What was that fluid?
Discussion
Hi All, hoping someone can provide some info.
Got an SLK55 2005 (R171) M113 V8.
Took the front wheels off to clean them properly, and the brembo brakes. While wheels off and up on stands I turned the steering wheel lock to lock a handful of times to get better access to the back and sides of the calipers to clean them. Engine was not running and no power steering operating obviously, and as wheels off, not much resistance thru the wheel.
Put wheels back on, off stands, car in garage job done.
Noticed a small stain (side plate in size) on the floor, seemed to be clear fluid and oily in nature, not water based.
Some dribbles noticed on the under tray as well. Nothing on floor in garage since car has been put back so I can only assume it 'weeped' out of the steering system when I was turning the wheel to aid cleaning.
Anyone care to advise what might be the case.
As I say no leak or weeping now, either on garage floor or on under tray.
When a power steering system is not pressurised and is turned lock to lock, is it prone to weeping some fluid? I thought P/S fluid was red?
Cheers in advance,
Adam.
Got an SLK55 2005 (R171) M113 V8.
Took the front wheels off to clean them properly, and the brembo brakes. While wheels off and up on stands I turned the steering wheel lock to lock a handful of times to get better access to the back and sides of the calipers to clean them. Engine was not running and no power steering operating obviously, and as wheels off, not much resistance thru the wheel.
Put wheels back on, off stands, car in garage job done.
Noticed a small stain (side plate in size) on the floor, seemed to be clear fluid and oily in nature, not water based.
Some dribbles noticed on the under tray as well. Nothing on floor in garage since car has been put back so I can only assume it 'weeped' out of the steering system when I was turning the wheel to aid cleaning.
Anyone care to advise what might be the case.
As I say no leak or weeping now, either on garage floor or on under tray.
When a power steering system is not pressurised and is turned lock to lock, is it prone to weeping some fluid? I thought P/S fluid was red?
Cheers in advance,
Adam.
Was it a stain mark or actual fluid? What type of floor surface?
Brake cleaner, if used in sufficient quantities such that it runs off rather than all evaporating, can stain or react with certain surfaces.
Has fluid run from somewhere else, ie the undertray, when vehicle was jacked up, rather than being linked to turning the steering.
Yes, PAS fluid usnormally red but not sure if that applies to 100% of makes. Certainly, I've only ever seen red.
Brake fluid is normally clear /slightly yellow.
Do you have some firm of adjustable dampers?
Brake cleaner, if used in sufficient quantities such that it runs off rather than all evaporating, can stain or react with certain surfaces.
Has fluid run from somewhere else, ie the undertray, when vehicle was jacked up, rather than being linked to turning the steering.
Yes, PAS fluid usnormally red but not sure if that applies to 100% of makes. Certainly, I've only ever seen red.
Brake fluid is normally clear /slightly yellow.
Do you have some firm of adjustable dampers?
Okay the fluid seems to be the same as what is housed in reservoir A0004600183 part number embossed on it. This is a power steering reservoir. The fluid is a clearish light urine color (sorry!) And has an oily texture. Cap off, and it has a dipstick on the cap, with a max min at 80degrees range,and a max min at 20 degrees range. The level is reading at max mark in the 80degrees range on the dipstick when engine and fluid is all cool and at ambient temp.
Gut feeling is it is overfilled and spuing out / pushed out of PS system somehow when not under pressure and turning the wheel per original post.
So, with this info now added to thread, be interested in further comments.
TIA
Adam
Gut feeling is it is overfilled and spuing out / pushed out of PS system somehow when not under pressure and turning the wheel per original post.
So, with this info now added to thread, be interested in further comments.
TIA
Adam
Having looked a bit further, it would seem that some PAS fluids are a yellowish shade, some MB ones included, and latest MB PAS fluid is green.
It sounds like it was PAS fluid and your reservoir might be overfilled. Suggest you try syphoning some out when car is cold to reduce the level to mid-way between min - max on the 20 measure.
Turning wheels from lock to lock is the normal method used to bleed the PAS system, although that would be more likely to reduce the level, not increase it. Have a look at the hoses and joints on the PAS system to see if there's any sign of weeping. Is the high pressure hose braided? If so, have a careful look at it as deterioration of the internal rubber hose could be hidden by the braiding.
It could just be that the PAS fluid was overfilled at some time, some had pooled on the undertray and ran off when the car was jacked up.
Good luck.
It sounds like it was PAS fluid and your reservoir might be overfilled. Suggest you try syphoning some out when car is cold to reduce the level to mid-way between min - max on the 20 measure.
Turning wheels from lock to lock is the normal method used to bleed the PAS system, although that would be more likely to reduce the level, not increase it. Have a look at the hoses and joints on the PAS system to see if there's any sign of weeping. Is the high pressure hose braided? If so, have a careful look at it as deterioration of the internal rubber hose could be hidden by the braiding.
It could just be that the PAS fluid was overfilled at some time, some had pooled on the undertray and ran off when the car was jacked up.
Good luck.
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