Unimog (MB) 403, 406, 413, 416

Power steering fluid capacity & service interval

Unimog (MB) 403, 406, 413, 416 models require power steering fluid with a capacity range of 0,6 to 2,5 liters. Service intervals occur every 2400 hours or 24 months. The data covers 5 configurations.

The configuration chart below lists fill volumes and service intervals for each engine and trim variant.

TypeSpecifications
U 900 (406), U 1100 (416) (1985-1992)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 2,5 liter
  • Change 2400 hours/ 24 months
U 900 (406), U 1100 (416) (1985-1992)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 0,6 liter
  • Change 2400 hours/ 24 months
U 800 (403), U 800L (413) (1970-1992)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 2,5 liter
  • Change 2400 hours/ 24 months
U 900 (406), U 1100 (416) (1970-1992)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 2,5 liter
  • Change 2400 hours/ 24 months
U 900 (406), U 1100 (416) (1970-1992)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 0,6 liter
  • Change 2400 hours/ 24 months

Additional Notes

  • The U 800 (403) and U 800L (413), covering 1970-1992, share a power steering fluid capacity of 2.5 liters, which is a service fill figure reflecting the volume held within the hydraulic circuit under normal operating conditions.
  • The U 900 (406) and U 1100 (416) from 1970-1992 carry the same 2.5-liter power steering capacity as the 403 and 413 variants, indicating a consistent hydraulic system volume across both model pairings.
  • A separate steering box entry applies to the U 900 (406) and U 1100 (416) for 1970-1992, with a notably smaller capacity of 0.6 liter, reflecting the self-contained lubricant volume within the recirculating-ball or worm-type steering gear housing rather than the broader hydraulic circuit.
  • The 1985-1992 subset of the U 900 (406) and U 1100 (416) retains the same 2.5-liter power steering capacity and 0.6-liter steering box capacity as the wider 1970-1992 range, with no deviation in either figure across the two year groupings.
  • All entries across both model groupings and both year ranges share an identical service interval of 2,400 hours or 24 months, whichever comes first, under normal use conditions. The dual-trigger format is standard practice for vehicles operated on engine hours rather than odometer distance alone.
  • The hour-based interval of 2,400 hours reflects the Unimog's classification as a working vehicle where engine runtime is a more meaningful wear indicator than distance traveled, making the hours figure the primary service trigger in many operational contexts.
  • The 24-month calendar limit paired with the 2,400-hour threshold means that low-utilization units reaching the time limit before the hour count would still require a fluid change, preventing degradation from extended fluid age regardless of actual use intensity.

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