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C4S Tranny Fluid Change; Pics

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7 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW

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YOUR RESEARCHC4S Tranny Fluid Change; Pics

Leading reported evidence

Fill with ferrous material

Performed · outcome unconfirmed

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster

The entire cavity was filled with ferrous material.

C4S Tranny Fluid Change; Pics
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Leading evidence: 'Fill with ferrous material' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Fill with ferrous material' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.

Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.

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1 matching discussions · 7 captured posts examined · 0 partial discussions

Compare 4 other evidence results

Use brake kleen

Performed · outcome unconfirmed

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster

I wiped it off and used Brake Kleen to try to force some it out.

C4S Tranny Fluid Change; Pics

Use motor oil

Performed · outcome unconfirmed

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster

The rear diff fluid was a honey or amber-ish color - much better than I expected after seeing rotokim's 99 almost look like used motor oil.

C4S Tranny Fluid Change; Pics

Use on the amg cars and able

Performed · outcome unconfirmed

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Performed · outcome unconfirmed

he also said that he's never seen the Mercedes transmission fail on the Tiptronic S (which he said is used on the AMG cars and able to handle excess of 600ft lbs of torque), but that the Mk1 tips have been known to fail....He also quipped it's one of the many things in the 996 that has been over-engineered and over-built.

C4S Tranny Fluid Change; Pics

Use shell stock fluid

Performed · outcome unconfirmed

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster

Used the Shell stock fluid.

C4S Tranny Fluid Change; Pics
Frequently discussed actions (9)

These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.

Fill with ferrous material

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster

The entire cavity was filled with ferrous material.

C4S Tranny Fluid Change; Pics

Replace !!!)

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

(BTW my local INDY quoted $300 for the fluid change!!!)

C4S Tranny Fluid Change; Pics

Replace before

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0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
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Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion · Original poster

I do not know if the rear fluid had even been changed before, but it certainly looked to be in better condition than the front.

C4S Tranny Fluid Change; Pics

Replace done today at the dealer...(@55k miles

No successful repair reported for this finding.

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Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

For this reason - I am getting the fluid change done today at the dealer...(@55K miles but car is 8 yrs old and in heavy stop/go traffic)

C4S Tranny Fluid Change; Pics

Replace tranny/diff fluid

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

I actually need to change all the tranny/diff fluid on my C4 also.

C4S Tranny Fluid Change; Pics

Use brake kleen

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster

I wiped it off and used Brake Kleen to try to force some it out.

C4S Tranny Fluid Change; Pics

Use motor oil

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster

The rear diff fluid was a honey or amber-ish color - much better than I expected after seeing rotokim's 99 almost look like used motor oil.

C4S Tranny Fluid Change; Pics

Use on the amg cars and able

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Performed · outcome unconfirmed

he also said that he's never seen the Mercedes transmission fail on the Tiptronic S (which he said is used on the AMG cars and able to handle excess of 600ft lbs of torque), but that the Mk1 tips have been known to fail....He also quipped it's one of the many things in the 996 that has been over-engineered and over-built.

C4S Tranny Fluid Change; Pics

Use shell stock fluid

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster

Used the Shell stock fluid.

C4S Tranny Fluid Change; Pics
Coverage and how to read this overview

Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.

7 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.

  • Rennlist: 1 discussions

0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.

0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.

Generation: 20261026T100758Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources

POST 1 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Thanks to Dell I was able to quickly and painlessly change out my 2004 C4S tranny fluid today. Used the Shell stock fluid. CPO w/ ~42k on the clock. Not hard of course, but what was interesting was that the drain bolts are magnetic from the factory, AND, the front bolt had much more particulate accumulation that anticipated. The rear diff fluid was a honey or amber-ish color - much better than I expected after seeing rotokim's 99 almost look like used motor oil. I am assuming it was his original fluid, and while he had less mileage, his is obviously ~5 years older. There was a little dusting of ferrous material on the rear drain plug even though the drain plug sits vertically, so it much be magnetic from the factory. I do not know if the rear fluid had even been changed before, but it certainly looked to be in better condition than the front. No pictures. The front diff fluid was murkier, more cloudy, with lots of sediment on the plug. This is the drain plug just after it was removed from the front diff. Here is is after I tried cleaning it out. The plug is actually hollow with a magnetic rod in the middle. The entire cavity was filled with ferrous material. I wiped it off and used Brake Kleen to try to force some it out. This is how I left it. FYI, no drivability problem, sounds, or leaks since I've had it since late October, just wanted to to a drain and refill for possible added longevity of the transmission and diff, and peace of mind. Anyway, food for thought. I cannot imagine going 90k on the stock fluid.

POST 2Original post

On my other AWD commuter car, it was 'hopping' at near full lock at the 70k mark. I changed out the center diff fluid and the 'hop' went away. I actually need to change all the tranny/diff fluid on my C4 also. Finding the time is another story.

POST 3Original post

For this reason - I am getting the fluid change done today at the dealer...(@55K miles but car is 8 yrs old and in heavy stop/go traffic)

POST 4 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

[Image-only post; no author-written text. Original image references:] https://rennlist.com/forums/graemlins/thumbup.gif

POST 5Original post

btw: dealership tells me drain and refill is around $250 (not bad) but with filter change it's around $600... so I'm just going with drain and refill...

POST 6Original post

road....do you have a tip? If so, I'm not sure what all is involved but if it is the same amount of fluid that Scott used, then $75 worth of Shell and $175 in labor doesn't sound "too" bad from a stealership. But what filter are you referring to? ATF filter?

POST 7Original post

Quotes source post: 7864341

yes - Tip S... And yes they quoted me $600 to do filter, orings etc...or $250 for just fluid. My local dealer (Herb Chambers Porsche Boston) was pretty straight with me. My SA said that with 50K miles on the clock I should be fine with just a fluid drain and refill and at 100K miles go for the whole filter / oring change... (BTW my local INDY quoted $300 for the fluid change!!!) he also said that he's never seen the Mercedes transmission fail on the Tiptronic S (which he said is used on the AMG cars and able to handle excess of 600ft lbs of torque), but that the Mk1 tips have been known to fail....He also quipped it's one of the many things in the 996 that has been over-engineered and over-built. I asked him what else is over-engineered and over-built - he said in general the H6 engine is pretty much over-engineered and over-built if compared against many other engines out there. His point is that many owners do DE's on these engines and daily driver them. No other engine in his experience could handle that kind of use and survive 100K+ miles. I then couldn't help but to ask him about IMS. The master tech was there in his office. They both said that it is VERY rare, and a much more common mode of failure they've seen on the engine is intermix. SO ....anyway....

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