Confused about Hydraulic fluid?

[nodine]

My hydraulic reservoir is getting near the "ADD" mark and I thought I would add a little fluid. Pulled out the coach owners manual and turned to the page on Hydraulic Reservoir to read "The reservoir is filed with 15W-40 motor oil from the factory" which sounds correct because the fluid is honey colored and looks like motor oil. Then I read down and read this "If adding of fluid is required, use only Dexron-III Automatic Transmission Fluid". Surely they don't mean that. I can't bring myself to mix 15W-40 oil with Dexron-III. What are you guys using on your 2006 vintage Monaco's?

Bob

[okie-dokie]

Do not use an engine oil 15W-40 or any other engine motor oil. I only use a hydralic fluid for a hydralic etc. Go to any Tractor supply or auto parts store and you can purchase the hydralic fluid.

[walt2137]

Bob some were filled by Monaco with 15w 40 diesel engine oil , Dexron lll and AW46, I would think your system was filled with 15 w 40 engine oil from the color you posted and if you wanted to use Dexron lll to top it off it wont hurt anything, I have used 1 qt of dexron trans fluid for years in the engine of used cars to help clean the engine up before changing the oil, I have a old 1957 Farmall 130 that I bought this spring that was filthy with build up and I have ran 1 qt of Dexron all summer in the oil to clean the thing up and will pull the oil pan this winter to clean the oil pump screen and the oil pan to remove the gunk. So use ether one the oil or Dexron or you can do a complete change back to AW46 or Dexron but I dont think it would be necessary as the engine oil has done no harm in the last 6 yrs

[William Willard]

Bob -- AW-46 is that color -- That`s what is in our 07 -- Bill Willard

[Dutch Star Don]

Bob.....I went through this same issue a few years ago....It's hard to know what is in there. I would go with the AW46. http://www.irv2.com/forums/f115/hydr...elp-65510.html

[walt2137]

It is one way to tell for sure tale a clean screwdriver or anything silver and clean stick in the reservoir and then stick in your spare 10W40, the AW46 will have a slight yellow tent almost clear and the engine oil a bit more yellow tint but you can tell from how thin the AW46 is compared to the engine oil and I am pretty sure that the AW46 is a 10 W I just went to my coach which I know has AW46 and I can easily tell the difference in the AW46 and 10W40 engine oil.

[wa8yxm]

From the sounds of this.. Take a sample and send it to an oil lab with a "What is this" letter and the proper fee. Alas, don't know how to contact any oil labs.

They can tell you what is in the tank now, and then you get an MS degree in hydraulic jacks (you know the degrees right, BS (You know what BS is) MS (More of the Same) and PhD (Piled Higher & Deeper).

All I have is an AS.

[nodine]

Originally Posted by William Willard

Bob -- AW-46 is that color -- That`s what is in our 07 -- Bill Willard

Bill, Don, and Walt,

Sounds like I need to purchase some AW-46, already have 15W-40, and then do a comparison.

Thanks guys,

Bob

P.S. Bill, please take back some of this heat!

[William Willard]

Originally Posted by nodine

Bill, Don, and Walt,

Sounds like I need to purchase some AW-46, already have 15W-40, and then do a comparison.

Thanks guys,

Bob

P.S. Bill, please take back some of this heat!

Bob -- I changed the hydraulic fluid & filters about 2 years ago -- Got the AW46 at Sam`s Club, & the filters from Ryder Fleet --
We just got a 6 inch rain (rain drops 6 inches apart) & now we have your humidity -- We didn`t need that rain, we already have 0.69 of an inch this year -- Bill Willard

[Papa_Jim]

Originally Posted by nodine

My hydraulic reservoir is getting near the "ADD" mark and I thought I would add a little fluid. Pulled out the coach owners manual and turned to the page on Hydraulic Reservoir to read "The reservoir is filed with 15W-40 motor oil from the factory" which sounds correct because the fluid is honey colored and looks like motor oil. Then I read down and read this "If adding of fluid is required, use only Dexron-III Automatic Transmission Fluid". Surely they don't mean that. I can't bring myself to mix 15W-40 oil with Dexron-III. What are you guys using on your 2006 vintage Monaco's?

Bob

Monaco has been playing this game since day one. My coach was almost impossible to steer in cold weather (I'm talking Canada cold here). The fluid in my hydraulic reservoir was honey colored. I found out that it could be either 15W40 motor oil or AW46 hydraulic oil (which is about a 15 viscosity). Both are too thick for our cold weather. I flushed the hydraulic system and filled it with Dexron III. It has worked flawlessly ever since.

So, the answer to your question is ... I don't really know. If the fluid is, as you say, honey colored, I guess the issue is how best to determine whether it's motor oil or hydraulic oil. Having said that, if the issue here is that you have to simply add some oil, I think you could add either without fear. Here's my reasoning. Hydraulic oil is basically mineral oil, sometimes with additives to reduce foaming. Engine oil is basically mineral oil, with additives to prevent foaming, and detergents to reduce varnish deposits and to help clean the engine. So in my humble opinion, as a top up, either oil would probably be just fine.

I want to add a note of caution here. You say that your hydraulic reservoir is nearing the ADD mark. A couple of years ago, I noticed that my hydraulic reservoir was nearing the ADD mark. That, plus the fact that the oil was too thick for our climate, led me to drain the entire system, install new hydraulic reservoir filters, and fill the system with new oil. I noticed at the time that the filters were completely submerged in oil long before the fluid level reached anything close to the ADD level on the stick.

My hydraulic reservoir has a note on it to not overfill. My response to that is, 'then change the marks on the dipstick'. I filled the system to slightly less that full on the dipstick.

On our first trip after that, we were cruising down the street in Las Vegas when the steering locked up. We managed to pull off the street. When I checked the hydraulic reservoir, there was oil pressuring out around the lid gasket. The dipstick showed that the oil level was WAY over full. Using a little syringe (actually a syringe that we had in our medicine cabinet for cleaning out our ears), we managed to siphon out enough oil that the steering worked fine.

Since that event, over time we have siphoned out enough oil that the dipstick actually says that the oil level is close to the add mark. That's where I'm maintaining the oil level, that's where the steering works the best.

Just my 2 penny's worth.

[nodine]

Originally Posted by jimkate

Monaco has been playing this game since day one. My coach was almost impossible to steer in cold weather (I'm talking Canada cold here). The fluid in my hydraulic reservoir was honey colored. I found out that it could be either 15W40 motor oil or AW46 hydraulic oil (which is about a 15 viscosity). Both are too thick for our cold weather. I flushed the hydraulic system and filled it with Dexron III. It has worked flawlessly ever since.

So, the answer to your question is ... I don't really know. If the fluid is, as you say, honey colored, I guess the issue is how best to determine whether it's motor oil or hydraulic oil. Having said that, if the issue here is that you have to simply add some oil, I think you could add either without fear. Here's my reasoning. Hydraulic oil is basically mineral oil, sometimes with additives to reduce foaming. Engine oil is basically mineral oil, with additives to prevent foaming, and detergents to reduce varnish deposits and to help clean the engine. So in my humble opinion, as a top up, either oil would probably be just fine.

I want to add a note of caution here. You say that your hydraulic reservoir is nearing the ADD mark. A couple of years ago, I noticed that my hydraulic reservoir was nearing the ADD mark. That, plus the fact that the oil was too thick for our climate, led me to drain the entire system, install new hydraulic reservoir filters, and fill the system with new oil. I noticed at the time that the filters were completely submerged in oil long before the fluid level reached anything close to the ADD level on the stick.

My hydraulic reservoir has a note on it to not overfill. My response to that is, 'then change the marks on the dipstick'. I filled the system to slightly less that full on the dipstick.

On our first trip after that, we were cruising down the street in Las Vegas when the steering locked up. We managed to pull off the street. When I checked the hydraulic reservoir, there was oil pressuring out around the lid gasket. The dipstick showed that the oil level was WAY over full. Using a little syringe (actually a syringe that we had in our medicine cabinet for cleaning out our ears), we managed to siphon out enough oil that the steering worked fine.

Since that event, over time we have siphoned out enough oil that the dipstick actually says that the oil level is close to the add mark. That's where I'm maintaining the oil level, that's where the steering works the best.

Just my 2 penny's worth.

Jim,

My reservoir has been slightly above the ADD mark for years. I changed the filter about three years ago but did not add in fluid. Do not have any leaks that I know of. The only reason I am considering adding a little fluid is because the guys at SpeedCo think it is low. When I get my oil changed they go over everything they understand.

Thanks for taking all the time to give us your experience.

Bob

[danes-on-tour]

Bob - I understand the confusion, and I have addressed this exact same issue some time ago. Check out this link.

Based on this I am convinced that ours is motor oil. If it isn't, then Monaco have both written our manual incorrectly, and Monaco techs have given us false advice when we asked a simple question.

I have twice replaced the filter and on both occasions have I topped up the fluid with motor oil, and I have seen no adverse effect.

[nodine]

Originally Posted by The Danes Are Coming

Bob - I understand the confusion, and I have addressed this exact same issue some time ago. Check out this link.

Based on this I am convinced that ours is motor oil. If it isn't, then Monaco have both written our manual incorrectly, and Monaco techs have given us false advice when we asked a simple question.

I have twice replaced the filter and on both occasions have I topped up the fluid with motor oil, and I have seen no adverse effect.

Thanks Henrik. My coach handles so well and the steering is so responsive that I don't want to change anything.

Bob