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Car Forum / Mercedes-Benz Cars / April 2005

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Milky-looking tranny fluid?

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JimiGunne - 26 Apr 2005 22:23 GMT
I have an 1985 Mec. 300SD.  Tranny works perfect.  I noticed that the
tranny fluid now has a milky-pink  look.... Like Pepto-Bismol.  What I
am thinking is that I may have over-filled the tranny.  I think this
causes air bubbles that make it look like this?  Seems like I heard
this somewhere. I have had quite a few cars, and all have been easy to
read the tranny fluid level...until this one.  No matter how long I
let the stick sit after starting the engine, it comes out "smeared" up
one side of the dipstick--- like it has picked up fluid from the sides
of the dipstick tube--- and I can't seem to really tell what the
actual level is. When it always comes out "smeared" way up on  one
side of the dip-stick, you don't know whether the true level is the
the low-indicating side, or it is the higher-indicating side! So it
could be over-serviced from the last time I added  fluid. Will
over-servicing rapidly kill this tranny? Guess the smart thing to do
is to take it in for a fluid and filter change.
me - 26 Apr 2005 22:50 GMT
Strawberry Milk looking transmission fluid is caused by water (usually
coolant) in the fluid. Most times this can happen when the radiator goes bad
and the transmission cooler lines within the radiator leak allowing the
coolant and the transmission fluid to mix.  Unfortunately, the bands in the
transmission are lined with a material that is quickly impacted by water and
you will need to replace the bands and ensure all the (strawberry milk) is
removed. I have not seen it hurt any thing other than the bands.

> I have an 1985 Mec. 300SD.  Tranny works perfect.  I noticed that the
> tranny fluid now has a milky-pink  look.... Like Pepto-Bismol.  What I
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> over-servicing rapidly kill this tranny? Guess the smart thing to do
> is to take it in for a fluid and filter change.
marlinspike - 26 Apr 2005 23:15 GMT
Well, overfilling is bad, but I think the other poster is right about
water and I would have that taken care of ASAP (in fact sooner than
ASAP). But, the way you check the tranny fluid in these cars is

Get it nice and hot (takes longer than the engine, so give it a good
while), then park it (leave the engine on), go P-R-N-D-N-R-P waiting a
few seconds in each gear. Then let it idle for 2 minutes, then with it
still running check the fluid. Wipe the dipstick with your finger to
ensure you get no lint.
Ernie Sparks - 27 Apr 2005 05:45 GMT
Don't drive it another inch! You have water getting into the tranny from the
cooler line which goes to the radiator. This is ESPECIALLY bad if you have
coolant in the radiator. This stuff will turn to chewing gum real fast. If
you haven't gotten the trans oil fluid too hot you can probably still
salvage the situation.
Drain the fluid, including the torque converter. Ask a local auto trans shop
what you can do to flush out the remaining fluid but I wouldn't tell him
right off what your suspicions are. He'll just want to drain your wallet for
a tranny job. To check your radiator remove both tranny lines at the lower
part of the radiator and the radiator cap. Block one side and blow some air
into the other side. I'm betting you're going to see a lot of air bubbles in
the radiator water. BTW I bought a new, all metal radiator, complete with
the tranny connections for just over $150 delivered FedEx from a national
company. If this is your problem and you're looking for a replacement
radiator let me know. I'll get you their number. Good luck!

> I have an 1985 Mec. 300SD.  Tranny works perfect.  I noticed that the
> tranny fluid now has a milky-pink  look.... Like Pepto-Bismol.  What I
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> over-servicing rapidly kill this tranny? Guess the smart thing to do
> is to take it in for a fluid and filter change.
450SL_Dude - 27 Apr 2005 23:04 GMT
You have two options with the radiator. 1) plug the holes where the
transmission lines go into the radiator and add an external transmission
cooler (appx $80 installed), or a new radiator.
With the transmission you don't have the option of flushing the strawberry
milk out because 1) you don't flush a MB transmission 2) the damage to the
bands is already done and they will need to be replaced.

> I have an 1985 Mec. 300SD.  Tranny works perfect.  I noticed that the
> tranny fluid now has a milky-pink  look.... Like Pepto-Bismol.  What I
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> over-servicing rapidly kill this tranny? Guess the smart thing to do
> is to take it in for a fluid and filter change.
 
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