Slide Hydraulic Fluid Wrong Stuff?? - Montana Owners Club

CORattler · 01-04-2012, 12:51 PM

My reservoir was low so I bought ATF type A as recommended in the owners manual to top it off. When I took the reservoir cap off to add fluid, I noticed that the fluid was not the red like I expected nor did it have the smell that ATF usually has. It looked, smelled and had the color of motor oil.
Has anyone else seen this??
I haven't added fluid since I bought the unit new in June 2010.

donr827 · 01-04-2012, 12:59 PM

The orginal fluid in my reservoir is redish color. The one time I needed to add fluid I used the ATF as per manual.
Don

dieselguy · 01-04-2012, 02:03 PM

My 2011 had the clear/yellowish fluid also ... I've added tranny fluid to top it off and have had no issue. In a couple of cycles, it's all pink in the reservoir.

Phil P · 01-04-2012, 02:25 PM

Hi

ATF (maroon-red), 10 wt jack oil (yellow), MIL 5606 aircraft hydraulic / brake fluid (fire engine red), Industrial 10 wt hydraulic oil (clear), and 10 wt non-detergent motor oil are all the same product except the motor oil doesn’t have a antifoaming agent in it.

Phil P

CORattler · 01-04-2012, 03:16 PM

Thanks... just goes to show that it's never too late to learn something. In all my years I'd never seen any fluid for this purpose other than red. I love this forum... Lots of smart, helpful people.

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Phil P

Hi

ATF (maroon-red), 10 wt jack oil (yellow), MIL 5606 aircraft hydraulic / brake fluid (fire engine red), Industrial 10 wt hydraulic oil (clear), and 10 wt non-detergent motor oil are all the same product except the motor oil doesn’t have a antifoaming agent in it.

Phil P

Art-n-Marge · 01-04-2012, 05:49 PM

What about diff. oil? I forget, what color is that? Isn't it about 90W?

Phil P · 01-04-2012, 09:24 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Art-n-Marge

What about diff. oil? I forget, what color is that? Isn't it about 90W?

Hi

Can you explain? No one in this thread has said any thing about differential oil.

Phil P

MIMF · 01-05-2012, 12:09 AM

No differential oil!! It is too heavy and will cause the pump to draw high amperage and constantly blow the circuit breaker. That will eventually burn up the pump motor.

To be absolutely safe, go down to your near by Wally-World and get the cheapest ATF on the shelf. Ideally, it should say "Dexron III/Mercon/Mercon5" on the label.

kjansen · 01-05-2012, 01:00 AM

As long as we are talking oil, there is a blue hydralic oil used in airplanes and snowplows as it's vicosity stays the same at all temps.

Phil P · 01-05-2012, 02:26 AM

Hi

The blue aircraft hydraulic fluid is a polyester fluid and not compatible with petroleum products. It does change with temperature just not as bad as petroleum products and it will not support a flame. As well it will damage the flexible seal components. If you spill it on the ground and walk thru it will eat the soles of your shoes.

If you get it in you eyes it doesn’t wash out with water.

Petroleum products damage the seals and flexible components used with the blue fluid as well. We had a fellow while out of the country put some MIL 5606 in the Blue system and they are still changing components trying to stop all the leaks.

Phil P

sreigle · 01-28-2012, 04:23 AM

For those unfamiliar with MIMF - he used to work for Lippert, the people who sell these systems to Keystone. And Dale (MIMF) was (and still is) our resident expert on all things related. So his post above should be taken seriously.

Years ago he told us to get the cheapest ATF we could find. That's what I've done and it's worked just fine for us.

MIMF · 01-28-2012, 05:43 AM

Mr. Reigle my old friend, where the heck have you 2 been hiding? Thank you for the kind words!

CRUZIN 2 · 01-28-2012, 05:48 AM

Yes Steve, (sreigle) on the cheapest ATF, I have used for years also. No problem.

SlickWillie · 01-28-2012, 07:22 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by kjansen

As long as we are talking oil, there is a blue hydralic oil used in airplanes and snowplows as it's vicosity stays the same at all temps.

Perhaps that oil is different, but please read the labels carefully if you use that stuff. Some of those type oils contain phosphates, like in organophosphates, like in pesticides. These phosphates will not only eat your shoe soles off, they will melt some plastics, and are known to cause central nervous system damage. They can be adsorbed through the skin.

CORattler · 01-29-2012, 03:34 PM

Good discussion on the oil types and thanks to all for the inputs.
On a related side note; what led me to take a close look at the reservoir was that my bedroom slide was creeping out while in storage and I couldn't figure out why. When I checked the reservoir it was about half full so I decided to fill it and cycle it. I figured that air had been introduced into the system from the low fluid level. After topping the reservoir off and cycling the slides 4 times, the slide creep has stopped. I'll still be keeping an eye on it but it looks like that solved the issue.

ols1932 · 01-30-2012, 12:37 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by sreigle

For those unfamiliar with MIMF - he used to work for Lippert, the people who sell these systems to Keystone. And Dale (MIMF) was (and still is) our resident expert on all things related. So his post above should be taken seriously.

Years ago he told us to get the cheapest ATF we could find. That's what I've done and it's worked just fine for us.

If the expert tells me to use the cheapest ATF oil, then that's what we should use. No need to get fancy or play around with anything else. I don't understand why MIMF's word isn't good enough.

Orv

sreigle · 01-30-2012, 03:03 AM

Orv, it's sure good enough for me.

And, Dale, I'm not "old!" Well, I did get a Medicare card in the mail and it's effective a couple of days from now. I think that means I'm getting real close to my prime. Or maybe my prime came and went and I missed it.

Phil P · 01-30-2012, 07:10 AM

Hi

I do commonly call the clear-blue aircraft hydraulic fluid (skydrol) polyester when it is actually a modified alkyl-aryl phosphate ester.

I will cause rubber to soften as well as many plastics.

It is absorbed thru the skin.

When hot (above 315C) it gives off toxic gas.

Not to be used in place of ATF or 10-wt hydraulic fluids.

Phil P

MIMF · 01-31-2012, 01:06 AM

Steve,

I know you're not old. I was merely referring to how long we've known each other.

Which has been what, about 8 years now, already?

sreigle · 01-31-2012, 07:37 AM

Then you're forgiven, Dale. I figure if the lovely Gail can put up with you then you must be ok.

Eight years sounds about right. I think we met originally when we stopped at the original service center and you sauntered across the street and replaced our slide doohickey, the one with the knobs on it.

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