Re: 1988 560SEL HYDRAULIK OEL reservoir

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.

axel wrote:

> 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