hydraulic steering fluid options??

[jas638]

anyone have any low cost alternative options with hydraulic steering fluid??? other than the pricey teleflex stuff thanks .

[Dave Strong]

Mineral based hyd fluid, do not use petroleum based hyd fluids.

Dave

[tux974]

John, your steering equipment is much too good and valuable to chance anything else. A few extra $'s for good fluid is well worth the piece of mind. I buy it on line, much cheaper...JMPO!
I know, it feel like your buying gold in a bottle......:D

[BUZZIN' DOZEN]

I've always used Boss snow plow fluid in mine, same 5606 mil spec, usually around $25 a gal.

[TEXAS20225]

buzzin x2 any hydraulic supply house will have it thats what i paid 25.00 a gallon exact same specs

[BarryStrawn]

From their website

What kind of oil should I use in my SeaStar system? (http://www.seastarsolutions.com/faqs/what-kind-of-oil-should-i-use-in-my-seastar-system/)

Recommended oils for your steering system are: SeaStar Fluid, P/N HA5430 (1 quart), HA5440 (1 gallon). The following brands are acceptable: Chevron® Aviation Hydraulic Fluid A, Esso® Univis N15 or J13, Mobil® Aero HFA, Petro Canada Harmony HV115 (in Canada only), Shell® Aero Fluid #41, Texaco® HO15 and other fluids meeting MIL SPEC H-5606-G.

So any aviation "5606" oil should work and they will be dyed red.

Or essentially any ISO 15 hi viscosity anti wear hydraulic fluid. If you want the amber/clear stuff try Shell Tellus 15 from any industrial supply place. But may be hard to find in less that 5 gallon pail.

[BarryStrawn]

Mineral based hyd fluid, do not use petroleum based hyd fluids.

Dave

Did you mean to type synthetic? Because mineral and petroleum are the same thing.

[Dave Strong]

Did you mean to type synthetic? Because mineral and petroleum are the same thing.

No, was getting at what alot of people think is a replacement for hyd oil. ATF, put that in the system and your overhauling the system. :)

Dave

[Markus]

The mil spec stuff above, or the kind of fluid used on old Citroen cars.

[RONNIE]

I use clear power steering fluid from the auto parts store never gave me any issues

[Flatlander]

It's not cheap...but less expensive than telelex and still the correct fluid for seastar systems
AeroShell 31 about 40.00/gal online or your local airport

[jas638]

thank you guys very much !! MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!!!

[Dirk Pitt]

anyone have any low cost alternative options with hydraulic steering fluid??? other than the pricey teleflex stuff thanks .
J,
just buy the best, youll feel better when you turn the wheel;) your boat looks like a peice of jewlery...........

[jas638]

Thanks Dirk ,gonna send you some pics.

[ghost28]

Jas i buy Kendall hyken Glacial Blu....it meets the seastar spec and is designed to work properly under severe cold temps....i find the steering doesnt start to feel like a brick when the weathers cool....i will also say that there are tons of boats running around with ATF in there systems with no issues....In the thousands of boats i have worked on in my 20+ years as a merine tech i have never seen a steeri g system fail because of the wrong oil....

[bobthebuilder]

Aviation hydraulic fluid is Mil Spec 5606. It will most likely have a red dye in it so any minute leak is easily detected in aviation applications.. Sky Geek sells it for 25 bucks a gal. Also I get mine from a local air port mechanic.