Mercedes-Benz 230 SL / 250 SL / 280 SL, W113 (Pagoda) (EU)

Manual transmission fluid capacity & service interval

Mercedes-Benz 230 SL / 250 SL / 280 SL, W113 (Pagoda) (EU) manual transmission fluid capacity is 1,4 liters. Service intervals include checking at 3000 km and changing at 18000 km or 20000 km. The data covers 3 configurations.

The configuration chart below lists fill volumes and service intervals for each engine and trim variant.

TypeSpecifications
280 SL, W113 (1967-1971)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,4 liter
  • Change 20000 km
  • Code: 5/1
250 SL, W113 (1966-1968)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,4 liter
  • Change 20000 km
  • Code: 5/1
230 SL, W113 (1963-1967)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,4 liter
  • Check 3000 km
  • Change 18000 km
  • Code: 4/1

Additional Notes

  • Across all three W113 variants covered in the specifications, the manual transmission fluid capacity is 1.4 liters, a figure consistent with the compact gearbox units fitted to the Pagoda series throughout the 1963-1971 production span.
  • A 1.4-liter fill represents a relatively modest volume, typical of a service fill in a small-displacement sports car transmission rather than a full overhaul or dry-build quantity, meaning the actual internal capacity of the unit when completely drained and rebuilt may differ.
  • The Mercedes-Benz 230 SL, W113 (1963-1967) carries a fluid check interval of 3000 km under normal use conditions, a specification not present in the 250 SL or 280 SL rows, indicating a more frequent monitoring requirement for the earliest variant.
  • The 230 SL specifies a change interval of 18000 km under normal use, which is shorter than the 20000 km interval assigned to both the 250 SL and 280 SL under the same normal use condition.
  • The 250 SL (1966-1968) and 280 SL (1967-1971) share an identical change interval of 20000 km under normal use, despite representing two distinct engine displacements and partially overlapping production periods.
  • The 2000 km difference in change intervals between the 230 SL and the later two variants, while numerically small, reflects a measurable divergence in service scheduling across the W113 generation as documented in the specifications.

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