1988 560SEL HYDRAULIK OEL reservoir

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axel - 14 Feb 2008 03:32 GMT

Friend of mine has a 1988 560SEL body is W126. I fix my own cars -
not Mercedes though - and therefore he asked me to take a look at a
low fluid level at a reservoir towards the front of the engine
compartment drive side. The lid states 'hydraulik oel', which really
just means hydraulic oil. I am suspecting that this is the power
steering fluid. Could anybody confirm?
He does not have the owners manual which should have a sketch of the
engine compartment labeling what it is. Online you don't find one
either that can be downloaded. Maybe somebody could scan the page
from the manual and send it.

Thanks in advance for your help.
Axel

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Wan-ning Tan - 14 Feb 2008 04:12 GMT

It is for the self-leveling. 560SEL has this option that maintains a
constant height at the rear. Technically speaking, it maintains the
angle of the body. In reality, the front weight stays nearly the same.
The passengers and luggage all puts load at the rear. When the weight
puts the rear down (i.e. changing the angle of the body), the system
will pump oil into the rear shocks to raise it.

The self-leveling shares the power steering pump. The power steering
reservoir is on top of the pump.

> Friend of mine has a 1988 560SEL body is W126. I fix my own cars -
> not Mercedes though - and therefore he asked me to take a look at a
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> Thanks in advance for your help.
> Axel

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Karl - 14 Feb 2008 05:10 GMT

AND it uses MB hydraulic oil, NOT power steering fluid.

If it low, find the leak. Hydraulic oil does not evaporate.

If the leak is not around the rear struts and hoses going to the reservoir,
it may have a hydraulic pump leaking into the crankcase. It does NOT share
anything with the power steering. The pump is bolted to the timing cover.

Here is the pump:
http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.asp?TP=1&F=126039%5F568&M=117%2E96%5F322&GA=722
%2E323350&L=765%2E706&CT=M&cat=322&SID=13&SGR=105&SGN=05

Buy a manual before you do some expensive damage!!!!

> It is for the self-leveling. 560SEL has this option that maintains a
> constant height at the rear. Technically speaking, it maintains the
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> > Thanks in advance for your help.
> > Axel

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Wan-ning Tan - 14 Feb 2008 05:22 GMT

Oops, Karl is the expert. I was using the W124 setup to describe. The
300TE does use the power steering pump, right? Though the fluids still
do not mix: power steering is power steering, self-leveling is
self-leveling.

> AND it uses MB hydraulic oil, NOT power steering fluid.
>
[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]
>>>Thanks in advance for your help.
>>>Axel

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Karl - 14 Feb 2008 06:57 GMT

Yes, the 124 body V8 uses the tandem pump. 2 separate pumps bolted
together.

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.asp?TP=1&F=124034&M=119%2E975&GA=722%2E354&CT=M
&cat=518&SID=13&SGR=030&SGN=01

> Oops, Karl is the expert. I was using the W124 setup to describe. The
> 300TE does use the power steering pump, right? Though the fluids still
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> >
> > Here is the pump:

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.asp?TP=1&F=126039%5F568&M=117%2E96%5F322&GA=722
%2E323350&L=765%2E706&CT=M&cat=322&SID=13&SGR=105&SGN=05

> > Buy a manual before you do some expensive damage!!!!
> >
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> >>>Thanks in advance for your help.
> >>>Axel

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holla2040 - 29 Feb 2008 08:48 GMT

I just bought 80 560SEL, OK shape. After the buy, I heard that an
inexperienced person put power steering fluid in the hydraulic
resevoir about a week ago, which then left fresh puddles under the
rear wheels. The hydralic resevoir is now empty, am I screwed? Just
ordered the shop CD to get started. Thanks for any suggestions.

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holla2040 - 29 Feb 2008 08:54 GMT

I just bought 90 560SEL, OK shape. After the buy, I heard that an
inexperienced person put power steering fluid in the hydraulic
resevoir about a week ago, which then left fresh puddles under the
rear wheels. The hydralic resevoir is now empty, am I screwed? Just
ordered the shop CD to get started. Thanks for any suggestions.

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heav - 01 Mar 2008 18:55 GMT

Karl,

I was on a 2000 mile trip last week. At about the 1500 mile mark, I
noticed the fluid level in my load leveler was down about a pint. I
added a pint of oil. I checked for leaks, but did not see any drops
on the struts or near the valve in the rear.

Now today after I unloaded my car the fluid level is back up over the
full mark.

I checked on a pump and Auto Hauz of Arizona has them for $999. Is
there any way to renew the seal if it turns out I am getting leakage
to the crankcase?

Thanks.

Paul Fretheim

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Roland Franzius - 02 Mar 2008 11:19 GMT

heav schrieb:

> Karl,
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> there any way to renew the seal if it turns out I am getting leakage
> to the crankcase?

I would suggest first to load up your car again and watch the hydraulic
fluid level response. Probably the pump presses a pint of oil into the
system. There must be some hydraulic volume response in relevelling.

Signature

Roland Franzius

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