Help! Power steering fluid choice.
 

Hi, I have a 96 W210 E230

I am about to change the power steering fluid.

What shall I use? the MBenz fluid? or any regular ATF? Castrol atf? synthetic??!!

What do you think?

Thanks.

Use Power Steering Fluid, either from the parts store or the MB dealer. Don't use ATF unless it is called for in your manual.

For cars much older than yours you should not use ATF even if it DOES call for it in the manual. ATF has changed drastically over the years and is unhealthy for power steering systems of about 20 years ago or older.

Hope this helps,

Larry is on target with this. I tried using ATF last week, ..I ended up having a power steering pump leak. ATF tends to make the seals hard and brittle. I have to flush the entire system and add power steering fluid, ...guess what ? ( the leaks stop )..

MB specifies their own power steering fluid for your car available at the dealer for about $9.25/quart. I wouldn't use regular power steering fluid because that's NOT what's recommended. MB's power steering fluid appears to be closely related to old Type A fluid. I'm not sure what U.S. power steering fluid is.

Yeah, you're probably right, the plain old Power Steering fluid from the parts store has only lasted hundreds of thousands of miles in my MB's with no problem. They'll probably start leaking any minute.

Have a great day,

Larry,

They might.

I've heard of people using motor oil, power steering fluid, and ATF and their power steering systems have been fine for years. I'm not convinced that the fluid is what's causing the leaks. I think some will leak and some won't. I've used Mobil 1 ATF in mine and it stopped a weeping out of the box. Everyone's experience will probably be different.

Lube in peace,

I've noticed the Mercedes power steering fluid smells quite a bit different than regular power steering fluid. Does that mean anything?