power steering ejects fluid at high rpm
 

In my 84 280e euro which I am autocrossing I find that the power steering fluid finds its way out into the engine compartment. Of course autocrossing subjects it to some fairly high rpm sustained, I am wondering if a dirty filter might contribute to this?

Tom W

I would agree with that.

Thanks.

Surprisingly I have never changed a power steering filter. I actually did not realize there is one till I started visiting here. (Thirty benzes too!)

Is it pretty self explanitory? I just looked at the fsm and it really didn't address it. I guess they think its obvious.

Tom W

It is hidden under a drain plate.
Buy a new one ..... cheap.
The newer ones are part of the plate, the old ones are a fiber ring sandwiched between the reservoir sump bottom and the plate ..
30 Benzs and never changed a PS filter ?????????

Thats right.

I have changed pumps though. Probably a filter would have solved the trouble...?

Thanks for the help.

Tom W

Certainly a standard preventive maintanance article/filter.
Gets overlooked by many DIYers ...
The three main ones I see neglected or unknown are:
The oil wick under the distributor rotor.
The P/S filter
The oil reservoir dip-stick on the early Bosch Mechanical FI [ this one always amazed me with 113 owners that never knew it was even there after having owned the car for years...]
Costly consequences on all that can be averted for short $$$ and a quick check.

I discovered the wick on my first benz, th 61 220b, when I was in Morrocco, IIRC. The bearing started howling and i looked and found it. I pulled the dipstick and got the felt soggy and dropped a few drops into the shaft and went on down the road.

That car had some fairly unorthedox power assistance on the brakes. I lost all brakes once when it got a bit low on fluid, IIRC.

A good learning experience.

When I got back in the states I got my 62 190c fintail and drove it for about 80k miles.

The love affair began there.

Tom W

Yeah, they just won't run long w/o lube...

I usually found that the ones that came in with meticulously spit-shinned and detailed cars were the ones low on fluids..

The clunker guys were aware of how to keep them running and could care less what they looked like...but they always had extra fluids in the trunk..............I could instantly tell if a guy was maintanance hip by glancing over at his clear plastic brake fluid reservoir..that told the tale.