How to change power steering oil
Publication date: March 25, 2016.
Almost all cars today are equipped with power steering, without which no car enthusiast can imagine life. Thanks to this mechanism, driving a vehicle becomes as convenient and practical as possible. Based on the name, it is obvious that the device will work properly if certain conditions are met, namely the required oil level.
This raises a logical question - what kind of oil to pour into the power steering, because not every lubricant is suitable for these purposes. For normal operation of the mechanism, an individual approach and at least minimal knowledge about the types of fluids are required, especially if the oil change in the power steering will be done not in a specialized salon, but independently.
Types of oils for power steering
In order to understand what kind of oil is poured into the power steering, you need to familiarize yourself with the types of these fluids, of which today only two are distinguished:
- Pentosin, which is manufactured in Germany and is used for the vast majority of European-made cars;
- Dexron. This brand designates any fluid used in automatic transmissions. The brand was invented by General Motors. It is often poured into Japanese, Korean and Chinese cars.
Initially, Dextrons were developed for use in automatic transmissions (automatic transmissions), which is why this oil is often called transmission oil. This creates some confusion, since transmission fluid used to be made exclusively from thick oils, for example: GL5, TAD17 or TAP15.
These compounds are used only for gearboxes and rear axles.
Today, these characteristics are not so relevant, but if you want to use highly specialized oil for power steering, then the marking on the composition should be PSF (Power Steering Fluid), and not ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid), although there is no fundamental difference in these compositions, let's figure out why.
Is it true that automatic transmission oil cannot be filled into the power steering?
When deciding which power steering oil to use, some drivers prefer to use leftover automatic transmission fluid (ATF) instead of using the required fluid (PSF), which is intended exclusively for power steering.
Experts strictly prohibit doing this, since these two compositions differ in their functions, for example:
- Oils for power steering perform a lubricating function, and for automatic transmissions they allow increasing the static friction of clutches. In addition, power steering fluids have anti-corrosion properties that automatic transmission oil cannot boast of. PSF also transfers heat to cool the system.
- Additives in power steering oils are characterized by stable viscosity, anti-corrosion properties, the presence of acidity stabilizers, “anti-foaming” and protection of rubber elements. Automatic transmission lubricants contain additives that mainly protect clutches, resisting their slipping and wear.
But if you look at these characteristics and take into account that the base of these oils is no different, including the most important additives that reduce the friction of metal with metal, metal with rubber and metal with fluoroplastic, then it becomes absolutely obvious that you can fill in automatic transmission oil with complete peace of mind and into the hydraulic booster. By the way, the Japanese do exactly this and, in general, do not think about what kind of oil can or cannot be poured into the power steering. But this, of course, does not mean that you can fill in any “slurry”. You need to pay attention to other more important parameters.
Characteristics of power steering oils that you need to pay attention to
In order not to make a mistake when choosing which oil to pour into the power steering, first of all you need to take into account the base of the fluid:
- Mineral. “Mineral water” is most often used for power steering. This is due to the characteristics of such oils, which protect the rubber parts of the mechanism and extend its “life”.
- Synthetic. “Synthetics” are rarely used for power steering, since this fluid contains rubber fibers that have a detrimental effect on rubber elements. Therefore, when deciding what kind of oil to pour into the power steering, it is better to check with the car manufacturer whether the use of such material is allowed for your brand of car.
The second thing you can’t turn a blind eye to is the possibility of mixing different oils. To prevent drivers from getting confused, a special color scheme was provided, which plays the role of a kind of reminder for the car enthusiast.
Before changing the power steering oil, pay attention to the following characteristics of the fluid, which may be:
- Red. In this case, you may have oil made from both synthetic and mineral bases. Mostly red fluids are poured into automatic transmissions, but this composition is also often used for power steering. This oil can only be mixed with yellow oil and only on the condition that both compositions are identical in their characteristics. That is, mineral oil cannot be combined with synthetic oil.
- Yellow. A universal oil that is equally often poured into both power steering and gearboxes of any type.
- Green. The green composition is also made on either a mineral or synthetic basis. The only difference with this oil is that it is used only for manual transmissions.
Mixing products from different manufacturers is allowed, the main thing is to adhere to the correct color combination. It’s easy to remember which oil can be poured into the hydraulic booster after mixing it first. You can create a “cocktail” only from red and yellow oil. If the system already contains green lubricating fluid, then you cannot add any other fluid.
This is about theory, now let's move on to practice and learn how to change the power steering oil yourself.
Do-it-yourself oil change in the hydraulic booster
The first thing that comes to mind during such a procedure is the question - how much oil is in the power steering? There is no general value here, so this parameter needs to be clarified in the technical documentation for the car. On average, this is about 500-800 ml, so, most likely, one liter bottle of new replacement fluid, and another one for flushing lines and components, will be enough.
To replace it yourself, you will need the following tools:
- 20 gram syringe (so as not to rack your brains about how to drain the oil from the power steering);
- an empty 1.5 liter plastic bottle (in order to have somewhere to drain the old oil, for convenience it is better to cut off the neck and make an impromptu glass);
- screwdriver and wrenches (just in case, prepare open-end and socket wrenches);
- rags;
- funnel;
- a set of screw clamps (they will replace the standard ones).
There are two methods to change the oil.
Method 1: Partial replacement
This method is considered the simplest and most convenient, but it is also less effective.
First, you need to unscrew the cap of the power steering oil reservoir and pump out the liquid using a prepared syringe to the level of the filter. After this, you can fill in new oil to the “maximum” mark, start the engine and turn the steering wheel to its extreme positions. Next, turn off the engine and repeat the procedure. You need to add liquid until you get the desired result.
Don't be alarmed if the liquid foams and bubbles after the first refill - this is normal. The main thing is that the oil “comes to its senses” after several procedures. The absence of bubbles also indicates that there is a sufficient amount of lubricant in the power steering.
Method 2: Complete replacement
This method takes a little more time and effort, but you can achieve excellent results and 100% fluid replacement.
To make it easier to work in front of the car, it is better to hang it up, then you can easily turn the steering wheel, even with the engine off. Next, you need to unscrew the cap of the power steering reservoir and completely pump out the old oil. After that, follow these steps:
- Raise the front wheels of the car so that they do not touch the ground.
- Use a syringe to remove old oil from the power steering reservoir, and then remove the filter element.
- Loosen the clamps on the hoses that go to the tank. Remove the hoses and tank, it is better to wash the latter.
- After cleaning, the tank must be put back in place and the hose going to the power steering pump must be connected to it.
- The second hose coming from the power steering must be directed into a plastic glass made from a bottle. Don’t forget to close the open tank fitting, for example, with a rubber hose of a suitable diameter covered with a bolt on the reverse side.
- Fill the reservoir with fresh oil to the maximum level. It is not necessary to install a filter element.
- Sit behind the wheel and start turning the steering wheel to its extreme positions. Thanks to these manipulations, the remaining old oil will be removed from the system.
- When removing used oil, you need to monitor the level of fresh oil in the tank. As soon as it drops to the minimum level, replenish it again. Thus, you will eliminate the possibility of airing the system.
- Add oil and turn the steering wheel until clear fluid comes out of the return line.
- Put on the hoses and put the filter element in place.
- Add oil to the maximum level and turn the steering wheel again.
- Without closing the reservoir cap, start the engine and turn the steering wheel again.
- Once air bubbles stop coming out of the return hose, turn off the engine. Lower the front wheels to the ground and add oil to the required level.
- Close the tank lid. Ready!
In custody
Changing the oil in the power steering (video in the article) is a simple procedure. The main thing is to study the characteristics of the liquid being poured and clarify the recommendations of the car manufacturer.
Source: https://avto-moto-shtuchki.ru/avtohimija/56-zamena-masla-v-gidrousilitele-rulja-svoimi-rukami.html
What kind of oil to pour into the power steering
To make life easier for drivers, most cars today are equipped with power steering, which enhances all the forces applied to the steering wheel due to the fluid present inside it. This article will tell you what it can be, why it is needed, and what kind of fluid is poured into the power steering (power steering).
Why does the power steering need fluid inside?
The enormous importance of power steering fluid is obvious even if you just read its name - the prefix “hydro” immediately makes it clear that the entire power steering system is built on fluid: with its help, pressure is created that compensates for part of the effort that the driver needs to expend to make the car turn in the direction he wants.
The principle of operation of the system is simple: while the engine is running, the power steering pump creates pressure in the steering system, with the help of which, when the steering wheel is turned, fluid is supplied to one of the pistons of the hydraulic cylinder, and it, by analogy with the operation of a simple medical syringe, directly moves the steering rack . If the direction of rotation of the steering wheel changes, the location of the fluid supply also changes - to the opposite side of the hydraulic cylinder. That is, without liquid, the operation of this unit is simply impossible!
What types of liquids are there?
Popularly, oils for the power steering system are distinguished by color, however, as in the case of antifreeze, the real differences lie not in it, but in the properties of the oils - their viscosity, chemical and temperature composition, hydraulic and mechanical properties, so it may well turn out this way , that the liquids will have the same color and at the same time will be completely different, perhaps even immiscible.
In order to eliminate possible questions on your part, we will consider the colors of power steering oils and their properties.
Red oils (Dexron family) belong to the ATF class used in automatic transmissions, but sometimes they are also poured into hydraulic boosters. Most often, red liquids are synthetic, but you can also find mineral options among them. Be extremely careful, read the label, as you cannot mix synthetic and red mineral oils!
Yellow oils are inherently also intended for automatic transmissions, but in comparison with their red counterparts they are more universal - they can be used equally well in both gearboxes and power steering. These fluids are usually mineral and are more often found in Mercedes cars.
Green oils are the most common and first formulations. Due to their more viscous composition, they are not applicable in automatic transmissions; they can only be poured into hydraulic boosters and manual transmissions. At the same time, green liquids can also be mineral and synthetic; they cannot be mixed with each other!
As for the use of “mineral water” or synthetics in the power steering system, there should be no debate or hesitation here - there are too many rubber parts in the design of the rack with power steering, which tend to crack and dry out when exposed to high temperatures and other external factors, and mineral oils protect these parts from such consequences, which cannot be said about synthetics, which, due to its aggressiveness, does not at all help to extend the service life of rubber elements made on the basis of rubber fibers; rather, on the contrary, it shortens it. Therefore, synthetic oils can only be used in hydraulic boosters of those machines whose operating manual contains such a recommendation.
Mixing Rules
It's actually quite simple:
- “mineral water” and synthetics cannot be mixed at all, regardless of their color;
- liquids of the same color, subject to the previous rule, can be mixed;
- It is also permissible to mix red and yellow oils, but again only if Rule 1 is observed.
What kind of fluid is poured into the power steering: to summarize
As you have probably already noticed, the car market today offers a lot of fluids for power steering, but you don’t need to remember them all and make any choices - the manufacturer has long ago decided everything for you and has written down its recommendations in the operating book. If you don’t have such a book or you simply didn’t find the necessary information in it, call the official dealer (his acceptance master) and clarify this issue.
As an example, we will give the names of some brands and those fluids that are recommended to be poured into their power steering, but first we remind you that the fluid in the power steering needs to be completely changed every 2-3 years, otherwise it will lose some of its properties and cause the anthers to rupture.
Car brand | Recommended power steering fluid |
MAZDA 3 | original ATF M-III or D-II |
AUDI | VAG G 004000 M2 |
RENAULT LOGAN | Renaultmatic D3 or Matic G3 by Elf |
Honda | Original PSF, PSF II |
FORD FOCUS 2 | WSA-M2C195-A (red) or WSS-M2C204-A2 (green) |
Saab 9-5, 9-3 | Pentosin CHF 11S |
VAZ PRIORA | Pentosin Hydraulik Fluid CHF 11S-TL (VW52137) |
BMW | Pentosin chf 11s (original), Febi S6161 (analogue) |
Chevrolet Cruze | Dexron 6 GM (red) and Pentosin CHF202 (green), CHF11S (green) and CHF7.1 (green) |
Volkswagen Passat | VAG G 004000 M2 |
Geely MK | DEXRON II or DEXRON III |
Video
autoepoch.ru
Among domestic car enthusiasts, the question of what kind of oil to pour into the power steering is solved extremely simply: the lubricant is selected by color.
In fact, the differences between power steering oils lie not in its shade, but in its composition, viscosity, type of base, impurities and other equally important nuances that can have a beneficial or negative effect on the power steering system.
What oil is best to fill in the power steering?
Currently, all power steering oils can be divided into two types: mineral and synthetic. There are active discussions among domestic motorists about which oil is better, while the car manufacturers themselves recommend using mineral lubricants.
This is explained by the fact that synthetics have a detrimental effect on the rubber parts of the power steering due to the chemical aggressiveness of the substances that make up the oils. The use of synthetics is relevant for rubber parts made of a special composition; recommendations for the use of such oils are indicated by the car manufacturer.
Based on color and shade, power steering oils can be divided into three types:
- Red (natural and synthetic lubricants of the Dexron family, mixing is prohibited!);
- Yellow (natural oils used in power steering systems of most modern cars);
- Green (natural and synthetic oils used for power steering systems of cars manufactured in France are prohibited from mixing!).
To avoid negative consequences, accelerated wear and expensive repairs, it is important to remember that mixing mineral and synthetic oils is strictly prohibited. Mixing red and yellow lubricants is allowed, while green power steering oils are prohibited from mixing with any others.
What kind of oil should I put in Toyota power steering?
During the operation of new Japanese cars, sooner or later, every driver is faced with the problem of changing power steering fluid and does not know what kind of oil to pour into the Toyota power steering, entrusting the oil change to professionals.
At the same time, few people know that the type of oil poured into the power steering system of cars of the Japanese Toyota family is indicated on the cap of the power steering reservoir. In most cases, Japanese car manufacturers recommend using standard DEXRON III fluid.
Toyota car owners note that DEXRON III is the best option for models produced since the early 2000s. Currently, Mobil, Texaco, Castrol, ESSO and Shell produce DEXRON III oils for Japanese cars, so you can find the liquid without any problems.
What kind of oil should I put into the Mercedes power steering?
To figure out what kind of oil to pour into the Mercedes power steering, you need to familiarize yourself with the factory specifications of the car. Often, the Germans recommend using mineral fluids, since natural rubber is used in the production of rubber parts for the power steering system.
Interesting: For both Japanese and German cars, the best option is DEXRON III fluid.
At the same time, Mercedes owners are advised not to spare money and fill in a liquid that has a classifier that corresponds to the official parameters specified by the manufacturer.
The original power steering system oil in Mercedes cars (001 989 24 03) has a characteristic green color and is suitable for all cars produced since the early 90s.
When choosing power steering oil for German cars, it is recommended to consult with professionals, or even take the car for service.
What kind of oil should I fill in my Opel power steering?
Often, without understanding what kind of oil to fill in the Opel power steering, most owners of cars of this brand are guided by general advice, as a result of which the system wears out several times faster.
Like Mercedes, power steering oils for Opel cars have their own classification, which can be found in the technical documentation of the car.
It is worth noting that the modern market offers a lot of analogues, represented by oils that are not inferior in quality to the original.
What kind of oil to pour into the power steering of a Chevrolet Lacetti
Lacetti is a universal car, so the answer to the question of what kind of oil to pour into the power steering of a Chevrolet Lacetti is yellow DEXRON III fluid, a universal solution for all types of power steering systems. By the way, the manufacturer indicates DEXRON as one of the most optimal, inexpensive and acceptable replacement options.
What kind of oil is poured into the power steering of the Hyundai Solaris?
There are many options for what kind of oil is poured into the power steering of the Hyundai Solaris, but the only correct one is the factory fluid PSF-4, Hyundai Genuine Part No.
: 03100-00130, suitable for all Hyundai cars.
As an alternative, you can use PSF-4 oils produced by other companies, but at the same time it is recommended to clarify its classifier by checking it with the data posted on the official Hyundai website.
What kind of oil should I pour into the Priora power steering?
In search of an answer to the question of what kind of oil to fill in the Priora power steering, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the factory parameters of modern LADA cars. In the factory version, the power steering system of domestic cars uses synthetic oils Pentosin Hydraulik Fluid CHF 11S-TL (VW52137).
As an alternative, you can use universal oils for power steering, while “factory” fluid labeled VW52137 can be purchased exclusively from authorized dealers.
It is worth noting that the manufacturer recommends filling exclusively with VW52137, thereby protecting car parts from premature wear.
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Procedure for mixing different colors of power steering fluid in cars
The safe operation of the vehicle depends on the normal and reliable operation of the control system. Its functioning depends on the serviceability of all elements and what kind of power steering fluid is used for it? Next, let's figure out why this special liquid is needed, what it is, and how different colors differ between products?
Purpose of special liquid
Adding liquid
The car's hydraulic booster is designed to make the driver's steering wheel easier to rotate, which increases the convenience of driving the vehicle. The hydraulic booster is not able to work without the use of a special fluid, which is passed through all components and lubricates them.
In fact, automotive hydraulic fluid plays the role of a kind of oil. It contains special additives and additives that improve the quality and performance characteristics of the liquid. The main thing is not to try to fill the system with ordinary motor or transmission oil, as this is completely different.
Special power steering fluid is designed to solve a number of problems:
- cooling of contacting parts and removal of heat from them, thereby preventing overheating;
- lubrication of all parts and elements of the system;
- protection of surfaces from corrosion.
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Which liquid should you choose?
Hydraulic system design
As mentioned above, hydraulic steering fluid is a kind of oil, so it is also classified into a mineral and a synthetic product. The latter type of fluid is usually used for technical vehicles, while mineral hydraulic fluid is intended for ordinary passenger cars.
This is explained quite simply: mineral power steering fluid easily copes with its tasks, preventing the formation of corrosion on surfaces and preventing rubber elements from drying out.
Synthetic fluid can be filled in only in one case: when the car manufacturer recommends it.
The reason is that synthetic compounds contain rubber fibers, which contribute to the appearance of cracks in the rubber elements of the steering system.
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Differences between hydraulic fluids
Liquid in the reservoir
Each hydraulic fluid intended for automobiles differs in a number of basic characteristics, on which the properties and cost of the product depend. The key characteristics of hydraulic fluids for cars include:
- content of additives and their properties;
- viscosity;
- mechanical properties;
- hydraulic qualities.
When choosing hydraulic fluid for your car, be sure to take these parameters into account and do not forget to follow the car manufacturer’s recommendations.
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Hydraulic fluid color
An important role when choosing power steering fluid in a car is played by its color. Automotive stores sell fluids in three colors:
- green;
- red;
- yellow.
Please note that same-color formulations can be mixed with each other, but in no case should synthetic oil be mixed with mineral oil. Next, we will consider the main differences between liquids of different colors.
Reds
Red liquid
Red fluids are primarily used for automatic transmissions. They can be synthetic and mineral, so before purchasing this or that product you must pay attention to this parameter. Red power steering fluid can be mixed with yellow, but under no circumstances should it be mixed with green.
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Yellow
A universal hydraulic fluid that is found not only in hydraulic power steering, but also in automatic/manual transmissions. As was said, this liquid can be mixed with red compounds.
Greens
Such hydraulic fluids are used only for power steering and manual transmissions. It must not be mixed with oils of other colors. In terms of additive content, viscosity and other parameters, all green liquids are very similar. In this regard, when purchasing oil to add it to the hydraulic system reservoir, you need to make sure that it is filled with green liquid.
Why can't you save?
If you decide to buy hydraulic fluid for your car, you need to pay attention to trusted manufacturers.
This consumable material cannot be purchased in dubious places and retail outlets, since the safety of vehicle operation largely depends on it.
If you save money and end up with low-quality or counterfeit liquid, you will get a number of disadvantages. Let's look at two main signs characteristic of poor hydraulic fluids.
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Performance degradation
Old fluid
During operation of the hydraulic system, the working fluid is heated to high temperatures - up to 100 degrees or more. In this case, oils with low-quality additives may coagulate, making it difficult to rotate the steering wheel.
Liquids of particularly low quality can generally lead to breakdown of the hydraulic booster under high loads. In this case, the steering will work for a while, but over time the driver will have to change the entire rack or repair the hydraulic system. Read a separate article about servicing and replacing the steering rack.
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Release of hazardous vapors
Hydraulic fluid contains chemical additives and reagents that can emit dangerous vapors if a counterfeit low-quality lubricant is poured into the system. These vapors penetrate into the vehicle interior and can harm people's health.
If you buy hydraulic fluid from trusted auto stores from well-known brands, you won’t have to worry about this, but if you decide to save money and buy the product somewhere on the market or along the road, a problem may arise.
Motorists have to change or add hydraulic fluid relatively infrequently, so saving on it is simply not worth it. It is better to buy liquids with additives from well-known companies that have all the necessary certificates.
Video: What kind of oil to fill in power steering VW Audi Skoda Passat B5 A4 (G 002 000, Pentosin CHF 11S)
Video: How to properly and inexpensively maintain a car. Part 7. Power steering fluid, replacement intervals.
Video: ATF fluids for automatic transmissions and hydraulic systems
Video: How to change power steering fluid
Source: http://Driving24.ru/kakuyu-zhidkost-zalivayut-v-gidrousilitel-rulya/
What kind of oil should I put in the power steering? Tips for changing power steering oil
Cars November 25, 2015
The power steering, like other components and assemblies of the car, requires periodic maintenance. Often, all preventive measures come down to replacing the working fluid. Often you just need to add oil to the power steering. Car enthusiasts face problems when selecting the necessary hydraulic fluids.
How often should power steering fluid be replaced?
Specialists who repair and restore hydraulic boosters recommend paying sufficient attention to this unit. The power steering is very capricious, and for its confident and reliable operation, just anything will not work.
It is very important that the substance poured is of high quality. Therefore, it is advised to regularly change this same oil. If you do not know what kind of oil to fill in the power steering, then use the recommendations of the car manufacturers.
As for the frequency of replacements, this time depends on how intensively and under what conditions the machine is used. Driving style is also important. For those who drive little and take good care of the car, it is recommended to replace it once every two years.
If the machine is used more intensively, then replacement is carried out when a persistent burning smell from the liquid appears, or when the color of the oil becomes dark. The average period recommended by professionals is about 30,000 km. This is once a year.
Why change the oil
Some car enthusiasts, and especially women, often ask this question. After all, manufacturers write in the car instructions that there will be enough fluid for the entire life of the car. But practice shows that this is not so. Maybe it works somewhere in Europe, but not in our country.
When operating the power steering mechanism, natural wear and tear occurs on some of its components. Metal shavings and dirt accumulate in the working fluid. This does not have the best effect on the operation of the hydraulic booster. Oil with chips begins to work as an abrasive.
Video on the topic
Symptoms of an emergency replacement
You need to carry out this operation if you observe heavy movement of the steering wheel, and it rotates with noticeable jerks, if the fluid has become cloudy, or a suspension has appeared in it. It can also leak out of the system due to various leaks.
When carrying out vehicle maintenance, it is very important to monitor the oil level in the power steering. The reliable operation of the unit depends on this.
How is the replacement made?
The operation itself is very simple and includes several main steps. Without going into details, the first thing you need to do is drain all the old oil from the power steering tank. It is important not to forget to remove the hose from the tank. The old fluid is drained through this hose and the system is also flushed.
After the working oil has drained, you should thoroughly, even thoroughly, wash the entire system. This is done to completely wash away any remaining old substances that may remain inside. To do this, you do not need to purchase any special tools. Experts advise using 2-2.5 liters of liquid oil for these purposes.
When everything is flushed and the system is clean, restore the power steering circuit and fill in new fluid. It is important to bleed the system. This will remove the air. How much oil should be in the power steering depends on the specific power steering.
About oils and liquids
There are several types of such oils. They have different colors - this is how car enthusiasts distinguish them from each other. But the real differences are not in color, but in the composition of the product, viscosity, base for the product, and additives used.
So, if the color of the oil is the same, it is not always possible to mix them, because different products can have completely different compositions. For example, red oil in power steering cannot be replaced with another red oil - this is the wrong approach.
Three colors
We will not talk about the colors of substances for power steering. So, the red liquid is a Dextron product. These can be either mineral products or synthetic ones. Despite the variety of types and types, they are all oils for automatic transmissions. But they are excellently used as hydraulic fluid for power steering.
Yellow color is products for Mercedes cars. At least, they are most often used in models of this brand.
There are also green liquids. These are also oils for power steering. They are also available both synthetic and mineral. European manufacturers are very fond of these products. They cannot be used with automatic transmission.
What kind of oil to pour into the power steering
Motorists in reality and on the Internet love to argue about synthetic and mineral oils. This is not very relevant here. So, there are a lot of rubber parts in the power steering.
Synthetic hydraulic products work much worse with rubber products that are made from natural rubbers, which is almost all rubber.
To use synthetic oil, rubber has a special composition.
Very rare cars use synthetic products for power steering. It is more correct to use only mineral products, if the instructions do not say anything additional about this.
Three simple rules that will make the power steering work flawlessly
Feel free to mix red and yellow colored mineral products. Green liquids cannot be mixed with any other liquids. Also, synthetics and mineral water do not interfere. Therefore, if you are not entirely sure what kind of oil to pour into the power steering, it would be useful to look at the instructions for the car.
If you look at the differences between products for automatic transmissions and power steering fluid, you can see a lot of interesting things. If we consider the functions of both tools, then in general their functions are the same.
Both oils are a working fluid that transmits pressure. There is a difference - it consists of composition and additives. But they can be used perfectly in power steering.
On Japanese cars you can find the same thing in the hydraulic booster as in the automatic transmission.
At the dawn of its popularity, the Dextron product family was created for automatic transmissions. Today, some call them transmission ones, although this is not entirely true. These are actually hydraulic oils. They are called ATF. This is an inexpensive oil for power steering, its price is about 600 rubles per 1 liter.
Cunning European manufacturers have gone far enough and have banned putting just anything into the power steering. You should only use what is recommended, and you only need to buy products from one place. This is a great way to make money.
If you are in doubt about what kind of oil to pour into the power steering on a particular car, but want to purchase a good and non-original fluid, this will not affect the service life or performance. The only difference is the color. But you still shouldn’t mix them. In some cases, this mixture foamed, which is not good.
And yet: what to pour into the gur?
There are quite a lot of oils, there are also many manufacturers and brands. A high-quality liquid must be safe for people and also work reliably at high temperatures.
Safety is what distinguishes quality products. When a liquid is heated, harmful vapors can be released, and since it is a chemical product, the vapors should not harm the driver or passengers. Typically, a high-quality liquid has an appropriate certificate. For example, Renault Logan power steering oil is completely safe for health.
An excellent, high-quality power steering fluid should easily withstand temperatures above one hundred degrees without any changes. Bad oils can curdle, which can lead to disastrous consequences. In addition, with a sharp change in temperature conditions, the working fluid should not lose its original characteristics. It is very important.
So, we found out what kind of oil to pour into the power steering.
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Oils and fluids for the power steering system
Classification, interchangeability, miscibility.
Popularly, oils for the power steering system are distinguished by color. However, the real differences are not in color, but in the composition of the oils, their viscosity, the type of base, and additives.
Oils of the same color can be completely different and not even mix. To say that if red oil is poured in, then another red oil can be added is completely wrong.
Therefore, use the table at the end of the page.
The three colors of oil are as follows:
1) Red. Dexron family (mineral and synthetic red oils cannot be mixed!). Dexrons come in several types, but they all belong to the ATF class, i.e. class of oils for automatic transmissions (and sometimes power steering).
2) Yellow. The yellow family of power steering oils is most often used in Mercedes.
3) Green. Green oils for power steering (mineral and synthetic green oils cannot be mixed!) are loved by the VAG concern, as well as Peugeot, Citroen and some others. Not suitable for automatic transmissions.
Mineral water or synthetic?
The long-standing debate about which is better - synthetic or mineral water for the power steering system is not appropriate.
The fact is that in the power steering there are a lot of rubber parts like nowhere else.
Synthetic oils have a worse effect on the life of rubber parts based on natural rubber (almost all types of rubber), due to their chemical aggressiveness.
In order to fill synthetic oils into the power steering system, its rubber parts must be designed for synthetic oils and have a special composition.
Attention: rare cars use synthetic oils for power steering! But synthetic oils are often used in automatic transmissions. Fill the power steering system only with mineral water, unless the instructions specifically indicate synthetic oil!
In order not to harm the power steering system, you must follow the rules:
1) Yellow and red mineral oils can be mixed.
2) Green oils cannot be mixed with either yellow or red ones.
3) Mineral and synthetic oils cannot be mixed.
How do automatic transmission oils differ from power steering oils, and why can they be used in power steering?
The table below shows the functions of hydraulic fluids (oils) for power steering (PSF) and automatic transmissions (ATF):
Power steering oils (PSF) | Automatic transmission oils (ATF) | |
Functions of hydraulic fluid |
1) the liquid acts as a working fluid, transmitting pressure from the pump to the piston 2) lubricating function 3) anti-corrosion function
4) heat transfer to cool the system |
1) the same functions as power steering fluids 2) the function of increasing the static friction of the clutches (depending on the material of the clutches)
3) function of reducing friction wear |
Additives contained in the liquid |
1) friction reducing additives (metal-metal, metal-rubber, metal-fluoroplastic) 2) viscosity stabilizers 3) anti-corrosion additives 4) acidity stabilizers 5) coloring additives 6) anti-foam additives
7) additives that protect rubber parts (depending on the type of rubber compounds) |
1) the same additives as power steering oils |
The Dexron family was originally developed for use as hydraulic oils in automatic transmissions.
Therefore, sometimes these oils are called transmission oils, which creates confusion, since transmission oils used to mean thick oils of the GL-5, GL-4, TAD-17, TAP-15 brands for gearboxes and rear axles with hypoid gears. Hydraulic oils are much thinner than transmission oils.
It's better to call them ATPs. ATF stands for Automatic Transmission Fluid (literally - Fluid for automatic transmissions - i.e. automatic transmissions)
As can be seen from the table above, oils for power steering and oils for automatic transmissions differ only in the presence in the latter of additional additives intended for automatic transmission clutches. But there are no clutches in the power steering system. Therefore, the presence of these additives does not make anyone hot or cold. This made it possible to safely fill automatic transmission oils into the power steering system. The Japanese, for example, have long filled power steering with the same oils as automatic transmissions.
However, European manufacturers have gone further. They said: you cannot fill the power steering of our cars with any liquids other than those we specify. And you only need to buy them from us! 🙂 This is a simple method to bind the consumer to you.
In fact, if you pour suitable, high-quality, but non-original oil into the power steering, this will in no way affect its service life and performance.
For example, the same ZF pumps work on different cars with different oils approved by the manufacturers themselves, and work equally well.
This means yellow oils (Mercedes) and green oils (VAG) are equally good for power steering. The only difference is “the color of the ink.”
At the same time, practice has shown that they cannot be mixed. In some cases, when mixing green and yellow power steering oils, foam appears. Therefore, before using a liquid of a different color, you just need to flush the system!
When mixing mineral Dexrons and yellow power steering oils, no side effects occur. Their additives do not conflict with each other, but simply acquire their concentration in the new mixture and continue to fulfill their role.
To clarify the miscibility of different power steering fluids, we provide the table below. However, the data in it relates only to the use of oils in power steering, but not in automatic transmissions!
First group. This group contains “conditionally miscible” oils. If there is an equal sign between them: , then this is the same oil, just from different manufacturers - they can be mixed in any way.
And manufacturers do not intend to mix oils from adjacent lines. However, in practice, nothing terrible happens if two oils from adjacent rows are mixed.
This will not in any way worsen the performance of the hydraulic booster and will not reduce its service life.
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Second group. This group contains oils that can only be mixed with each other . They cannot be mixed with any other oils from the tables above and below. However, they can be used instead of other oils, provided that the system is completely flushed of old oil.
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Third group. These oils can be used in power steering only if the specific type of oil is specified in the instructions for this vehicle .
These oils can only be mixed with each other. They cannot be mixed with other oils. Just as you cannot fill them into the power steering system if this type of oil is not specified in the instructions.
If in doubt, avoid using these oils.
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SC "GUR+EUR" always fills with good, time-tested oils. It is not profitable for us to fill in bad oils, since we provide a guarantee! Therefore, you can trust our professionals.
Original article on the Gidrolab website
Source: http://msg-auto.com/teh-opisaniya-steering/masla-i-zhidkosti-dlja-sistemi-gidrousilitelja-gur