OK but at least you know it works and it is not like you change that fluid everyday.....
Transmission fluid for 2007 Mercedes S550. Valvoline Maxlife and Dexron VI?
- Thread starter atikovi
- Start date
because if the tranny goes with the other fluid...that will cost a whole lot more...Remember the old FRAM commercial....you can pay me now...or pay me later...
Here you go.
What sort of problems? And what about Castrol Transmax?
Shell ATF134 and Shell ATF134FE are two entirely different products.
Shell ATF134 is approved for MB 236.14 - it is listed on MB's website.
Bad shifting, rough shifting. Quite a bit of it reported on Benzworld and MBworld. Also people telling you that you can use it.
That's the problem. Some people say it's bad and some say it's good.
Castrol Transmax is not on the Mercedes approved list. I see where Castrol claims, on the PDS, that Transmax is "Suitable for use where: . . . 7 and 9 speed automatics from Mercedes Benz and all vehicles where DexronIII or Mercon SP is required." Where your application calls for MB 236.14, Transmax is not the right fluid.
236.14 approved fluids aren't that hard to get. Here are a few sources.
Pentosin 1088216 ATF134; ATF134 5 Liter | AFT134
Find Pentosin ATF134; ATF134 5 Liter 1088216 at discount prices in our extensive auto parts catalog. AutohausAZ offers a large selection of Pentosin parts online. AFT134
www.autohausaz.com
Does it cost more that Valvoline Maxlife or Castrol Transmax? Yes, by some. But that is the price of owning a Mercedes, or any other European car. There are ways to save money on owning and driving a Mercedes. But you have to recognize the limits. Pay now or pay later. Your call.
I tried to look up what the approval requires but couldn't find much. What I did find was that it was essentially old style DEXRON-III.
There were some problems early on, before MB went to the larger capacity transmission pan. But by far, most problems with the 722.9 transmission are associated from improper, or lack of, maintenance. Rarely do you hear of problems with the 722.9 if the ATF is changed on schedule, and the correct ATF is used. The problems arise when people try to use the wrong fluid, or ignore the maintenance schedule.
And you don’t care about long term? What about the poor soul onto whom you foist this car?
The car was foisted on ME. I'm trying to make it better.
Better has to include long term durability- doesn’t it? Using the right fluid so that the tranny lasts as long as it can would be making it better. Using the wrong fluid and setting up the next owner for an expensive failure isn’t making it better.
Castrol Transmax and Valvoline Maxlife say they meet the Mercedes requirements and most people here seem to love it so that would be good enough for me. I'm not expected to give a 100,000 mile guaranty.
Taillight warranty.
From what I'm reading on the Mercedes forums, Castrol and Valvoline aren't on Mercedes approved list because they didn't pay the fee. And "if a transmission fails because of a Valvoline fluid that was spec'd for the vehicle, Valvoline covers the repairs."
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