Which fluids for a petrol W123?

[moeman79]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post on the forum. I've been lucky enough to have taken on a 1980 W123 saloon. I don't have too many details as yet but as far as I know it's a 200 automatic petrol.

The car's been sat a few years in a dry garage so I want to get a few servicing parts ordered before I pick up the car so I'm ready to get to work straight away. Front and rear discs and pads will be ordered shortly along with oil, fuel and air filters and spark plugs. I think I will also do a coolant flush whilst I'm at it along with an ATF change.

A few questions:

1.Is there a filter in the gearbox/sump? Where can order one? Eurocarparts don't seem to do it.

2. What fluids are recommended for each of the above? I don't have a service/owner's manual.

Engine oil
ATF
Brake fluid
Coolant

3. Should I remove the old fuel (how)? Apparently these were designed to run on leaded petrol. What do people use now? Do you use a lead additive, what is it and how often?

4. Any other suggestions for things that would need looking at? I have a new battery to go in.

Any help/advice would be appreciated.

 

[jaymanek]

1) Yes - Best from euro car parts

2) Engine oil - Any decent 10w/40
ATF - Dexron II
Brake Fluid - DOT 3 or equivalent
Coolant - Standard Blue is fine

All of the above from Euro Car Parts or similar.

Your car will run just fine on unleaded being a 1980. You can use Millers VSP if you want but its not needed as you will have an alu head on your car.

I would also check and change the diff oil. Top up power steering oil, normal ATF is fine for this.

 

[grober]

Here's a link to an online copy of the workshop manual- its not complete and may not cover your exact model but hopefully might help.
W123-dokumentacja cz. 1

Otherwise this manual may help Mercedes W123 Owners Workshop Manual 1976-1986: 200, 230, 230E, 250, 280, 280E: Amazon.co.uk: Brooklands Books Ltd.: Books

 

[moeman79]

Great thanks!

Euro don't seem to do the filter/gasket kit for the gearbox

Is the diff oil an easy change whilst doing the gearbox?

Any idea on how much I'll need for each application as I need to know how much to order?
Engine
Gearbox
Diff
PAS
Brakes
Coolant

 

[SilverSaloon]

Diff oil will be about 1.1 litres

diff is easy to change.... see here:

Mercedes Rear Differential Fluid Change

and here for a non-ramp method:

, jacked up the rear passenger side of the car, supported on axle stands, got under and undid the filler and then the drain, and drained the old oil out. i then cleaned up both plugs and refitted the drain. i then filled up with the oil. then i lowered the car to the ground so its level and let the overfill flow out. then i jacked it back up again to fit the filler plug. both tightened to 50 NM and job done.

this overfill method is great if you dont have the means to raise the car up level. the oil comes in 1 litre bottles so you have plenty of spare to waste (car takes about 1.1 litres i believe). I also managed to fill it using the oil bottle it came in squeezing it just above the exhaust and then the final amount via a small oil can i got from PoundLand.

 

[moeman79]

Top up power steering oil, normal ATF is fine for this.

I'm in the process of putting an order through for all this with Opie. My only reservation is that MB requirements for the PAS fluid is MB236.3

This is the ATF I'm ordering:

Millers Oils Millermatic UN ATF

It says it is MB236.2,4,6,7. Will these be ok or do I need to order something that is MB236.3 specific?

 

[moeman79]

Just spoke to an MB dealer in Bromley and they were about as polite and helpful as a Somali pirate

 

[jaymanek]

Ive always used ATF but you can use specific PAS fluid... Its pretty much the same stuff.

 

[grober]

Have a look at this -- Mercedes-Benz Specifications for Operating Fluids: Overview Sheets

and specifically

Mercedes-Benz Betriebsstoff-Vorschriften: Motoröl, Getriebeöl, ATF, Kühlmittel, Bremsflüssigkeiten

 

[moeman79]

Thanks very much for all the info. I can't find any of those fluids that Merc recommend under 236.3. I think I'm just going to go with the ATF as I will have 10 litres of it.

 

[moeman79]

Ive always used ATF but you can use specific PAS fluid... Its pretty much the same stuff.

You've not had a power steering failure at any point have you

 

[jaymanek]

heee... now you mention it one of my cars does drip a bit but its been like that for years...

 

[Stempies]

Is this the one that sara123 was asking about yesterday??

 

[B325YUD]

Hi moeman79, I've just got an '85 230TE that has been parked since 1995: how did the re-commissioning go on yours? Any problems? My main concern is that the auto gearbox seals may be gone through standing for so long.

Also, is there anyone who supplies original MB service parts, or are they all gone?

 

[grober]

Hi moeman79, I've just got an '85 230TE that has been parked since 1995: how did the re-commissioning go on yours? Any problems? My main concern is that the auto gearbox seals may be gone through standing for so long.

Also, is there anyone who supplies original MB service parts, or are they all gone?

You will still get service+other parts from MB- they are one of the best in the business for supporting their older models. Lots of OEM parts out there also from specialist online suppliers like ECP or GSF and numerous parts from German suppliers on EBAY.DE There are lots of these cars still doing sterling duty in many parts of the world particularly where body corrosion is not a problem like in Northern Europe.

 

[B325YUD]

You will still get service+other parts from MB- they are one of the best in the business for supporting their older models. Lots of OEM parts out there also from specialist online suppliers like ECP or GSF and numerous parts from German suppliers on EBAY.DE There are lots of these cars still doing sterling duty in many parts of the world particularly where body corrosion is not a problem like in Northern Europe.

Thanks. Maybe I'll pop over to the local dealership with a list and see what they have to say. I did phone them up before I got the car, but they just said I needed to be specific about what I needed, and they would check for me.