Self leveling system fluid

[Stevo]

Does anyone use anything other than the MB fluid?.... I use a universal hydraulic fluid from Cenix in my tractor hydraulics and since I have a small leak in the 240Ds self leveling, I was thinking of using this till I can fix the leak.

[bill murrow]

I've used tractor hydraulic stuff myself. Had the same leak problem and figured the tractor stuff was better than nothing and the system was already broken so couldn't hurt anything.

Any guesses as to who will be first to say MB stuff only?

Cheers,

Bill

[oldnavy]

Originally Posted by bill murrow

I've used tractor hydraulic stuff myself. Had the same leak problem and figured the tractor stuff was better than nothing and the system was already broken so couldn't hurt anything.

Any guesses as to who will be first to say MB stuff only?

Cheers,

Bill

Me, me, me.

[phidauex]

I just looked at the bottle of MB stuff I've got, it doesn't list any specifications or anything.

Honestly, I really don't know what else would work. I've heard that the MB stuff is pretty different from 'regular' hydraulic fluid, but thats all just heresay.

I've heard that the only way to really tell is a taste test. Get a few wine glasses, pour in an ounce or so of the hydraulic fluid. Swirl it around, give it a sniff, and then sip some into your mouth. You'll quickly notice the refined flavor and delicate complexity of the MB hydraulic fluid. Compare that to the crude and unsophisticated palate of the generic hydraulic fluid. The choice of what to use, of course, is yours.

Seriously though, I'm sticking with the MB stuff for the moment, because I don't know enough about hydraulics to decide on a good replacement, I've already got a liter of it that the previous owner gave me, and the hydraulic system is in perfect working order with lots of new parts, and I see no reason to potentially endanger it... However, if the system wasn't working well anyway, or I knew more about hydraulics, I'd consider other fluids. I'm certainly not dogmatic about it.

peace,
sam

[bill murrow]

Originally Posted by oldnavy

Me, me, me.

Yeah, I knew somebody would

cheers,

Bill

[David Speed]

Link to previous Self Leveling Hydraulic Oil thread

I used the Febi Fluid for a flush & refill with a new filter 12 months ago......the old fluid was like cloudy castor oil.....probably best not to mix old & new fluid

Easy to flush & refill.......just undo the return.......put some clear plastic tubing on the line....start her up and run until bottle nearly empty.........fill bottle with new fluid..........run until clearer new fluid comes out while making sure bottle doesn't empty......I needed ~2 liters

The filter is under the bottle cap.........I suspect this was the first time this fluid & filter were changed on my 1978 280CE (w123)

My 'cheap' MB parts supplier in Australia told me it is the same as the genuine MB Fluid.......and $US10.51 per liter seems a low enough price not to risk anything else

Link to Febi Hydraulic Fluid on Fastlane

David

Just a few minutes ago I found a puddle of hydro oil under my rear passenger door and a near-empty tank!

A rubber bushing/grommet on the support bracket got loose and the metal wore a 1/2 pinhole through the line. I assume it's the return line since It's not spraying, just dripping.

The passenger side accumulator is also soaked, hopefully It's just a fitting.

Until I find a TD in the scrapyard or a sutable way to repair the line, I'm surely not going to pay $17/L willy-nilly. So-far I have seen from here the Febi and O-rileys oil work as sutable replacments.

[lrg]

The fluid is actually a mineral oil based product and is used on a variety of cars. Citroen probably has the most history using mineral based hydraulic oils but there are a bunch of others as well. Castrol, Febi and another who's name escapes me are all pretty much the same. If you can find a store that supplies parts for wierd foreign cars you'll probably find another (and likely cheaper) source. No matter what, do NOT substitute or add a petroleum based or regular brake type fluid. It will destroy your seals like a scene out of Andromeda Strain.

[Stevo]

Irg

"mineral oil based product" Thanks for all the feed back. I will hunt for a mineral base oil. $10.00 a ltr is a little steep for the MB stuff.

[Zeitgeist]

Both my tractors used mineral based 80-90W gear oil for their hyraulics, but I don't recommend that in an MB.

Given that FEBI and Bilstein are one and the same, I'd feel pretty good about using their products. I should probably pick some up for myself.

[IMG]http://assets.************************/assets/product/103438/103438_200_3.jpg[/IMG]

[leathermang]

MB publishes a list of fluid products for its cars... I have not seen it... but have heard it refered to ...
Someone has a copy of it....maybe the specs are listed on it....

[Rusty Cullens]

Why not just use the FEBI (Ferdinand Bilstein) that all the wholesalers use? It is OE to Mercedes.

[Kestas]

The approved products list is now available online, hosted by a generous forum participant.

MB Approved Service Products

Personally, I had a seal failure in a hydraulic cylinder for my cabriolet top. The replacement part cost $125. There are six of them in the system. I don't know why that one failed. Unless you know EXACTLY what you're doing, it would be penny-wise pound-foolish to skimp on the hydraulic fluid. You may end up ruining ALL the seals.

The fluid used for the hydraulic top is the same as the fluid used for the self leveling hydraulic system.

[bill murrow]

I'm glad this thread came up before I ruined my perfectly functioning system in the spring. I thought hydraulic fluid is hydraulic fluid and surely would've ruined my system.

Once again, thanks all....

Cheers,

Bill

[BrierS]

I also heeded the gospel of the forum choir and used what MB called for. At least I'll know any failure won't be because I tried to use something costing slightly less.