Original Power Steering Pump Filter - What use is it?
 

Hello all. I recently changed the power steering fluid and filter on our new to us 1980 300SD with 139K miles. The reservoir was full but the fluid was brown. I removed the old fluid down to the filter, then added some clean ATF. After running it a couple of days, I removed more fluid and repeated the process. At this time, the fluid had a fresher look. Again I removed the old fluid but this time removed the filter as well. To my surprise, it looked like an original.

So my question now it, what should I do with it?

Thanks.

throw it away
 

Throw it away and install a new one. Good work flushing a few times.

I recall that the originals were "washable", but no sense keeping it since better modern filters are cheaper and less messy.

There's a small drain port on the bottom side of the box that will get more goo out of the box slightly faster than multiple flushes.

Thanks for the tip!

How does one "wash" the element - water?

I think I'll put it away in case anyone needs it for some restoration project.

P.S. Service
 

Just drain and re fill the P.S. pump at every hot oil & filter change and after a few the ATF in the P.S. will remain translucent red, keep changing it until the burned smell is gone .

These are washed with gasoline, then rinsed with ATF, wrung out gently and installed back.

Its a lot easier to install a new paper filter in there.

Keep in mind that the 12mm drain plug on the box will only work if the box is off-center. In the center position no fluid will come out.

Original P.S. Filters
 

Toss it ~ #1 : it cannot be 'wrung out' because it's ridged .

#2 : I had one and cleaned it then tried mightily to give it away, even my friends at the M-B Classic Center said they'd never use one because the paper ones filter better .

Easy, just put it in the trash :D

The reason being because those dainty Pebble Beach judges won't stick their hands inside the power steering reservoir to dock you paints for not having the original paper filter.