Use automotive fluid for hydraulic steering???
 

My 18' center console (1993 Robalo) uses a pretty standard Teleflex
Seastar single-engine hydraulic steering mechanism. I live a good
distance from any place that sells boat supplies, and was wondering -
can I use automotive power steering fluid in the Teleflex unit?

Thanks,
Ron M.

Use automotive fluid for hydraulic steering???
 

Sure! power steering fluid is power steering fluid. regaardless .....


wrote:
My 18' center console (1993 Robalo) uses a pretty standard Teleflex
Seastar single-engine hydraulic steering mechanism. I live a good
distance from any place that sells boat supplies, and was wondering -
can I use automotive power steering fluid in the Teleflex unit?

Thanks,
Ron M.

Use automotive fluid for hydraulic steering???
 

wrote in message
oups.com...
My 18' center console (1993 Robalo) uses a pretty standard Teleflex
Seastar single-engine hydraulic steering mechanism. I live a good
distance from any place that sells boat supplies, and was wondering -
can I use automotive power steering fluid in the Teleflex unit?



Don't use power steering fluid or auto transmission fluid in your Teleflex
steering unless it is an emergency. They tell you that in the installation
manual and on their website.

If you can't find the light hydraulic fluid that the steering uses, go to
your local airport repair facility and buy or scrounge the TO 15 hydraulic
fluid that is used in small planes. That is the same stuff as the factory
oil but is dyed red.

Bill Grannis
service manager

Use automotive fluid for hydraulic steering???
 

NO! Go to seastarsteering.com and search for the fluid spec. I think it has
a MIL spec. I if you can't find the spec, let me know and I can check it
from my bottle.


wrote in message
oups.com...
My 18' center console (1993 Robalo) uses a pretty standard Teleflex
Seastar single-engine hydraulic steering mechanism. I live a good
distance from any place that sells boat supplies, and was wondering -
can I use automotive power steering fluid in the Teleflex unit?

Thanks,
Ron M.

Use automotive fluid for hydraulic steering???
 

Sure! power steering fluid is power steering fluid. regaardless .....


And can't be used in a sealed seastar hydraulic system. DO YOUR RESEARCH
BEFORE GIVING BAD ADVICE!


wrote in message
oups.com...
Sure! power steering fluid is power steering fluid. regaardless .....


wrote:
My 18' center console (1993 Robalo) uses a pretty standard Teleflex
Seastar single-engine hydraulic steering mechanism. I live a good
distance from any place that sells boat supplies, and was wondering -
can I use automotive power steering fluid in the Teleflex unit?

Thanks,
Ron M.

Use automotive fluid for hydraulic steering???
 

On Sun, 16 Jul 2006 13:18:11 +0000, Billgran wrote:


Don't use power steering fluid or auto transmission fluid in your Teleflex
steering unless it is an emergency. They tell you that in the installation
manual and on their website.

If you can't find the light hydraulic fluid that the steering uses, go to
your local airport repair facility and buy or scrounge the TO 15 hydraulic
fluid that is used in small planes. That is the same stuff as the factory
oil but is dyed red.

Bill Grannis
service manager

I found this thread from another forum. Apparently there are quite a few
substitutes for that fluid.

http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/...;f=18;t=000025

Use automotive fluid for hydraulic steering???
 

"Billgran" wrote in message
...

If you can't find the light hydraulic fluid that the steering uses, go to
your local airport repair facility and buy or scrounge the TO 15 hydraulic
fluid that is used in small planes.


I meant to say HO 15 for the aircraft hydraulic fluid, mil. spec. H5606

Bill Grannis
service manager

Use automotive fluid for hydraulic steering???
 

A good friend of mine has used regular automotive power steering fluid
in his Teleflex Seastar-I unit for at least 10 years, with absolutely
no problem whatsoever. What exactly is suppose to happen when you use
this "wrong" stuff? Just curious...

Ron M.

Use automotive fluid for hydraulic steering???
 

wrote in message
ups.com...
A good friend of mine has used regular automotive power steering fluid
in his Teleflex Seastar-I unit for at least 10 years, with absolutely
no problem whatsoever. What exactly is suppose to happen when you use
this "wrong" stuff? Just curious...

Ron M.


the higher viscosity of automotive steering or ATF makes the steering
stiffer than it should be.

Bill Grannis
service manager

Use automotive fluid for hydraulic steering???
 

Billgran wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...
A good friend of mine has used regular automotive power steering fluid
in his Teleflex Seastar-I unit for at least 10 years, with absolutely
no problem whatsoever. What exactly is suppose to happen when you use
this "wrong" stuff? Just curious...

Ron M.


the higher viscosity of automotive steering or ATF makes the steering
stiffer than it should be.

Bill Grannis
service manager

Is that all? Well, I can dock my friend's boat with my little finger.
Is this is the only difference? Does it actually HURT anything?

Ron M.

Use automotive fluid for hydraulic steering???
 

"Lost In Space/Woodchuck" wrote in message
...
Sure! power steering fluid is power steering fluid. regaardless .....


And can't be used in a sealed seastar hydraulic system. DO YOUR RESEARCH
BEFORE GIVING BAD ADVICE!

Power steering fluid is good for flushing a seastar system before filling it
with the proper Teleflex fluid.