85 300d power steering fluid - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rosenfe · #1 10-01-2009, 02:03 PM

what power steering fluid is recommended

toomany MBZ · #2 10-01-2009, 04:25 PM

I use Valvoline.

winmutt · #3 10-01-2009, 04:46 PM

Or good ol ATF per FSM.

carnut · #4 10-01-2009, 07:08 PM

Dextron type II was originally spec'd . I'd use Dextron/Mercon type IV. fully synthetic and will mix just fine.

toomany MBZ · #5 10-01-2009, 09:38 PM

Yes, ATF is recommended by MB, that was 25 years ago, technology marches on.

LNGfish · #6 10-02-2009, 09:05 AM

Valvoline, big bottle cheap. Mine won't get ATF.

tangofox007 · #7 10-02-2009, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LMN-

ATF will cause the seals to leak.

Can you document that with anything more than hearsay?

#8 10-02-2009, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LMN-

ATF will cause the seals to leak. Any PS fluid on the shelf will work. I use Valvoline.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Listen to this man! He tells the truth.

When they wrote the Owners Manual and the Factory Service Manual, they had no Crystal Ball at their side. They had no way of knowing that ATF would go through some dramatic changes.

For these cars, simply go to the parts store and pick up a quart or two of Power Steering Fluid. If the system has dirty fluid, pick up five quarts and order a new P/S filter. Follow the proper flushing procedure using P/S fluid, change the filter and get ready for another hundred thousand or so miles of trouble free power steering.

#9 10-02-2009, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tangofox007

Can you document that with anything more than hearsay?

I can document it with a leaky P/S pump in the scrap pile. If you prefer written documentation, go back to the early nineties and read some of the auto publications of the times. There were various articles scattered around warning about this.