Mercedes-Benz 230 SL / 250 SL / 280 SL, W113 (Pagoda) (EU)

Power steering fluid capacity & service interval

Mercedes-Benz 230 SL / 250 SL / 280 SL, W113 (Pagoda) (EU) uses power steering fluid with a capacity range of 0,3 to 1,4 liters. The data covers 6 configurations.

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

TypeSpecifications
280 SL, W113 (1967-1971)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,4 liter
280 SL, W113 (1967-1971)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 0,3 liter
250 SL, W113 (1966-1968)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,4 liter
250 SL, W113 (1966-1968)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 0,3 liter
230 SL, W113 (1963-1967)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 1,4 liter
230 SL, W113 (1963-1967)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 0,3 liter

Additional Notes

  • Across all three W113 variants covered — the 230 SL (1963-1967), 250 SL (1966-1968), and 280 SL (1967-1971) — the power steering system capacity is listed at 1.4 liters, with no variation between models.
  • The steering box is treated as a separate fluid compartment from the power steering system, carrying its own capacity figure of 0.3 liters across all three W113 variants.
  • The 1.4-liter power steering capacity represents the total fluid volume held within the hydraulic assist circuit, which typically includes the reservoir, pump, and connecting lines as a combined fill quantity.
  • The 0.3-liter steering box capacity is a notably small volume, consistent with the limited internal space of a recirculating-ball or worm-type steering gear housing where fluid serves primarily as a lubricant rather than a hydraulic medium.
  • All six specification rows carry a normal use condition, meaning the listed capacities apply under standard operating circumstances rather than a severe-duty or first-change scenario.
  • The 230 SL and 250 SL share a one-year production overlap in 1966-1967, yet both carry identical power steering and steering box capacities, indicating no fluid system changes accompanied the engine displacement increase between those two variants.
  • The same capacity figures carry forward into the 280 SL (1967-1971), which introduced a larger 2.8-liter inline-six engine, suggesting the steering hydraulic architecture remained unchanged across the full W113 production span covered by these specifications.

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