power steering fluid
#1
03-04-2009 | 02:41 PM
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power steering fluid
Does it really make a difference what power steering fluid i use? My fluid is a little low and i was gonna add some today so i ran over to the shop but nothing my buddy had was for my car so i went to the parts store and it was 32 dollars a quart which is outrageous!! My buddy was sayin if it was his car he would just use something for like a Honda. will it hurt it??
#3
03-04-2009 | 04:44 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
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From: IL
What store did you go to?
You need Pentosin CHF 11S (equivalent with the Audi VW # G 002 000).
If you have a NAPA store in town you should check the price, because they carry it. If they don't have it in stock, they should be able to order it for you. At my local store is like $ 18/quart.
If you don't find it in that price range, order it from an online store such as BlauParts.
Since the level at the moment is just "a bit low", you can get by for a few days until you find the fluid at a more decent price.
$ 30-whatever for a quart is pure robbery.
You need Pentosin CHF 11S (equivalent with the Audi VW # G 002 000).
If you have a NAPA store in town you should check the price, because they carry it. If they don't have it in stock, they should be able to order it for you. At my local store is like $ 18/quart.
If you don't find it in that price range, order it from an online store such as BlauParts.
Since the level at the moment is just "a bit low", you can get by for a few days until you find the fluid at a more decent price.
$ 30-whatever for a quart is pure robbery.
Last edited by chefro; 03-04-2009 at 04:47 PM.
#4
03-04-2009 | 06:49 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,980
From: Northern California
What year is your car? I think the C6s are synthetic and C5s are mineral. I don't know the exact year break, but the correct type should be listed on the reservoir cap.
Short answer... Yes it does make a difference.
Short answer... Yes it does make a difference.
#5
03-05-2009 | 12:44 PM
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Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Newfields NH
I wish people would list where they live and give the details of their vehicles -- I have the two types of Pentosin oil on the shelf in my garage. If I remember correctly they are CHF11S and CHF 7.1. I used the 11s on my 200QT and don't know which one the 97 A6 Avant uses.
I do know they don't mix...
I do know they don't mix...
Last edited by NH_USA; 03-05-2009 at 01:02 PM.
#6
03-05-2009 | 02:01 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
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From: IL
Source :
What you cannot do is to mix either of the two with generic psfluid.
There has been a good measure of controversy over this question. Here is what our own experience shows. Over the last decade we've had no compatibility problems mixing the CHF 7.1 non-synthetic mineral base fluid and the CHF 11S synthetic based Audi power steering fluid. No problems with our own vehicles and no problems with our customers vehicles. Our success in mixing the 2 Audi power steering fluids coincides with the Audi tech bulletin 48-89-T07 issued in November 1989. It states "The new [synthetic Pentosin 11S] and old power steering fluid [non-synthetic Pentosin 7.1] can be mixed if necessary ... the part number [remains] unchanged." So according to Audi, you can mix the 2 Audi power steering fluids. Even though the composition of the fluid changed (CHF 11S synthetic mineral oil vs CHF 7.1 non-synthetic mineral oil), Audi didn't even change the part number. All 1990 - on Audi models have come filled from the factory with the synthetic CHF 11S Audi power steering fluid (G002000).
#7
03-05-2009 | 02:07 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
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From: IL
Another source, although reluctant to the mix, states pretty much the same thing:
Pentosin is the manufacturer for the Audi factory fluid part number G 002 000. The Audi 5000 up to the 1989 models used the Pentosin CHF 7.1, in 1989 they went to a Pentosin CHF 11S which is a synthetic version with an improved temperature range.
The Pentosin cans indicate that the CHF 7.1 and the CHF 11S should not be mixed together, although the Audi service bulletins listed below say it is ok to mix them. Best advice if you are unsure which fluid was used in your car, is to flush out the old fluid when you had the new version (CHF 7.1 or 11S)
The Pentosin cans indicate that the CHF 7.1 and the CHF 11S should not be mixed together, although the Audi service bulletins listed below say it is ok to mix them. Best advice if you are unsure which fluid was used in your car, is to flush out the old fluid when you had the new version (CHF 7.1 or 11S)
#8
03-05-2009 | 04:50 PM
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Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Newfields NH
The key words are "can be mixed if necessary"
Compatability and temperature capability are two different things.
7.1 -the old stuff - is lower temp - so adding 11S dosen't hurt it's properties but going the other way (adding 7.1 to 11S ) lowers the temperature it can take.
The reason they made 11S was because when the vehicles got heavier the underhood temperatures increased. In extreme conditions 7.1 was breaking down so they came up with 11S. Our rally friends first had the problem in Africa ( I think it was Dakar) when the steering racks began to sieze.
Compatability and temperature capability are two different things.
7.1 -the old stuff - is lower temp - so adding 11S dosen't hurt it's properties but going the other way (adding 7.1 to 11S ) lowers the temperature it can take.
The reason they made 11S was because when the vehicles got heavier the underhood temperatures increased. In extreme conditions 7.1 was breaking down so they came up with 11S. Our rally friends first had the problem in Africa ( I think it was Dakar) when the steering racks began to sieze.
#9
03-05-2009 | 07:13 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
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From: IL
I agree the key word is "compatibility". The fact that Audi didn't even change the part number tells the whole story... so the value of "CAN BE MIXED" doesn't get altered by "if necessary".
If the wording was "UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES the two cannot be mixed", that would have been a different proposition, and I would have agreed.
How did Clinton word his (in)famous BJ-ing affair? "It depends on what you consider 'sex'"...LOL
Semantics are complicated only if you want to make them complicated.
Nevertheless, since all the cars starting with 1990 are coming out of the manufacturing plant doors with the "new" synthetic 11S, I don't even see why someone would even buy the old 7.1, unless they get it from the dealer who has a mathusalemic stock on hand.
Even though you'll never get in urban/highway traffic the attrocious conditions of the Paris-Dakkar Rally, 30°C is quite a difference. With that in perspective, hence knowing that the synthetic has a higher "boiling" point than the old mineral, who would be interested in buying the 7.1, anyway?
If the wording was "UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES the two cannot be mixed", that would have been a different proposition, and I would have agreed.
How did Clinton word his (in)famous BJ-ing affair? "It depends on what you consider 'sex'"...LOL
Semantics are complicated only if you want to make them complicated.
Nevertheless, since all the cars starting with 1990 are coming out of the manufacturing plant doors with the "new" synthetic 11S, I don't even see why someone would even buy the old 7.1, unless they get it from the dealer who has a mathusalemic stock on hand.
Even though you'll never get in urban/highway traffic the attrocious conditions of the Paris-Dakkar Rally, 30°C is quite a difference. With that in perspective, hence knowing that the synthetic has a higher "boiling" point than the old mineral, who would be interested in buying the 7.1, anyway?
Last edited by chefro; 03-05-2009 at 07:22 PM.
#10
03-06-2009 | 07:18 AM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,371
From: Newfields NH
Only the uninformed, purist, those in dire straights, or those that don't give a crap would buy 7.1 --
If anyone belongs in one of those catagories - I have an unopened can of 7.1 that I'll sell cheep! LOL At least 7.1 is better than standard Ps fluid!
If anyone belongs in one of those catagories - I have an unopened can of 7.1 that I'll sell cheep! LOL At least 7.1 is better than standard Ps fluid!
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