W168 Auto transmission fluid level

[Locky]

Hi All,

The wife has a W168 auto which I had a refurbished transmission fitted to about 6 years ago by a trans specialist in London. Original trans had a blown clutch drum. Well the trans has started acting up again. Thumping when coming to a stop and flaring 2 to 3rd gear change.
I though I would have a quick check of the oil level suspecting it may be low. I ordered a merc dipstick and plugged in my scan tool. Read the level with the engine running and 80degree trans oil temp and the level is about 25mm over the max mark on the dipstick. Its on level ground. I've also checked the dipstick with measurements online and it seems correct. The level is above the plastic indicator way up on the coiled section of the dipstick
I can also see a few metal specs in the oil too unfortunately. But why is the level so high, can the transmission shop really have overfilled it by that much. I don't know what it equates to but we must be looking at a couple of litres overfill.

 

[Locky]

Just following on from before.... I drained nearly 1.5 litres of fluid out of this transmission tonight to get it to the correct level. Took it for a drive and it's transformed the car. This car has always felt underpowered and I've replaced lots of things to try to sort it. It looks like it was just an overfilled transmission. Its still flaring the 2nd to 3rd gear change so I think the damage has been done. I took the fluid out with an extractor through the dipstick tube. When I extracted the fluid after a run to get it to temp it was totally frothed up. It really disappoints me when 'professionals' don't do their job properly. This is why I usually do it myself.

 

[zipdip]

I wonder if you have coolant in the auto box,not that well up on the W168 but I am fairly certain you have a rad to cool the ATF might be worth checking

 

[Locky]

Yeah to be honest I did wonder about that. The trans fluid came out red and oily, not contaminated looking. Cant rule it out though. Coolant tank still appears topped up.