ATF in hydraulic pump?

[luckyj]

I was repairing a leak on my trim/tilt pump and noticed the fluid was red like ATF. After reading my manual it recommends power steering fluid or omc tilt/trim fluid. And says only use ATF in a pinch. My question is, what color is trim/tilt fluid? Thanks

[fishkisser]

Most of it is very light yellow or clear ...

[BassinFever]

No problem "at all" Using ATF in your trim pump. Only reason they say that you can use ATF in a pinch is that they cannot sell you trim fluid for 10 times the price! I've used it for years!

This advice is for the older units, I have no Idea if there is some reason that you can't use it in the newer engines. But, being me, I would use it anyway! But not if my engine was under warranty! I never have anything under warranty anyway!

[infinity22]

No problem "at all" Using ATF in your trim pump. Only reason they say that you can use ATF in a pinch is that they cannot sell you trim fluid for 10 times the price! I've used it for years!

This advice is for the older units, I have no Idea if there is some reason that you can't use it in the newer engines. But, being me, I would use it anyway! But not if my engine was under warranty! I never have anything under warranty anyway!


i've used atf fluid for the past 6 years on the hydraulic gurdies on my boat. never have had an issue with them. in fact i can say they actually work better when it's at or just above freezing in the mornings.

[MattPark]

Generally speaking, ATF is power steering fluid. Some vehicles (Honda for one) require special fluid, but Dexron III is the recommended power steering fluid for many applications, and is cheap.

[goldens]

ATF is actually a more "complex" fluid than power steering fluid. ATF has to handle the complexities of a transmisison (clutches, bands, temperature, pressure, etc.) ATF has modifiers for viscosity, foaming, temperature, seals among others.

A power steering unit and a trim/lift unit are both very similar in design and much less complex than an automatic transmission. They both have a recirculating pump, a two-way valve (left-right, or up-down) and a linear hydraulic cylinder. So power steering fluid is generally less complex in that it has fewer additives for this application of steering or lift.

Bottom line - if you unit as ATF in it, keep using ATF. With the modifiers and seal conditioners in ATF, you probably don't want to switch to PS fluid without all the additives.

[Gundog]

ATF is actually a more "complex" fluid than power steering fluid. ATF has to handle the complexities of a transmisison (clutches, bands, temperature, pressure, etc.) ATF has modifiers for viscosity, foaming, temperature, seals among others.

A power steering unit and a trim/lift unit are both very similar in design and much less complex than an automatic transmission. They both have a recirculating pump, a two-way valve (left-right, or up-down) and a linear hydraulic cylinder. So power steering fluid is generally less complex in that it has fewer additives for this application of steering or lift.

Bottom line - if you unit as ATF in it, keep using ATF. With the modifiers and seal conditioners in ATF, you probably don't want to switch to PS fluid without all the additives.

:agree:

[MattPark]

Someone must have missed the "generally speaking" portion of my posthttp://img56.imageshack.us/img56/6996/xmaswinkqo8.gif

[cptdarel]

someone must have missed the "generally speaking" portion of my posthttp://img56.imageshack.us/img56/6996/xmaswinkqo8.gif
huh?

[MattPark]

ATF and power steering fluid are different. However, many power steering systems recommend ATF, and can also use power steering fluid. A select few require specific fluids.

Like the original poster posted, his system can use either. The manual would not say he could use ATF in a pinch if it would damage the system, and like bassinfever said, it may be to promote the sale of their product at a significant price hike.