ML270 Power steering - wrong oil added

[ml270n]

Hi, a week a ago the oil from the power steering leaked out when the egr was replaced, the workshop didn't topup and I heard the pump later and realised the oil was short. 2 days ago the petrol attendant filled auto transmission oil into the power steering resevour which worked fine for that day. the next day we drove for about 5 minutes and all hell broke lose. The steering got hard and when I looked into the engine bay, I seen a lot of the steering oil in the engine bay. After doing reseach I foundout that the Ml does not use auto transmission oil as with other cars here but special hydrolic oil. Can some body please tell me what happend and what is the next step.

 

[panason1c]

First of all dont use that workshop again!, they should have been aware if oil was lost from the power steering reservoir during work on the egr and topped it up again.

It sounds like one of the ps hoses (under the egr) has blown off and dumped the oil in the engine bay...(possibly they disconnected the hose to access the egr and didnt secure it back properly) ......the oil is a type of atf, possibly dexron 2 or 3 but the 'proper' MB PS fluid is part number...A 000 989 88 03 16

Dont drive without any oil in the pump or else you will damage it.

 

[MB TECH WARRINGTON]

Hi, a week a ago the oil from the power steering leaked out when the egr was replaced, the workshop didn't topup and I heard the pump later and realised the oil was short. 2 days ago the petrol attendant filled auto transmission oil into the power steering resevour which worked fine for that day. the next day we drove for about 5 minutes and all hell broke lose. The steering got hard and when I looked into the engine bay, I seen a lot of the steering oil in the engine bay. After doing reseach I foundout that the Ml does not use auto transmission oil as with other cars here but special hydrolic oil. Can some body please tell me what happend and what is the next step.

take it back the garage that undertook the work, tell them you want the work all paid for, we had an ml rack leaking on the shaft that connects to column, check this if all pipes are ok, the cooler pipe to the rad is the most common cause of leaks, check this, there was a recall for this a few years ago, change the jubilee clip on this pipe and change if it is leaking,

 

[w210inSpain]

It sounds like one of those unfortunate accidents. You say it was topped up by a petrol attendant, when you were filling with fuel? He was probably just trying to help and thought that all pas systems took the same atf fluid.
Hopefully it hasn´t done long term damage, get it drained out, secure all the pipes, and refill with the MB fluid.
Fingers crossed.

 

[ml270n]

Hi, thanks a million for the advice, the leak seems to be at the front of the car from a pipe which looks like it was bearly holding on.

The RAD pipe you mentioned, does it link to a radiator, what is the cause of this piping coming out is due to pressure?

Appologies for asking so many questions but I am tring rationalise this to figure out if there was damage caused due to the trans oil and what else could be damage later like seals. Or if this oil leak was just co-incidential- a day later after filling up oil.

It is my holiday vehicle and don't want be stranded with family on the road.

Thanks a million guys

 

[w210inSpain]

It was probably just co-incidental, but maybe a lucky co-incidence?
The atf oil shouldn´t do any damage to seals etc, it´s not corrosive or anything.
Running the pump dry will be the only thing to cause damage.
The rad pipe mentioned is going to the cooler at the front, just to keep the temp of the fluid down. Wouldn´t like to guess at the cause, looks like MB Tech Warrington is the man to ask.

Pete.

 

[colechelle]

on the side of the rad is a extra cooling rad for the power steering oil, as mb warrington righty said there was a recal for this some years ago, went out to a number of these a few years ago for this fault, best thing is to flush system out and order a new pipe and clips for a proper fix, not that dear to replace!

 

[ml270n]

Hi panason1c
I went to the Merc dealer and asked for PS oil of which they gave me a one liter (part no. A001989240310) which does not match the number you gave. I then had to get another bottle as the 1ltr was not enough, a different dealer wanted to give me something else. Is it possible the Merc dealer gave me wrong oil again?(that will just be very wierd or bad luck) twice.

 

[panason1c]

Not really sure why the number is different, i bought my ps fluid from MB about 2 years ago and i still have some left, the number i gave is the one i've just read directly from the 1 ltre bottle.

 

[7years]

I can check for you tomorrow for piece of mind if you would like (part number)???

 

[7years]

The correct power steering fluid for a 163 ML is A 000 989 88 03.

Hope this clarifies the situation...!!!

 

[jimnybob]

The oil should be a yellow colour if it is the 163 Ml and generally when incorrect oil is added or run through the pump they whine!! not fun or cheap, a litre of PS oil is a lot of oil to lose if the engine has been running hope the pump hasnt run dry.

 

[ml270n]

Hi All
After some searching I found that out that there are 2 types of oil offered by MB. The one is the proper power steering oil and then they have a more expensive oil which is can be used in power steerings and gearboxes. Unfortunately for me the MB dealer didn't know this and just supplied me with the more expensive(double in price) and needed to buy a second as the oils shouldn't be mixed.

As for the leak, it seems the thicker auto transmission oil caused extra pressure which pushed the pipe off, it looks like mine was not upgraded and had a simple clamp holding it.