Who currently makes the OEM Mercedes transmission fluids?

[dparm]

I've been looking at the bottles for the OEM Mercedes transmission fluids but don't recognize them. The gear oils are Castrol (they don't even relabel or rebrand them).

Here is an example of the bottle, the OEM 236.17 ultra-low viscosity ATF "FE" for the Jatco 9-speeds. Given that the list of approved oils for this spec is so small, I'm thinking it's made by Fuchs, Shell, Ravenol, or Sinopec....but it doesn't look like any of their bottles. The datasheet says it's made in Germany.

Oddly enough, that bottle design seems to be used by Vaico who I've never even heard of.

 

[JohnnyG]

Is it a light golden color? I think that's what my manual says, and that's about it.
Or maybe it was HERE:

http://assets.mbusa.com/vcm/CAC_RAPMD/images/9Gtronicintheworkshop.pdf

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Pentosin?

 

[BMW Dom]

Pentosin?

Nah, it's definitely Valvoline Maxlife

 

[dparm]

Is it a light golden color? I think that's what my manual says, and that's about it.
Or maybe it was HERE:

http://assets.mbusa.com/vcm/CAC_RAPMD/images/9Gtronicintheworkshop.pdf

The datasheets for the aftermarket products say it is not dyed, so probably a light golden color?

Also, cool document, thanks for sharing. Does that file apply to the SPEEDSHIFT MCT version in my C63? As I understand it, there are a few versions of that transmission (the C43 gets the TCT version, which has a torque converter, whereas mine has a multiplate clutch).

 

[Jimmy_Russells]

Pentosin?

Most likely (or Fuchs who own them)

 

[dparm]

These are the only 236.17 approved oils as of Nov 19, 2021, per BeVO:

Productname	Principal
Mercedes-Benz Genuine ATF FE MB 236.17	Mercedes-Benz AG, Stuttgart/Deutschland
Fuchs TITAN ATF 9134 FE	FUCHS PETROLUB SE, Mannheim/Deutschland
RAVENOL ATF M 9-G Serie	Ravensberger Schmierstoffvertrieb GmbH, Werther/Deutschland
Shell D971	Shell International Petroleum Company, LONDON/UNITED KINGDOM
Shell Spirax ATF M 9	Shell International Petroleum Company, LONDON/UNITED KINGDOM
Shell Spirax S6 ATF D971	Shell International Petroleum Company, LONDON/UNITED KINGDOM
Sinopec Greatwall ATF-B.17	Lubricant Company, Sinopec Corp., Beijing/P. R. of CHINA

The Fuchs fluid shows KVs of 17.5 and 4.1, which don't match the specs in the OEM datasheet (18.5 and 4-4.25, respectively). I don't think Fuchs/Pentosin is making it for Mercedes.

 

[JHZR2]

These are the only 236.17 approved oils as of Nov 19, 2021, per BeVO:

Productname	Principal
Mercedes-Benz Genuine ATF FE MB 236.17	Mercedes-Benz AG, Stuttgart/Deutschland
Fuchs TITAN ATF 9134 FE	FUCHS PETROLUB SE, Mannheim/Deutschland
RAVENOL ATF M 9-G Serie	Ravensberger Schmierstoffvertrieb GmbH, Werther/Deutschland
Shell D971	Shell International Petroleum Company, LONDON/UNITED KINGDOM
Shell Spirax ATF M 9	Shell International Petroleum Company, LONDON/UNITED KINGDOM
Shell Spirax S6 ATF D971	Shell International Petroleum Company, LONDON/UNITED KINGDOM
Sinopec Greatwall ATF-B.17	Lubricant Company, Sinopec Corp., Beijing/P. R. of CHINA

The Fuchs fluid shows KVs of 17.5 and 4.1, which don't match the specs in the OEM datasheet (18.5 and 4-4.25, respectively). I don't think Fuchs/Pentosin is making it for Mercedes.

I was going to say... go through the bevo list, thats a good chance to see who is making what. Comparing spec sheets may work, may not if some have ranges...

 

[JohnnyG]

dparm, I doubt that the document I linked to applies to the multiplate clutch versions, but that system is typically in front of the trans itself, so the "back half" may be the same.
Like you said there are several versions of this trans. I must say though, it's a complicated affair isn't it? I'd be very careful with any fluid change on that one.
My personal preference would be Ravenol, when the time comes.

 

[dparm]

dparm, I doubt that the document I linked to applies to the multiplate clutch versions, but that system is typically in front of the trans itself, so the "back half" may be the same.
Like you said there are several versions of this trans. I must say though, it's a complicated affair isn't it? I'd be very careful with any fluid change on that one.
My personal preference would be Ravenol, when the time comes.

I plan to use the OEM fluid and let the dealer do it. I was simply curious who the supplier was.

 

[MalibuRam65]

I plan to use the OEM fluid and let the dealer do it. I was simply curious who the supplier was.

Might be shell is the OEM fluid

 

[2EHA]

Shell is the supplier for mb bottle 236.10, 14, 15 and probably later

Fuchs briefly had 236.12 but that approval was dropped quickly

 

[nthach]

Shell is the supplier for mb bottle 236.10, 14, 15 and probably later

Fuchs briefly had 236.12 but that approval was dropped quickly

Shell or XOM tend to make a majority of German(ZF, Mercedes, Voith) ATF.

 

[Braapdaddy]

Hello friends I recently purchased my wife the 2015 CLA250 4MATIC she had been wanting the car is amazing very clean and has maintenance records but no owners manual to refer to for specs and capacities on the fluids specifically the trans , gear and engine oils

I want to do all the fluids for peace of mind I believe I have found the correct spec for the dual clutch fluid but not the gear or diff fluids

Planning on getting the Mercedes or the Ravenol fluids

Tried to join 3 different MERCEDES BENZ sites and was rejected by all 3 due to some technicality and I suspect they have to weed out the spammers and bots i did submit appeals to the moderators on 2 of the 3 and was still denied any advice maybe calling the customer service number at the bottom?
I am a legit member here on BITOG and Tacoma World as well as Diesel Stop

Thanks for any links or help finding a CLA250 spec sheet in advance

 

[weasley]

Have a look here to determine which oil specification is required for your car. I suspect it is MB 236.14 or 236.15.

 

[Wolf359]

Hello friends I recently purchased my wife the 2015 CLA250 4MATIC she had been wanting the car is amazing very clean and has maintenance records but no owners manual to refer to for specs and capacities on the fluids specifically the trans , gear and engine oils

I want to do all the fluids for peace of mind I believe I have found the correct spec for the dual clutch fluid but not the gear or diff fluids

Planning on getting the Mercedes or the Ravenol fluids

Tried to join 3 different MERCEDES BENZ sites and was rejected by all 3 due to some technicality and I suspect they have to weed out the spammers and bots i did submit appeals to the moderators on 2 of the 3 and was still denied any advice maybe calling the customer service number at the bottom?
I am a legit member here on BITOG and Tacoma World as well as Diesel Stop

Thanks for any links or help finding a CLA250 spec sheet in advance

You can look at the bevo sheets to find approved fluids for a particular spec. Seems like that car uses MB 236.21 and there's only two approved fluids on the list, the MB one and a Shell fluid.

Not sure about the amount of fluid, but I would just get the MB fluids for gear or diff fluids. Those are typically just one or two quarts so you don't really save any money by going aftermarket and you can find MB dealers that will discount their OEM fluids online.

https://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevoonlinebak/bevo-sheets-sort1.html

For the fluid types, typically you look them up in EPC or ISPPI. For the 2015, I would just get a knock off copy of the EPC/WIS on eBay, they're usually under $10. Otherwise I think ISPPI (replacement for EPC which lets you look up the correct part numbers for the car) is $79 for the year and the full repair manual is like $63 a day.

https://www.startekinfo.com/parts

 

[weasley]

Have a look here to determine which oil specification is required for your car. I suspect it is MB 236.14 or 236.15.

Correcting the first hyperlink. Should be here.

 

[edyvw]

These are the only 236.17 approved oils as of Nov 19, 2021, per BeVO:

Productname	Principal
Mercedes-Benz Genuine ATF FE MB 236.17	Mercedes-Benz AG, Stuttgart/Deutschland
Fuchs TITAN ATF 9134 FE	FUCHS PETROLUB SE, Mannheim/Deutschland
RAVENOL ATF M 9-G Serie	Ravensberger Schmierstoffvertrieb GmbH, Werther/Deutschland
Shell D971	Shell International Petroleum Company, LONDON/UNITED KINGDOM
Shell Spirax ATF M 9	Shell International Petroleum Company, LONDON/UNITED KINGDOM
Shell Spirax S6 ATF D971	Shell International Petroleum Company, LONDON/UNITED KINGDOM
Sinopec Greatwall ATF-B.17	Lubricant Company, Sinopec Corp., Beijing/P. R. of CHINA

The Fuchs fluid shows KVs of 17.5 and 4.1, which don't match the specs in the OEM datasheet (18.5 and 4-4.25, respectively). I don't think Fuchs/Pentosin is making it for Mercedes.

That doesn’t mean Fuchs/Pentosin is not making fluid. BMW for example has specific demands for their oils which have different properties from Shell or Castrol products (Castrol supplies now North America).
MB fluid is probably specific and you won’t find aftermarket product with same properties regardless that MB approves it.

 

[Wolf359]

That doesn’t mean Fuchs/Pentosin is not making fluid. BMW for example has specific demands for their oils which have different properties from Shell or Castrol products (Castrol supplies now North America).
MB fluid is probably specific and you won’t find aftermarket product with same properties regardless that MB approves it.

Basically the difference is that while they may make a fluid that suitable for those applications, it's not approved by the manufacturer but the fluid maker says it's good. Normally the fluid maker gets it approved by MB and now you have two people who says it meets spec, not just the company making the fluid.

 

[edyvw]

Basically the difference is that while they may make a fluid that suitable for those applications, it's not approved by the manufacturer but the fluid maker says it's good. Normally the fluid maker gets it approved by MB and now you have two people who says it meets spec, not just the company making the fluid.

No, it could be very well approved by MB! Just because it has a different KV100 does not mean it is not approved. And the same manufacturer might make fluid for MB.
Castrol makes a new LL01 for BMW (5W30) that has completely different values from Edge 5W30 aftermarket oil that is also approved by BMW. It meets the minimum what BMW wants in order to be approved.