OH NO !! there's oil under the SL500 and its green.......help me Craig !!

[wizzman]

Right, I know what you are all thinking but after removing all under shields, headlamps, bumper, front wheels I have found the cause and it is not an ABC pipe but a pipe which runs from the bell housing to the R/H side of the radiator, presumably a transmission fluid cooler pipe. I have never come across ATF that is green, Is this correct ? . The pipe looks like a right pig to remove. Any tips ?
The car is overdue a service and while I have it stripped down I plan to re-o-ring the front and rear ABC valve blocks and flush etc so Craig, could you pm me with some details so I can get a couple of kits from you ? cheers. The car drops over a few days but recently it can go down in a matter of hours. Got a rusty accumulator as well. Best place for one of those anyone ?

thanks for any help/advice

Ian

 

[Flyinspanner]

ATF is red, sadly green is the ABC hydraulic fluid. (pentosin)

The only other possible ‘green’ may be coolant fluid as you’ve said looks like you’ve dodged that ABC bullet

Look at aliexpress for valve blocks :- (may have to search via your W*** model designator)

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Luf...697c-4e95-8c0d-a0a7a1ff02fd&priceBeautifyAB=0

 

[wizzman]

Hmmm thanks for that. Its definitely green and its coming from the gearbox cooling pipe where it has a 90 degree bend in metal which joins to the union nut. Just checked my power steering reservoir and that has green oil in it as well when I would have expected red. Looks like a gearbox oil and filter flush to add to the work list

cheers

Ian

 

[John Laidlaw]

Hmmm thanks for that. Its definitely green and its coming from the gearbox cooling pipe where it has a 90 degree bend in metal which joins to the union nut. Just checked my power steering reservoir and that has green oil in it as well when I would have expected red. Looks like a gearbox oil and filter flush to add to the work list

cheers

Ian

Power steering and ABC have tandem pump and the same fluid which is green ( or is it it’s in good condition anyway!)

 

[LostKiwi]

Coolant and ABC oil have very different feel to them. One is slippery and a lubricant and the other is not. Compare the feel of whats leaking to whats in the Power steering reservoir. As John says power steering shares the same fluid as ABC

 

[John Laidlaw]

For the accumulators they’re often Corteco from the US, on eBay...
https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-B...Chamber-CORTECO-ABC-Accumulator-/151735267703
Or try the usual suspect MB Grangemouth 01324 686002 (Steven) state you’re a forum member for a decent discount, I bought some ABC parts like pump and strut and....from there at good prices
I’m wondering if your fluid is dripping out somewhere else and tracking down that coolant hose...
Do you have no dash warnings at all?

 

[LostKiwi]

Also check the ABC fluid level.

 

[wizzman]

No its definitely green oil coming from pipe from the bell housing on the gearbox to radiator lower connector on the right hand side. Anyone heard from Craig ? because I still need a couple of o-ring kits so I can recon my valve blocks. Also, what's the score with a gearbox filter change and flush ?cheers gents

 

[LostKiwi]

If it's ABC then the fluid level will be dropping quite rapidly. Be very careful to keep an eye on it.

Craig is around but he has the commute from hell in his new role so probably spends less time on here as a result (family commitments etc come first).

 

[wizzman]

ABC fluid has never dropped but now I have the front end in bits I am going to sort everything before it hits the tarmac again. ABC valve block rebuild and system flush, this leaking gearbox pipe, discs and pads and looks like gearbox filter and flush and engine oil and filter. think its gonna be more than 50 quid . No regrets, I've had a couple of trouble free years and I knew a spend was looming !!

 

[wizzman]

Okay, an update. The leak was a gearbox oil cooler pipe which I have had repaired with a new flexi section and metal elbow for 15 quid. Pipe was a bugger to remove and refit, had to remove the O/s downpipe/cat. That's the end of the good news..... The gear box oil was a greeny brown colour so an oil and filter change was a must. I noticed the o/s ABC pipe was looking pretty rusty so I have ordered one. Removing it with the so called quick release coupling was impossible so I de-pressurised the system which then allowed me to feel some play in the strut bottom ball joint.....s__t ! So I removed the strut and chopped the pipe at the bleed valve and literally had to wreck the Q/R coupling to separate it from the strut flexi. Oh and there's a bit of play in the bottom ball joint on the stub axle frame. Oh yes and the auxiliary water pump has crumbled in my hands and the back plate is also hanging off and the brake pipe is rusty as well. I'm taking next week off work...Happy days

cheers