PHOTO DIY- Power Steering Fluid Change

110882 Views 75 Replies 39 Participants Last post by mauipaul, Dec 17, 2017

G-AMG

Discussion Starter · Dec 14, 2008 (Edited by Moderator)

4

Ok, I bet this post is WAAAAY out there on the esoteric scale.

Still, bear with me.... (and be honest with yourselves---- when was the last time you even CHECKED your P/S Fluid.....)

Yes there are NO SPECIFIED intervals to change Power Steering Fluid..... BUT!! there are
ALSO no specified intervals for other things, such as Differential Oil, etc.

Does this mean we should never change them?? Of course not!

Now, what is a "Reasonable" change interval?? Who knows... go with where the spirit leads..

FOR ME, things like Differential and Power Steering Fluid is on my 60,000 mile list.

It is a very simple operation, basically involving Sucking out the old fluid with a Sucky device of your choice (Just make sure it is impeccably clean!!!), and refill with MB fluid {verbiage surgically removed raymond-}.

The new vehicles are "Filterless" so life is easy.

I CHECK the fluid while the car is fully warmed up, and with the engine running. You will want to do turn the engine OFF for the sucking and refill.

It takes around 250cc's for each "flushing" sequence (suck and refill). After EACH refill, turn the car on, and turn the steering wheel back and forth (preferably with the car in motion, to prevent steering link damage). I like to go fully to the stops, and you will hear the "Groan" of the power steering pump.

I use the whole One Litre just to get things nice and clean. Sooo, you have to "repeat above" a few times.

Be sure the "Final" reading is in the 80C range of the dipstick.

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C_R

· #2 · Dec 14, 2008 (Edited)

Thanks that was great!
I however will be getting my rack replaced on Tuesday so I will have all brand new fluid and a brand new rack!:thumbsup: I won't have to worry about the fluid for the next 60K miles.

chrwilliams

· #3 · Dec 15, 2008

G-AMG

Another stellar DYI. I planned on flushing the self-leveling system on my wife's 98 4-matic wagon next weekend. Does anyone know if the "suck and re-fill" procedure will work with it?

Best,

G-AMG

Discussion Starter · #4 · Dec 15, 2008

chrwilliams said:
G-AMG

Another stellar DYI. I planned on flushing the self-leveling system on my wife's 98 4-matic wagon next weekend. Does anyone know if the "suck and re-fill" procedure will work with it?

Best,

Uuuuhhhhhh, granted, I have NO EXPERIENCE with self-leveling systems, but I just looked through the WIS, and it looks more involved than just suck out, and re-fill.

It looks more like bleeding a brake system.

There is also a Filter in the Reservoir I suspect you would need to change as well (see Pic). Are you 210.082??

I will defer to the Guru's, though who know this stuff.

Either way, I suspect it would behoove you to get some sort of manual (ie Alldata, WIS, etc)
or do a search.

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azmbe240t

· #5 · Dec 15, 2008

thanks, but....

My car is w210 - E240T 2001, where is the power steering is located in order to check if the fluid is OK !!!!

G-AMG

Discussion Starter · #6 · Dec 15, 2008

azmbe,

IF you have a Left Hand Drive car, then it is in the FRONT of the engine, on the DRIVER's side, and next to the Windscreen Washer Fluid Reservoir, and in the front of the valve cover.

It is a Black "box" with a round lid.

Good Luck!

C_R

· #7 · Dec 15, 2008

Cancer_Researcher said:
Thanks that was great!
I however will be getting my rack replaced on Tuesday so I will have all brand new fluid and a brand new rack!:thumbsup: I won't have to worry about the fluid for the next 60K miles.

G-AMG or Ohlord,
Since I will be getting my steering rack replaced tomorrow and will be getting all new PS fluid, what else if anything should I do or need to do? Do I change the fluid again shortly (is there a break-in period) or should I just forget about it except for the inspection of fluid level every few months?

G-AMG

Discussion Starter · #8 · Dec 15, 2008

Cancer_Researcher said:
G-AMG or Ohlord,
Since I will be getting my steering rack replaced tomorrow and will be getting all new PS fluid, what else if anything should I do or need to do? Do I change the fluid again shortly (is there a break-in period) or should I just forget about it except for the inspection of fluid level every few months?

Not speaking from any experience, but I would THINK you would be fine. I wouldn't imagine any "break-in". You may want to ask your mechanic, though, when you pick it up.

Musikmann

· #9 · Dec 16, 2008

No break-in period for PS fluid. I am unaware of any MB-specified change interval but there has to be some reasonable one. The G-AMG recommended 60,000 miles sounds good to me.

KADE

· #10 · Dec 17, 2008

G-AMG what do you use to suck the ps fluid out? Thinking about doing this real soon!

G-AMG

Discussion Starter · #11 · Dec 17, 2008

KADE said:
G-AMG what do you use to suck the ps fluid out? Thinking about doing this real soon!

Actually, I was using my ShurFlo pump.

I just happened to be changing my Engine Oil, so I got two birds....

Of course, I thoroughly cleaned the tubing, and turned the suction on PRIOR to sticking it into the Reservoir (to prevent cross contamination).

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KADE

· #12 · Dec 18, 2008

Is this the model you have G-AMG? And does it connect to the battery terminals under the hood?

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G-AMG

Discussion Starter · #13 · Dec 18, 2008

KADE said:
Is this the model you have G-AMG? And does it connect to the battery terminals under the hood?

You got it!!

I am lazy, and just hook it up to a 12V Power supply.

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E Wagon

· #14 · Dec 19, 2008

So how much does one of those things cost? I built a vacuum device out of a portable air tank and use harbor freight venturi vacuum generator to create the vacuum. I posted a tech article here a few years ago on how I did it.

And no it is not out there. I changed the PS fluid in my Corsica when it hit 100k.

G-AMG

Discussion Starter · #15 · Dec 19, 2008

E Wagon said:
So how much does one of those things cost? I built a vacuum device out of a portable air tank and use harbor freight venturi vacuum generator to create the vacuum. I posted a tech article here a few years ago on how I did it.

And no it is not out there. I changed the PS fluid in my Corsica when it hit 100k.

I just looked on Fleabay, they run between $145, and $177.

I'm sure your Harbour Freight version is a fraction of that....

loubapache

· #16 · Dec 19, 2008

I have the same ShurFlo pump for years and I think I got it about $100.

However, I tried years ago and it did not work so it is still resting in the shed. I contacted the manufacturer and they sent me some internal parts but I never replaced them.

G-AMG: Do you have to prime the pump?

G-AMG

Discussion Starter · #17 · Dec 19, 2008

loubapache said:
I have the same ShurFlo pump for years and I think I got it about $100.

However, I tried years ago and it did not work so it is still resting in the shed. I contacted the manufacturer and they sent me some internal parts but I never replaced them.

G-AMG: Do you have to prime the pump?

Hmmmm, no priming needed.

What is the problem??

Is there a LEAK?

Are you sucking the engine oil when it is HOT?? I've noticed it takes nearly FOUR TIMES longer to remove oil COLD vs. HOT.

loubapache

· #18 · Dec 19, 2008

The problem I have is it does not suck at all (brand new, first try). So I called the manufacture and they sent me some parts. They told me to prime and I thought that would make the device useless if I had to prime every time.

I have not tried it again for many years because I am using a different device now.

KADE

· #19 · Dec 19, 2008

I think the price was around $140-150.... Still haven't decided which oil extraction devise to buy

The surflo looks good though....G-AMG has all the nice toys= German tools/Spotless gaurage :crybaby2:

fju2112

· #20 · Mar 16, 2009

can someone confirm for me (for my 02 4matic sedan):

-how much fluid I need? (I'm set on using MB-spec; do I have to get this at the dealership?)
-whether or not I should also buy a filter for the shop to swap out during the job?

having my steering rack replaced in a few days, so time is a factor in terms of ordering this stuff and getting it delivered by THURSDAY for my appt Friday. I may end up having to go to the dealership if 3-day shipping nulls any discount from an autohausaz.com, etc.

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