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Desert Fox
Veteran
Date registered: May 2013
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Vehicle(s): G500 2002
Posts: 191
| Lucas Oil Power Steering Stop Leak
Anyone have opinions on Lucas Oil Power Steering Stop Leak or similar products?
I'm experiencing increased relative tension in my steering when I turn left. I took my G to the dealer and the dealer came back with a $3700 recommendation: power steering coupler binding, drag links and tie rod ends, power steering pump and hoses...
After the diagnosis, I took it off-roading for a few hours at a pretty rough local favorite called Charlou Gap. I did hear some "clicking" seemingly coming from the left front wheel area, from time to time. On the road, I never hear the clicking--only experience the slight steering wheel tension to the left.
At any rate, as to the power steering fluid leaking, any thoughts on putting some Lucas/similar product in there?
Also, any thoughts on this general condition? Anyone else deal with the aforementioned type of repair/issue? If this helps: my vehicle has apx 88k miles on it/12 years old. Over the last 4 years I have taken it on some pretty tough trails from time to time. Prior to that, for the first apx. 60k miles/8 years of its life, it was a street car.
Many thanks for your thoughts.
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| Re: Lucas Oil Power Steering Stop Leak
I have used it in small quantities in the H1s as a conditioner for the power steering system (as recommended on the bottle). To stop a leak, I have never used it.
I generally do not like "stop leak" solutions in a can. |
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AlanMcR
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, CA, Los Altos
Vehicle(s): G300DT E300DT 230SL
Posts: 3500
| RE: Lucas Oil Power Steering Stop Leak
Where is it leaking? The common leak is in the return hose. This is a low pressure hose that will set you back $10 at the local McParts store.
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Desert Fox
Veteran
Date registered: May 2013
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Vehicle(s): G500 2002
Posts: 191
| RE: Lucas Oil Power Steering Stop Leak
yes, return hose was mentioned. |
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| RE: Lucas Oil Power Steering Stop Leak
It sounds to me like the dealer is just throwing parts at it, and hopes that one of them will solve the problem. |
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| Re: Lucas Oil Power Steering Stop Leak
There are different types of mechanics.
Some are brilliant at turning wrenches and doing the dirty work.
Others are brilliant diagnosticians.
You need both to have a good shop.
Often, you will have one or the other. You need to find a better diagnostician. This is my opinion. |
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Desert Fox
Veteran
Date registered: May 2013
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Vehicle(s): G500 2002
Posts: 191
| RE: Lucas Oil Power Steering Stop Leak
Okay, so where is the power steering reservoir? I didn't see it shown in the manual.
Thank you. |
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bimmerc
Veteran
Date registered: Jun 2009
Location: Alta, Norway
Vehicle(s): 1992 300GE swb Portals, 85 300GD STT Cab swb
Posts: 102
| Re: Lucas Oil Power Steering Stop Leak
My understanding is that the additives like Lucas and others Are meant to "recondition" seals and orings in the power steering pump. It will Not stop a leak in a rubber hose, though. |
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Titus Pullo
Elite Veteran
Date registered: May 2007
Location: Ottawa, ON, Canada
Vehicle(s): '90 Wolf 240GD, '06 G270 CDI.
Posts: 1010
| Re: Lucas Oil Power Steering Stop Leak
to answer the original question - I used Lucas PS stop leak a number of times on R&P's. It worked well on small leaks, apparently slowing down the leak and in one case it actually stopped the leak. I dont trust in solutions in can either and was pleasantly surprise to see one of them to work - kind of.
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| RE: Lucas Oil Power Steering Stop Leak
Desert Fox - 11/17/2014 4:13 PM
Okay, so where is the power steering reservoir? I didn't see it shown in the manual.
Thank you.
It's right on top of the PS pump, which is located on the driver's side of the engine in the front. It has to get its power from the serpentine belt, ergo the front of the engine. |
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Desert Fox
Veteran
Date registered: May 2013
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Vehicle(s): G500 2002
Posts: 191
| RE: Lucas Oil Power Steering Stop Leak
Thank you. I think I found it--little black box about the size of a fist. I'm going to look up the part online to confirm. Then I'll start monitoring the fluid level.
I also spent some time under the car and saw that all of the boots on the tie rod ends of the drag link and the track rod were open/disintegrated. I tried to shake the drag link and track rod, but they wouldn't budge so hopefully that's a sign that the tie rod ends might still be okay. The tires wouldn't budge either when I tried to shake those. Now I need to figure out what to do about the torn boots. |
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| RE: Lucas Oil Power Steering Stop Leak
Desert Fox - 11/17/2014 7:25 PM
. Now I need to figure out what to do about the torn boots.
Unless you can find an aftermarket boot, they are not available from MB as a separate part. |
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Desert Fox
Veteran
Date registered: May 2013
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Vehicle(s): G500 2002
Posts: 191
| RE: Lucas Oil Power Steering Stop Leak
So then do I buy the tie rod ends?
Like these:
http://www.eurotruck-importers.com/index.php?main_page=product_info...
http://www.eurotruck-importers.com/index.php?main_page=product_info...
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djdinaz
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: Jun 2007
Location: Arizona
Vehicle(s): 03 G55
Posts: 439
| RE: Lucas Oil Power Steering Stop Leak
power steering reservoir
A really detailed PDF on changing it can be found in a similar thread from a couple weeks ago: http://www.pointedthree.com/disc/forums/showthread.php?tid=21958 |
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Desert Fox
Veteran
Date registered: May 2013
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Vehicle(s): G500 2002
Posts: 191
| RE: Lucas Oil Power Steering Stop Leak
That's great! Thank you. Now I just need something like that about replacing the tie rod ends if that is a possibility. |
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| Re: Lucas Oil Power Steering Stop Leak
C&M Hydraulics is the best MB power steering rebuilder in the U.S. to my knowledge. |
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Desert Fox
Veteran
Date registered: May 2013
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Vehicle(s): G500 2002
Posts: 191
| RE: Lucas Oil Power Steering Stop Leak
I looked on mine, and it is leaking right around that spot in the photos--right where the hose connects with the reservoir. For now, I'm going to monitor the fluid level and see how quickly it leaks out. The fluid is at the line on the measuring stick (in the cap) where it says maximum for 20 degrees C. There is another set of lines above that--min thru max--for 80 degrees C, I believe it was. Anyone know what the significance is of those 2 different ranges for minimum to maximum? |
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Desert Fox
Veteran
Date registered: May 2013
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Vehicle(s): G500 2002
Posts: 191
| RE: Lucas Oil Power Steering Stop Leak
So it appears these will only work on the drag link, not the track rod. Anyone know if ends for the track rod are sold separately or does one have to buy the entire track rod? |
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Desert Fox
Veteran
Date registered: May 2013
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Vehicle(s): G500 2002
Posts: 191
| RE: Lucas Oil Power Steering Stop Leak
Okay... found my answer on the 2 different min. - max. ranges on the power steering fluid. Good info, here:
http://www.aa1car.com/library/power_steering_fluid.htm
I'll measure it with the engine warm to see if it goes up the upper min. - max. range. The first time I measured it, the engine had been off for several hours so it was at the max of the lower range. |
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| Re: Lucas Oil Power Steering Stop Leak
Refer to your G-Class operator's manual to determine the min-max range.
MB often uses a METRIC measurement for the min-max ranges that you need to follow. I do not recall if this is also for power steering, but I know this to be the case for other fluids.
There is a lot of important information and guidelines in the operator's manual. It is good to refer to that. My .02 cents. |
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