1611
Well-Known Member
I have hydrolic steering on my Prout Snowgoose 37. How often do you have to change the oil and if just topping up can I just top up with automotive hydrolic fluid and does it mix with other brands.
Hydrolic steering oil
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Sy-Revolution
Well-Known Member
What's the make of hydraulic steering?
PCUK
Well-Known Member
Some need automatic transmission fluid, others use ordinary 10 grade hydraulic oil (as used in hydraulic jacks). Depends on the make.
wotayottie
Well-Known Member
It shouldnt need topping up - if it does you have a leak.
Go along to your local hydraulic engineer and get yourself some SAE 10 hydraulic oil. Dont try mixing with brake fluid.
Go along to your local hydraulic engineer and get yourself some SAE 10 hydraulic oil. Dont try mixing with brake fluid.
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
Hi Paul,
Can't comment specifically on what you have in your system but you do need to be certain before doing any topping up. There may be several possibilities:
- Industrial hydraulic systems normally use a highly dosed mineral oil, e.g. Shell Tellus or Esso Nuto, many others. It can be a problem to mix these, as the additive packages used are very different and there could be a reaction. API conditions are that there should not be any reaction but it does happen. These oils are usually clear or light gold coloured. The only experience I have with yacht steering systems was with one of these.
- Automotive hydraulic oils are usually synthetic, often coloured, e.g red. They are usually recognisable by smell.
- There is a wide range of other synthetics for particular applications, e.g. high and low temperatures.
Mixing any of these will result in big problems in the fluids themselves, e.g. deposits, separation, loss of additives, but also reaction with the seals in the system.
Nothing very positive from me, but at least it warns you of the potential problems of getting it wrong.
Vyv
Can't comment specifically on what you have in your system but you do need to be certain before doing any topping up. There may be several possibilities:
- Industrial hydraulic systems normally use a highly dosed mineral oil, e.g. Shell Tellus or Esso Nuto, many others. It can be a problem to mix these, as the additive packages used are very different and there could be a reaction. API conditions are that there should not be any reaction but it does happen. These oils are usually clear or light gold coloured. The only experience I have with yacht steering systems was with one of these.
- Automotive hydraulic oils are usually synthetic, often coloured, e.g red. They are usually recognisable by smell.
- There is a wide range of other synthetics for particular applications, e.g. high and low temperatures.
Mixing any of these will result in big problems in the fluids themselves, e.g. deposits, separation, loss of additives, but also reaction with the seals in the system.
Nothing very positive from me, but at least it warns you of the potential problems of getting it wrong.
Vyv
dalex
Well-Known Member
I have hydraulic steering, and had to get some oil when I wanted to fit an autopilot pump into the circuit. The helm pumps are manufactured by Teleflex under the name of Seastar. The instruction leaflet says NEVER use brake fluid. At a push automatic tramsmission oil could be used but as this is considerably thicker than the 'proper stuff' the steering stands a chance of feeling much heavier. I'd advise geting the correct steering oil. Have a chat with a good chandlers, who should be able to source the right stuff.
From the document I have, I gleaned the following:
For Seastar 1 and 2 they reccoment Seastar fluid HA5430, obviously, but also Texaco H015, Aero Shell Fluid #41,
Esso Univis N15 or J13, Chevron Aviation Fluid A,
Mobil Aero HFA, or fluids meeting Mil H5606C specifications.
Automatic transmission fluid Dexron 11 may be used in an emergency. In cases of extreme emergency any non-toxic, non-flammable fluid may provide temporary steering.
Seastar is available from Teleflex/Seastar dealers.
Hope this helps.
From the document I have, I gleaned the following:
For Seastar 1 and 2 they reccoment Seastar fluid HA5430, obviously, but also Texaco H015, Aero Shell Fluid #41,
Esso Univis N15 or J13, Chevron Aviation Fluid A,
Mobil Aero HFA, or fluids meeting Mil H5606C specifications.
Automatic transmission fluid Dexron 11 may be used in an emergency. In cases of extreme emergency any non-toxic, non-flammable fluid may provide temporary steering.
Seastar is available from Teleflex/Seastar dealers.
Hope this helps.
hlb
RIP
From experience it's all a load of bollocks. I have one gearbox runing off hydraulic oil, tuther off engine oil. both identical and only one year apart. Best bet is, fill up with whatever it's got in.
ex-Gladys
Well-Known Member
...and that's a load of the same... If you have friction material (cones etc) in a gearbox, a pound to a pinch of snuff it'll require ATF. Engine oil will wreck it over time. My old Landy came with a very notchy 3rd-2nd change because the synchromesh wasn't working properly, and the gearbox had EP90 rather than ATF in it. Correct oil, problem solved. Lesson learnt
