering i been told. So i order 6 cans of 1L kroon atf dexron 2D oil. Qurious how it wil run wit some fresh oil and filter. Going to do a full service next wednesday. Engine oil they also told me to use a 10w40 semi syntetic so i bought this also fron kroon oil(dutch brand) of course al New filters and New sparkplugs fron Bosch for the w123 230E i have.
How much did it end up taking?
I bought 2 gallons of fluid plus the little bottle of lubegard, it took almost all of it, I would guess about 7 quarts of the actual ATF, maybe 7.5 quarts if I hadn't put in the lubegard. Manual says it takes 8.1 quarts for my trans doing the converter and the filter but mine must have retained a little fluid somewhere.
how often should this be done?
I do believe it is listed as every 30,000 miles in the manual, using synthetic fluid like I did may extend that but I plan on monitoring the condition at every oil change and if the fluid starts getting dark or changing in odor I will change it again. The fluid that came out looked quite clean, as did the filter, so it is highly likely this was serviced not too long before I got the car.
@@trythistv ok, thx!
@@trythistv most MBenz mechanix with 30+ yrs keeps saying the other way around. These W123s & older models should not be given synthetic oil on both engine, transmission , diff and steering fluids. On transmission just change the filter and put back the same old fluid and that not to touch the converters? I have two (2) S123 where one is a turbo diesel and the other one is 230TE 4cyl petrol. As well as a W123 sedan turbo diesel. I just sold my other W123 (silver) on BaT wherein which I was advised to do just that and drove the car for around 9,000 miles and enjoyed every mile before selling it on BaT
I have heard this same theory, and personally I don't put much faith in it, mostly because of my own personal experience. I have not had a single issue with synthetic fluids causing leaks, or premature failure. I have seen plenty of cases where a fluid was so old and degraded that it was causing sealing surfaces to wear and seals to deteriorate, causing degraded performance, and when that performance drop is noticed and the fluid is changed (whether synthetic or dino juice is used for the change) it begins leaking in short order due to the damage already done by lack of maintenance.
I run conventional oil, conventional diff oil, synthetic trans fluid, and I believe it is synthetic power steering fluid. I have about 10 or 20k miles on the power steering fluid with no issues, and in the realm of 3 or 4k on the trans fluid done in this video, and it is shifting as good as it always has, not leaking a drop like usual, but it is obvious this car was well taken care of, the fluid that came out was very clean and so was the filter.
That being said, I'm not an expert, not factory trained or certified, just a guy doing his best to keep a very enjoyable car going for many years to come if all goes well!
@@trythistv I agree with you about many cases where the fluid was so old and degraded that it was causing problems in these vehicles
im here because there is no info on type of atf my 82 240d takes....
You'd have the same trans I do, 722.3 or variation of it at least. They call for a Dex 3 fluid, but dex3 isn't made anymore, so finding a quality fluid that is labelled as being dex3 compatible is the way. The fluid I showed in this video (Valvoline maxlife full synthetic) has been working great for me, I've only put a few thousand miles on since the change, but it has been shifting nice and working as good as any MB trans I've felt before.
@@trythistvdexronVI is synthetic and also backwards compatible with dexron 3
It is also much lower viscosity, which will raise the stall speed of your torque converter, and may cause shifts to flare. With a non lockup converter like our cars have, raising the stall speed could cause some other issues with cruise rpm and efficiency.