722.9 Transmission Service Kit, Blue 236.15 ATF and Filter

This kit is for owners of 2011-2017 Mercedes-Benz cars and SUVs whose 722.9 seven-speed automatic is specified for the blue MB 236.15 fluid, and who are seeing a harsh or delayed shift, a flare between gears, or simply a service interval that has come and gone. It contains six one-liter bottles of MB 236.15 ATF, the transmission filter, a pan gasket, six pan bolts, a drain plug with a new sealing washer, and the tools to refill a transmission that has no dipstick: a hand transfer pump, a fill adapter that threads into the drain port and a guide tube. Components come from FEBI, HENGST, ELRING and LAIPZ, listed under part number 02452313.

What this service does in a 722.9

In the 722.9 every gear change hands load from one clutch to another under control of the electro-hydraulic control unit bolted beneath the case, so shift quality depends on clean fluid with the right friction properties reaching small valve body passages. The filter inside the pan traps the clutch material and metal the unit sheds in normal use. The fluid itself is the other half of the job. Mercedes split the 722.9 into generations: units built through June 2010 run red 236.14 fluid, and later units run blue 236.15 or, on some applications, gold 236.16. The later generation also uses a deeper pan with oval indentations and a green overflow pipe. Blue 236.15 is the fluid in this box, so this kit is for the later-generation units that call for it.

Symptoms this service addresses

• Harsh 1-2 or 2-3 upshifts, especially when cold
• Delayed engagement into Drive or Reverse
• Flare or slip feeling between gears as fluid friction properties wear out
• Shudder at light throttle while the converter clutch applies
• Dark, burnt-smelling fluid or heavy paste on the pan magnet

Stored codes for solenoids, speed sensors or the control unit are a different problem; a fluid service will not cure an electrical fault inside the conductor plate or servo module.

How to confirm before you buy

Identify the fluid generation from the transmission, not the model year alone. Read the production number on the transmission ID tag, look at the pan shape and the overflow pipe color once the drain plug is out, or check the fluid spec shown in Mercedes diagnostic software. A replacement transmission can run a different spec than the car shipped with. Our 722.9 filter and pan service guide walks through each identification method.

Fitment

Fits 2011-2017 Mercedes-Benz models with the 722.9 seven-speed that specify MB 236.15. If your unit calls for red 236.14, order the 6-liter 722.9 service kit or the filter kit with fill adapter and buy fluid of the correct spec separately. Mercedes states the fluid sheets must never be mixed. For a Sprinter van with a larger fill, look at the 9-liter Sprinter kit. Not sure which you have? Send us the year, model and VIN, or browse every 722.9 part on our 722.6 and 722.9 parts page.

Install notes

• Car level. Remove the drain plug, then the six pan bolts, and lower the pan with a catch pan under it; fluid remains in the pan.
• Pull the filter, clean the magnet and both sealing faces down to bare metal, and fit the new filter and gasket dry. Mercedes says no sealant.
• Use the new bolts supplied. They are aluminum stretch bolts in a magnesium case; the factory spec is 4 Nm then a further 180 degrees, crisscross, by hand.
• Thread the fill adapter into the drain port and pump in fluid, then run the engine and set the level at the temperature Mercedes specifies, letting the excess run out of the overflow pipe until it drips. Install the new drain plug at 22 Nm.
• Six liters covers a pan-drop service. A converter drain or full exchange needs extra 236.15, such as Shell ATF 134 FE 236.15 by the liter.
• Reset adaptation values with a capable scan tool afterward so clutch fill times relearn on the new fluid.

How do I know if my 722.9 needs blue 236.15 fluid?

Units built after the June 2010 production change use the later pan with oval indentations and a green overflow pipe and are specified for 236.15 or 236.16. Earlier units with round-dimple pans run red 236.14. Check the transmission ID tag or Mercedes diagnostic software rather than relying on model year alone.

Can I put blue 236.15 in a 722.9 that calls for red 236.14?

No. Mercedes states the fluid specifications must not be mixed. A unit specified for 236.14 should get 236.14 fluid; use our 6-liter kit or the filter kit with fill adapter and buy the correct fluid.

Is six liters enough?

It covers a standard pan drop and filter change, since the torque converter keeps a large share of the fluid. A converter drain or full exchange takes more, so buy an extra liter or two of 236.15 if you plan one.

Why does the kit include a pump and adapter?

Most 722.9 applications have no dipstick tube. The fluid goes in through the drain port, so the adapter threads in there and the hand pump pushes fluid up into the pan until it runs out of the overflow pipe.

Do I need a scan tool after the service?

It is strongly recommended. Resetting the adaptations lets the control unit relearn clutch fill times on the new fluid. A scan tool that can read transmission temperature also helps you set the level at the correct temperature.

• 722.9 Filter and Pan Service Guide: Fluid ID, Torque and Mistakes That Cause Comebacks
• 722.6 Filter and Pan Service: Torque Specs, Fluid Recovery and the Right Filter Kit
• 722.6 High-Mileage Service Checklist: What to Check Before and After the Pan Comes Off