hydraulic steering fluid options??

**jas638** · 12-12-2015, 10:57 PM

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

**Dave Strong** · 12-13-2015, 01:43 AM

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

Dave

**tux974** · 12-13-2015, 06:53 AM

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......

**BUZZIN' DOZEN** · 12-13-2015, 07:20 AM

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

**TEXAS20225** · 12-13-2015, 10:10 AM

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

**BarryStrawn** · 12-13-2015, 11:03 AM

From their website

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** · 12-13-2015, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by Dave Strong

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** · 12-13-2015, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by BarryStrawn

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** · 12-13-2015, 04:30 PM

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

**RONNIE** · 12-13-2015, 04:59 PM

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

**Flatlander** · 12-14-2015, 07:33 AM

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** · 12-14-2015, 09:00 PM

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

**Dirk Pitt** · 12-15-2015, 07:05 AM

Originally Posted by jas638

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** · 12-15-2015, 09:38 AM

Thanks Dirk ,gonna send you some pics.

**ghost28** · 12-15-2015, 09:23 PM

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....