Marcello

Has anyone had any experience using PentosinCHF11S hydraulic fluid in their soft top system?

burgca

I haven't used it for my soft top system, I use it in the Power Steering system for my W211. With the age of the W208 I wouldn't want to experiment with non-recommend fluids. Febi 02615 Hydraulic is a lower price alternative to the Mercedes fluid and is recommended.

http://www.tophydraulicsinc.com/W208...eplacement.pdf

Marcello

I appreciate the information. My dealer has the mercedes brand fluid at $15 and change. It almost seems too good to be true. Though I don't like going to the dealer I might have to in this case!

jigsb

Yeah my Dealer too (HOI) here in OC sold me a bottle (343 specs) for $15 after initially quoting me $20 for my W209.

But in my case the refill did not help as there is a leak somewhere

JG403

I'm sure I'll find a leak in mine, too...

burgca

small leaks are typically around the cylinders, big leaks are when the hoses go bad (age is the number one issue with the W208). I did the cylinder rebuild from TopHydraulics and changed the hoses and haven't had any new leak issues (my leak was a hose).

JG403

I'm hoping to repeat your success...

Top Hydraulics

Marcello,

you can use Pentosin CHF 11S, it's perfectly safe for the system. HOWEVER, it stinks! If you end up having a leak again, you will be sorry that you didn't use a less smelly fluid. Some shops tell me that they put in this fluid, so that the customers come back as soon as they can smell the next leak...

Many car brands have Pentosin CHF-11S in their convertible top hydraulic system, and they usually sell it with their own brand name on the bottle.

Mercedes specifies ZH-M fluid, which is originally made by Aral and sold in Europe as Aral Vitamol. It's the same as FeBi 02615. Mercedes adds a dye and calls it p/n 000 989 91 03. BMW and Porsche sell it in half-pint bottles and charge $40...

You can order FeBi 02615 online in places like autohausaz.com or rmeuropean.com, or you can get it in a good NAPA store for some $10/quart.

Convertible top hydraulic fluid is designed to have low viscosity (be thin) even at low temperatures, of course it is supposed to lube and not to interfere with the seals (no stop-leak additives in there!), and it does not have emulsifiers (it makes water from condensation drop to the bottom of the reservoir, instead of letting it get all over the system and oxidize or hydrolize seals or metal components).

Make sure to find your hydraulic leaks - they won't go away on their own, and they will keep on growing...

Klaus

http://www.tophydraulicsinc.com/en/23-w208-clk



CLK cabriolet hydraulics