Deancm
Member
After reading the forum and with some trepidation, I was ready to do a 60k mi. transmission fluid change on my 2008, 2500, V6 diesel, 144" wheel base, Sprinter/Freightliner/Mercedes Benz. Yes, it has these three tags. Trans fluid spilled on my head from the pan, so I guess I was anointed. The photos tell most of the story, but here are some notes:
1. I warmed everything up by running around the block a few times. Then I used a 27mm deep socket and a 10" pipe wrench to turn the engine clockwise, as viewed from the front of the van. When I found the torque converter plug, I marked the pulley with White-Out for future reference.
2. To be able to remove the trans pan and make access easier to the torque converter, I raised the rear tans support about 1" using 4 bolts about 4" long.
3. Using well chewed, sticky, chewing gum, I attached a 4mm hex wrench to the trans drain plug. Then with the end of a hammer pushing the wrench it came loose suddenly. It was very tight. I thought at first the wrench had slipped.
4. A 1/4 inch ratchet wrench from sears, $8.00, was used with a 4mm hex bit to loosen it further. But when it would no longer ratchet, I used gum again to attach the bit alone and remove the plug with my fingers. I installed the plug the same way, reversing the procedure finally tightened it with the hex wrench and the end of hammer to push. I used a piece of plastic draped over frame to drain the torque converter. It worked well.
5. The pan plug was very tight, but with a good, new 5mm hex bit and a 1/2" ratchet wrench it came loose. After draining thru the plug there is still about 1/2" left in the pan. Some spilled on my head, ugh. The pan was easy to remove.
6. The fluid was relatively clean, amber looking, not red like new fluid. The round pan magnet had about 1/16" coating of black, gummy metal particles. The pan had a little film on the bottom. I opened the filter using a chisel and found a few small metal particles. In general it looked good. Note, the new filter has clips at the far end so it does not fall like the old one that had only a peg in the same location.
7. I did not replace the torque converter or pan drain plug gaskets. They were copper and looked good. Nothing leaked when finished. I did replace the pan gasket because I had it. But because it is rubber and the way it is tightened it cannot be over tightened I bet I could have reused it too.
8. I filled the trans with 7 1/2 quarts, drove it to get hot, and filled it a cup at a time to get the right level using an aftermarket dip stick. Each time I added a little I had to drive it again for the fluid to clear the tube so the dip stick would be clean going up and down the tube.
1. I warmed everything up by running around the block a few times. Then I used a 27mm deep socket and a 10" pipe wrench to turn the engine clockwise, as viewed from the front of the van. When I found the torque converter plug, I marked the pulley with White-Out for future reference.
2. To be able to remove the trans pan and make access easier to the torque converter, I raised the rear tans support about 1" using 4 bolts about 4" long.
3. Using well chewed, sticky, chewing gum, I attached a 4mm hex wrench to the trans drain plug. Then with the end of a hammer pushing the wrench it came loose suddenly. It was very tight. I thought at first the wrench had slipped.
4. A 1/4 inch ratchet wrench from sears, $8.00, was used with a 4mm hex bit to loosen it further. But when it would no longer ratchet, I used gum again to attach the bit alone and remove the plug with my fingers. I installed the plug the same way, reversing the procedure finally tightened it with the hex wrench and the end of hammer to push. I used a piece of plastic draped over frame to drain the torque converter. It worked well.
5. The pan plug was very tight, but with a good, new 5mm hex bit and a 1/2" ratchet wrench it came loose. After draining thru the plug there is still about 1/2" left in the pan. Some spilled on my head, ugh. The pan was easy to remove.
6. The fluid was relatively clean, amber looking, not red like new fluid. The round pan magnet had about 1/16" coating of black, gummy metal particles. The pan had a little film on the bottom. I opened the filter using a chisel and found a few small metal particles. In general it looked good. Note, the new filter has clips at the far end so it does not fall like the old one that had only a peg in the same location.
7. I did not replace the torque converter or pan drain plug gaskets. They were copper and looked good. Nothing leaked when finished. I did replace the pan gasket because I had it. But because it is rubber and the way it is tightened it cannot be over tightened I bet I could have reused it too.
8. I filled the trans with 7 1/2 quarts, drove it to get hot, and filled it a cup at a time to get the right level using an aftermarket dip stick. Each time I added a little I had to drive it again for the fluid to clear the tube so the dip stick would be clean going up and down the tube.
It has to be Torx or hex ,, which one ?? .
