Power steering fluid flush? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TWeatherford · #1 09-08-2006, 11:33 PM

I just got my box of cool stuff from Performance Products. Among the items is some diesel purge, transmission filter, and power steering filter. I'm going to follow the dieselgiant instructions. Is there a way to completely replace the power steering fluid? I will be replacing some of it anyway, but I'd like to get it all out. I'm going to try with the transmission- just let it drain for a few hours after driving it. I know I won't get it all, but I gotta try.

Brian Carlton · #2 09-08-2006, 11:37 PM

http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/PsFluidFlush

die444die · #3 10-16-2006, 12:13 AM

I just followed these insructions for my 240d. Should it be pumping fast even when the wheel is not turning? I didn't expect for it to be quite that fast, and it starting pumping as soon as the car was started. The wheels were straight when the car was turned on.

pawoSD · #4 10-16-2006, 12:22 AM

Yes, thats a flaw in the DIY instructions, these pumps move a good amount of fluid very quickly, even at idle not moving the wheel! What I did was used 4-5 qts of generic $1.70 a qt ps fluid, opened and lined up all the bottles by the car, and had someone pour them in rapidly for me while it was shooting out the fluid from the disconnected return line into a container of mine. Took all of 30-40 seconds for it to churn through 5qts of the stuff, then a little bit of the expensive stuff (half a qt) to get it through, then I hooked the return line back up and filled it to the line with good stuff, ran it, turned wheel both ways, added fluid till level, installed filter/spring/etc...placed lid on, tightened, done. Takes all of 15 minutes to do if you're quick. I might do it again in a month or so, I've got about 23-26k on my fluid already....jeeze I drive a lot.

die444die · #5 10-16-2006, 12:30 AM

Ok cool.. I was worried that something was wrong with my steering - my car is pulling a little, and I thought it might be related. (I'm pretty new to all of this) I only had 2 qts of the cheap stuff and 1 qt of the marked up stuff (that's not the exact howto I was using, the one I looked at suggested less). I think I'm going to do it again to get all of the red ATF out of there. I was only able to turn my wheel once, and it started to grind because it was pumping faster than the fluid poured out of the bottle. Anyway, thanks for the quick reply!

pawoSD · #6 10-16-2006, 12:45 AM

Yeah he started pouring in two bottles of the cheap stuff at once when he figured out he couldn't keep up with it with one.

Make sure not to let it run dry like that, it can't be good for it.

Pulling in the wheel when driving would be alignment/tire related usually, possibly suspension issue.

Pulling when braking would be: brakes or suspension, possibly alignment.

If the pump is malfunctioning you'd probably just have a pulsing sensation in the wheel when turning it, or it'd not give any (or would give very little) power assistance, it won't affect how it actually drives.

die444die · #7 10-16-2006, 12:50 AM

yeah I was afraid to keep turning it after that, and by the time I could think about it we were out of extra fluid, so just turned her off. It was not steering bad before at all (no pulsing), but it does seem smoother now. (I could be imagining it) I don't know that it had EVER been changed, and if so how long ago it was, but the gunk that was in there was nasty, and the filter had shriveled up and seperated into 3 pieces (top metal, middle filter, bottom metal).

pawoSD · #8 10-16-2006, 12:58 AM

You're not imagining it, they really do steer a lot smoother with new modern fluid and filters, mine acted the same way. My old fluid was dark brown like syrup!

ImBroke · #9 10-16-2006, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

You're not imagining it, they really do steer a lot smoother with new modern fluid and filters, mine acted the same way. My old fluid was dark brown like syrup!

Yeah,, what he said.

Stevo · #10 10-16-2006, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by die444die

and the filter had shriveled up and seperated into 3 pieces (top metal, middle filter, bottom metal).

That three piece thing is the "old style" filter. Dont know when they went to the new, one piece type, but your right, it hadent been changed in a while.

Dee8go · #11 10-16-2006, 11:30 AM

I was wondering how effective draining fluids and replacing them is compared to having a shop with the flush equipment doing a complete flush? What do you guys think? I haven't tried this before, but was thinking of doing it.

dannym · #12 10-16-2006, 11:40 AM

Flush your power steering - baby its gross in there

david s poole · #13 10-16-2006, 11:52 AM

hey guys on the bottom of the power steering g/box there is a short 13mm bolt that when removed will drain the whole system especially if you move the steering wheel back and forth several times[15 -20]this is the same hole where you can place a bolt with a point on it to hold the g/box in the dead centre for alignment purposes.

mobetta · #14 10-16-2006, 12:25 PM

david- do you do this w/ engine running? i would imagine so.