Which steering fluid do I use

[AMG]

Hi group experts.
I have just repaired a leak (I hope) at the steering on my fly deck.
I need to refill the fluid, in the cupboard right by the wheel there are these 3 fluid bottles.
The Hydaflex, Halfords and Castrol in the pictures.
Also up on the flydeck but not so close to the steering is the following 2 oils.
The cat oil and the diesel engine oil.
Also photo's on the steering boxes, the crusty one is the fly deck, the clean one is downstairs.
Also 2 photos of the filler bottle.
Please can one of the experts help me identify which oil is correct for my system.
Thr Boat is a 1987 Hershine Trawler
thanks Group

 

[Portage_Bay]

If I had to choose from your pics it would be the hydraflex or the central hydraulic fluid. You can probably find a capilano manual on line to help sort out which to use. Also the details on the two oils can be found online. The cat oil is transmission oil. The delphi is engine oil. The castrol is too heavy. I can't read the cap on the white bottle.

 

[AMG]

If I had to choose from your pics it would be the hydraflex or the central hydraulic fluid. You can probably find a capilano manual on line to help sort out which to use. Also the details on the two oils can be found online. The cat oil is transmission oil. The delphi is engine oil. The castrol is too heavy. I can't read the cap on the white bottle.

Thanks for getting back to me. The cap on the filler says “use only original brake fluid”

 

[O C Diver]

I rebuilt my steering system including new hoses. On recommendation from the rebuilder, I used aviation brake fluid. It's cleaned to a much higher standard and was comparable in price to the others. If it were me, I would plan on flushing the system with whatever you plan to use. In the relative cost of boating, having all the same new fluid in your system is less than a rounding error, cost wise.

Ted

 

[AMG]

Thanks for the advice, I managed to find the manual. It looks like it’s dextron 2 so none of those are correct.

 

[Portage_Bay]

With no Dextron 2 in the PO's collection I'd be suspect of what's in there. OC Diver's recommendation to flush it a good one.

 

[grahamdouglass]

I use 10 weight mineral oil. I burps the bubbles easier when getting the air out of the system. I have an old Wagner system.

 

[Delta Riverat]

With the fill cap disagreeing with the manual and neither on board...

Yeah, who knows?

 

[mvweebles]

Knowing that steering fluid viscosities vary widely and that the wrong viscosity causes problems I'd suggest calling SeaStar/Dometic tech support and get the OEM recommendation (assuming Dometic hasn't lost the brain trust through the acquisitions that led Capilano into their portfolio).

Tech Support

www.seatechmarineproducts.com

Good luck - please post updates.

Peter

 

[Keysdisease]

I would recommend what the manufacturer recommends. Also note that the Capilano system is a "vented" system, not pressurized. The cap on the lower helm is non vented and the cap on the upper helm is vented. Only fill from the upper helm. If you have found the manual follow the directions.
Also be very careful around the "model 50" Uniflow Valve. These are discontinued, unavailable and very hard to find. If it fails chances are you will need to replace both helms.