Hydraulic Fluid?

[RyneB]

When i change my hydraulic fluid for my power steering, do i just take off the cap at the helm behind the steering wheel and fill it up? Or is there more to the process? Also, what hydraulic oil do you guys prefer?

[TRYTOFISH]

why change it?

[Jig Man]

I never change mine. I have never heard of a reason to change it out. It has a small leak that we have never been able to find so I add a couple of table spoons of fluid about 2 times each year.

The brand I use is Sea Star hydraulic steering fluid.

[RyneB]

not change it, but add more.

[Al Wolbach]

Sea Star, I would be afraid to use anything else..........Any other may destroy the seals..............and yes, remove the cap and fill.................Al

[South FLA]

Sea Star, I would be afraid to use anything else..........Any other may destroy the seals...............Al

exactly! some have used ATF but it is bad for seals. You need to bleed system when adding fluid if done right.

MESSY!

[Jig Man]

I don't bleed my system. What I do is turn the wheel slowly all the way to the right then slowly all the way to the left (with the cap off). I add fluid then repeat the turning adding more fluid if necessary.

[Al Wolbach]

I don't bleed my system. What I do is turn the wheel slowly all the way to the right then slowly all the way to the left (with the cap off). I add fluid then repeat the turning adding more fluid if necessary.

This has worked for me also. It will remove most of the air bubbles. I fill the system using a small funnel(at the helm).............Al

[RyneB]

thanks everyone.

[BKeith]

The following are approved fluids.

Sea STar HA5430 qt, HA5440 gal

Texaco H015

Shell Aero 4

Esso Univis N15

Chevron Aviation Fluid A

Mobil Aero HFA

Fluids meeting Mil Spec H5606

Dextron II may be used in an emergency.

You will notice all of these are aviation hydraulic fluids. You can go to a lot of your local county airport that has a maintenance facility and buy a gallon for around $50. Most will have it as Mil Spec H5606 but you might find one that has it in one of those brand names.

If you want to get all the free play out, bleeding is almost a must. One word of advise that will save you a bunch of money and fluid. Get a three foot piece of 3/8" rubber vaccum line or clear tubing and a clean quart bottle. Slide the hose over the bleeder and let it drain into the bottle. Move the hose to the other side when you get ready to do that side or place hoses with bottles over both bleeders and just lossen the bleeder you need.

Unless they have dropped the price, I think you will find you can buy a gallon of H5606 for about what you can buy two quarts of Sea Star. If it's low enough to be causing free play, you will probably need at least two quarts to fill the system and give you enough to work with while bleeding the system. I've used the Mil Spec H5606 for years, it's the same stuff as Sea Star's just not quite as expensive and usually easier to find by the gallon.

The easy way to make your own filler system is get a 3/8" barb fitting to screw in the plug, I can't remember if that 1/4" or 3/8" fpt in the filler plug. Then get you a quart bottle like a gear oil bottle, or of some sort that has one of the tappered fittings for sticking in a hole. Cut the bottom out of that bottle place a short piece of hose on the barb and the tappered cap, and have someone hold it and keep fluid in it while you do the bleeding. That's a lot cheaper than their kit.