Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Full hydro steering.

Do you run power steering fluid or automatic transmission fluid ?

Shorty40 wrote:Full hydro steering.

Do you run power steering fluid or automatic transmission fluid ?

NFI, but I'm fairly certain my Sigma uses auto trans fluid in the power steering.

Scott

one and the same i thought.

Roctoy Designfab wrote:one and the same i thought.

me too

Nu-uh they're different



See! ...look at the labels

Roctoy Designfab wrote:one and the same i thought.

I thought that was the case, I was just thinking there may have been some reason to run one or the other.

Thanks

Shorty40 wrote:

Roctoy Designfab wrote:one and the same i thought.

I thought that was the case, I was just thinking there may have been some reason to run one or the other.

Thanks

Im sure most guys running hydro steering are running hydrolic oil, I know I am.
There are a few different grades, some handle heat better than others,
Hydro steering gets hot.

Talk to pirtek or enzed or someone like that, they will be able to tell you the corect grade you need.

from memory it was cheeper than trans fluid per litre anyway.

Mock

I run auto trans oil

there is little difference.

Im running it in all the hydraulics on my rig.

It is the most common oil if you need to borrow some.

autos get hot. hotter than power steering i thought.

I could be wrong.


Chad

Thanks Mock, now you have thrown a spanner in the works

ATF or Hydraulic Oil ???????

Shorty40 wrote:Thanks Mock, now you have thrown a spanner in the works

ATF or Hydraulic Oil ???????

just use auto oil shorty like chad said he's running it in all the hydraulics in he's comp rig so it must be allright to use auto oil

tozook wrote:

Shorty40 wrote:Thanks Mock, now you have thrown a spanner in the works

ATF or Hydraulic Oil ???????

just use auto oil shorty like chad said he's running it in all the hydraulics in he's comp rig so it must be allright to use auto oil

I have been running Auto trans fluid the whole time I've had hydro steering on the buggy - for some reason when I was topping it up, the thought crossed my mind if it was THE stuff to be running

why would full hydro steer get hotter than power steer? ignoring modified relief valve pressures a normal power steering setup is running full pressure and just relieving the whole time i thought thats why drag racers run manual steering cos not wasting power while steering straight. also some new cars i believe have hydro steer pump on demand like a/c to reduce fuel consumption.
but to answer the orig post depending on what brand but most auto fluid is same as power steer and even if put wrong fluid in would prob last 100000k's without prob so would well outlive a full hydro steered vehicle.

Thank you all - peace of mind hearing from someone else

Alot of small machines like bobcats and back hoes ust atf in the hyd system. ATF and power steer are the same. I use atf in my full hydro cos its cheaper to buy than power steer fluid. Your full hydro should stay cooler than your auto.

ATF, light hydraulic (ISO46 or 32) or even a good diesel engine oil are all ok. Lots of trucks use engine oil in the PS. Bobcats use engine oil in the hydraulics (hydrostatic drive) to battle the heat.
Full hydro (hydrostatic) steering on original equipment uses everything from ATF to transmission (tractor powershift trans) oil, to hydraulic oil without problems.
If you are concerned about heat, fit an oil cooler, or use a bigger oil tank, also a filter is a must as the clearances inside a hydrostatic steering valve are very tight and contaminates can damage it very easily.