560SEL power steering box leak
 

My steering box is leaking slightly, making all parts around it quite wet and a drop or two each night on the garage floor. The p/s fluid level however does not seem to be dropping. I have not added fluid, and it seems like the leak has been there for more than a year now.

I have seen some posting suggesting the use of Prestone P/S fluid with STOP LEAK, and I am tempted to use it. Can you guys update me on this? Does it work on a 560SEL setup?

thx

I had a leak like that on my 560SEL and it turned out to be the hose from the hydralic container that runs under the power steering pump that was leaking.

Prestone p.s. fluid works wonderfully!!!
 

I posted that some time ago. To date, have not had to add any fluid, almost 6 months now. Before I changed to prestone, I tried mercedes fluid, went thru six bottles in no time. For a small leak such as yours, just take the top off the p.s. reservoir and suck out the fluid with a turkey baster. Add the prestone(with the leak stuff) and voila! Hope this helps.

Hey Woody:
what is your car model that you used this stuff on?

thx,
emmy

My car is a '84 500SEL Euro with 250K miles. Why do you ask? If you screw up the steering components on any Mercedes it will cost you. Which is why I was reluctant to initially use the prestone. But I can assure you it will be fine. Example: my car has a full hydraulic suspension system which uses special hydraulic oil the mercedes stealer wants $18 a liter in AZ. I bought Bilstein oil from a parts place in San Diego for $5 a liter- same stuff as dealer. This is the same fluid you were asking about draining in another post, I believe. You have to be careful, for sure. But a steering box is a steering box, as long as you can use normal power steering fluid. If I had a leak as small as yours, I don't even consider that a problem. My car leaked like that for two years, but then started to really leak so that the reservoir would be almost dry and I was afraid it would burn up the pump by running dry.

Example: my car has a full hydraulic suspension system which uses special hydraulic oil the mercedes stealer wants $18 a liter in AZ. I bought Bilstein oil from a parts place in San Diego for $5 a liter- same stuff as dealer.

Woody,

What exactly is that Bilstein oil that you used in place of the MB hydraulic oil?

How many miles/how long have you used that Bilstein oil?

Do you have the name and phone no. of this place in S. Diego?

Thanks,

RV

I have been using Bilstein oil(the manufacturer of the system components) since I bought the car 3 years ago. When I moved to AZ from San Diego, my suspension pump suddenly developed a horrendous leak and I was forced to go to the dealer here to keep from running dry. I don't think it is appropriate for me to mention on this forum where I buy parts cheaper than Phil sells them. Iwas just making a point.

woody:
thx for the response. I was just curious as to which model car you had the steering box leak on. just making sure.....good information and very helpful.

On another subject, You are correct about the hydraulic fluid. It is about $20 a quart at the dealer, while it can be had for half as much from a place like ************************.