Hello All,

The type of Power steering fluid has been a hot debated topic in the past on this forum. I heard in the late 1990’s that the rule of thumb is that if the power steering belt is a traditional v-belt then use Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF), but if it is a serpentine belt then use MB power steering fluid or possibly PS Fluid. But with the formula changes of ATF, people on this forum have promoted the use of PS Fluid instead of ATF on the older MBs with v-belts. Now I wanted to get an idea of what proportion of forum members are using in their cars - ATF or PS Fluid?

And then go a little further as what brand and maybe type of fluid you are using (i.e. generic type F transmission fluid, Valvoline SynPower, etc ).

Here are some earlier posts that have been the center of debate:

Flush your power steering - baby its gross in there


Power Steering Fluid--Need to Be Replaced?

Power Steering Fluid ?


Thanks

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

Valvoline synpower in all my MB's

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I didn't vote because up until I found the problem right under my nose, I have been using LUCAS- PS stop leak. I've probably dumped in 2 cans of it since feb

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1985 MB 300D/T

Fell off the WVO bandwagon when people started trying to charge $2.50 a gallon for dirty vegetable oil.

Sorry, but that logic is flawed. Simply because the "ATF of today" is not exactly the same as the "ATF of yesterday" does not make PS fluid equivalent to the "ATF of yesterday." Current Dexron formulations are backwards-compatible in transmissions that use older Dexron formulations. Why shouldn't current Dexron formulations be backwards-compatible in the power steering?

I use Dexron III in the power steering systems of all my vehicles that were originally designed to use earlier Dexron formulations. That includes my '84 MB 300td, '86 BMW 535i (hydroboost running the PS and brake booster), and '87 BMW 528e. I also used it in my '74 Chevy RV (hydroboost running the PS and brake booster).

Same here. My pump was whining around 230k or so....so I flushed the system twice with the SynPower...put in a new filter, and in about 2 miles of driving the whine was gone....and has been since. That was over 33k ago! Costs about $8-10 for enough fluid to fill the system. Easy to do. Great stuff. I don't see why people would use Tranny fluid when the P/S fluid is actually made for that purpose and has the proper additives and such for that type of service.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I just use the PS stuff from MB. Yeah, it was expensive, relatively speaking, but it's not like I use gallons of it per year. Sometimes the extra money is worth not wondering if I'm using the right stuff. Plus, I like my dealerships parts counter and don't mind giving them my business.

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1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

Not true!! None of the Dexron and newer stuff is compatiable with trannies requiring Ford ATF Type-2. And Ford type tranny fluid is the *only* ATF that's compatible with older MB steering boxes and PS pumps as found on w114/115 cars of the 1970's.

Anybody here with pre-76 220D, 240D, 300D... Here me well, Dexron and newer ATF's will eat your steering box seals in less than 80k miles. Either use Ford type ATF (if you can find it), or splurge $9 (horribly expensive?) for genuine MB PS fluid.

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'80 300SD/ w116
'79 240D 4-spd
'71 750cc Guzzi

previously owned:

'83 240D 4-spd
'77 280SEL 4-spd
'74 280/8
'72 250/8
'65 220Sb 4-spd
'63 220Sb 4-spd
'63 190c 4-spd
'61 220Sb 4-spd
'60 190b 4-spd

Synpower here too- switched over when I replaced the grinding/burning PS pump over the summer.

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Andrew

1989 Volvo 745- 202K

In atf fluid and ps fluid, its not so much the Additives or the base of the oil, its more of the Viscosity.

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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.

the $1.25 bottle at walmart that says 'power steering fluid'................whatever that means..........

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Current:
05 E320 CDI
07 GL320 CDI
08 Sprinter
05 Dodge Cummins
01 Dodge Cummins

Previous
2004 E55 AMG
2002 C32 AMG (#2)
1995 E300
1978 300D
1987 300D
2002 C32 AMG(blown motor :[
1981 300SD
1983 300SD
1987 300SDL
2002 Jetta TDI
1996 S420
1995 S500
1993 190E 2.6
1992 190E 2.3
1985 190E 2.3 5-Speed

Thanks for that info. Let me clarify what I meant to say: current Dexron formulations are backwards-compatible in applications that use older Dexron formulations. Better?

I got 3 bottles of BILSTEIN P/S fluid off EBAY...15.00. Guy was selling everything off 2 w123's. This was back in may though....

Dakota

1981 300D 190K- China Blue

synpower power steering fluid. It stopped leaks for me

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85 300d in progress

I just threw some spare Redline PS fluid in the 77 240D. It was left over from last time I changed the fluid in my 242Ti and accidentally bought too much.

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1971 280 SEL
1981 Volvo 242Tic | 1980 Bertone Coupe

OE, Febi made the pump whine. Knock on wood its still working well. I like to keep it clear so I suck the fluid out of the resivor and replace it once a year. Seems to keep it clear enough to see the filter.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200