Changing Power Steering Oil
03-04-2011, 12:51 AM
#1
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
Changing Power Steering Oil
Today I completed the 10,000 km "A "service on our 220CDI.(40,000 km total.)
A few months ago I tied 2 small magnets to the Power Steering Reservoir dip stick. Interestingly there was no visual accumulaton of ferrous material but after wiping a clean white rag showed up some very fine black material . So they are doing their job.
I also siphoned out the reservoir & replaced it with MB PS Fluid.The reservoir only held about 250ml . I have a litre bottle so intend changing out the fluid every 10,000 km in the future.
I have done this on my previous car & it has now done over 300,000 km ( 17 years old) & the power steering is original.
Whilst draining the oil via the sump plug I turned the engine by hand but could not see any evidence of a drain on the 5 speed auto GB torque converter. What a bummer.
This forum informed me not too long ago that MB do not have engine oil pressure sensors. In my humble opinion that is a large oversight. It is aways nice to see a low oil pressure light go out quickly at first start after changing the oil.
Hope I have not bored you all !!
A few months ago I tied 2 small magnets to the Power Steering Reservoir dip stick. Interestingly there was no visual accumulaton of ferrous material but after wiping a clean white rag showed up some very fine black material . So they are doing their job.
I also siphoned out the reservoir & replaced it with MB PS Fluid.The reservoir only held about 250ml . I have a litre bottle so intend changing out the fluid every 10,000 km in the future.
I have done this on my previous car & it has now done over 300,000 km ( 17 years old) & the power steering is original.
Whilst draining the oil via the sump plug I turned the engine by hand but could not see any evidence of a drain on the 5 speed auto GB torque converter. What a bummer.
This forum informed me not too long ago that MB do not have engine oil pressure sensors. In my humble opinion that is a large oversight. It is aways nice to see a low oil pressure light go out quickly at first start after changing the oil.
Hope I have not bored you all !!
03-04-2011, 01:20 AM
#2
Super Member
Hey Carsy,
I also like refreshing the PS fluids. I do mine every oil change. It's probably overkill, but the reservoir is so small it doesn't cost much to do it.
I don't have much miles on either of my cars (76k for the Bimmer and 46k for the Benz), but on E46F where I also hang out, some of the guys with older cars (250k-300k) have reported still being on their original rack and pump just by doing this practice. If you have an extractor for oil changes, this would add no more than 5 minutes to your process.
Paolo
I also like refreshing the PS fluids. I do mine every oil change. It's probably overkill, but the reservoir is so small it doesn't cost much to do it.
I don't have much miles on either of my cars (76k for the Bimmer and 46k for the Benz), but on E46F where I also hang out, some of the guys with older cars (250k-300k) have reported still being on their original rack and pump just by doing this practice. If you have an extractor for oil changes, this would add no more than 5 minutes to your process.
Paolo
