Haasman- While we are on the subject of replacing fluids- I need your advice please- I have a slow power steering fluid leak and can not afford to get it repaired for about 6 weeks and was told where and how to replace this fluid- my question is I have been told to use ATF fluid by one person and Power Steering Fluid by another. What is your recommendation? Thanks for your help. Car is 1990 420 SEL.

On our farm, we have a 78 Chevy pickup with about 300,000 miles on it, bought new, and the transmission and engine have never been rebuilt. We had to put new seals in the transfer case because they were leaking a few years ago. I have personally pulled 600 bushel wagons full of corn to town 5 miles one way, in low lock at about 8 mph max with that truck. Many times. And sometimes making that trip 4 or 5 times in a day. That's a chevy 1/2 ton truck pulling 40,000 lbs on very level ground - we have no hills around here - well, if we did have hills, it wouldn't be possible to do this...

The tranny fluid and transfer case fluid are changed often, and hot, sometimes twice per month during harvest.

I think every other part on that truck has been replaced, you name it: door hinges, A/C parts, radiator, carb rebuild, all the fenders and sheet steel. I think it's probably had about 4 alternators, and lots of brake work. But, all in all, it's been extremely reliable. But, mainly because we keep after it, and have always anticipated problems. And always change the fluids.

In fact last year my dad decided to have all the rust fixed and put new box sides and the end gate and fenders and hood and of course painted it. We had the seats redone with factory original fabric. Its cherry.

__________________
DS
2010 CL550 - Heaven help me but it's beautiful
87 300D a labor of love
11 GLK 350 So far, so good
08 E350 4matic, Love it.
99 E320 too rusted, sold
87 260E Donated to Newgate School
www.Newgateschool.org - check it out.
12 Ford Escape, sold, forgotten
87 300D, sold, what a mistake
06 Passat 2.0T, PITA, sold

Las Vegas NV

Siduri19

I do not use anything but power steering fluid in the power steering. Further, I am now only using Mercedes power steering fluid.

Why? I have tried the regular inexpensive brands, more expensive and finally Mercedes and ..... I really like the results with the Mercedes fluid. The pump seems to work easier. I noticed on the bottle I bought today that the phrase "lubricant" was added since the last bottle.

ATF now days is becomming a refined and specific product. Of the cars that I have had pump problems with were the ones that I ran ATF in the power steering. BTW, don't forget the power steering filter.

My 2 cents.

Haasman

__________________
'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)

Haasman- Power Steering Fluid it will be then. Thanks for your help. Have a great weekend!

Interesting

I even noticed Fram is trying to flush us. Frams standard oil filters are good for i belive it's 5000 miles the extened life filters are good for 7000. That pretty funney since my ford Taurus manual recomends oil service at 7500 miles.

John Roncallo