Tilt / Trim Oil???

[scca vette]

All the oil has drained out of the resevour on my tilt trim pump do to me having it tied up out of the way when replacing the floor. I went to the local boat store today and they had Mercury brand oil for 9 bucks a quart. Is this what everybody is using or is there other brands / oils that I can use that are less expencive?

This is for my Baja with the Alpha 1 I/O outdrive.

Thanks for any input!!

 

[sea flower]

Re: Tilt / Trim Oil???

Just posted something similiar earlier about the type of oil for someone. It's hydraulic so a light hydraulic oil for cylinders or you can use power steering fluid. That's what I used for my tilt/trim.

 

[scca vette]

Re: Tilt / Trim Oil???

Just posted something similiar earlier about the type of oil for someone. It's hydraulic so a light hydraulic oil for cylinders or you can use power steering fluid. That's what I used for my tilt/trim.

HMMM That is interesting that you mention power steering because the bottle at the store said Trim/steering fluid. This is what got me thinking that there had to be something else out there that will work that is not 9 bucks
a quart.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Tilt / Trim Oil???

Howdy,


The Mercury trim system is a VERY simple hydraulic system. You can use any of the power steering and auto-trans fluids, hydraulic jack oil, John Deere Hygard or even motor oil etc....

I use ATF because it's red and easily identifiable



Regards,


Rick

 

[Don S]

Re: Tilt / Trim Oil???

Might want to read my reply to that other post sea flower mentioned.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=437912

 

[sethjon]

Re: Tilt / Trim Oil???

All the oil has drained out of the resevour on my tilt trim pump do to me having it tied up out of the way when replacing the floor. I went to the local boat store today and they had Mercury brand oil for 9 bucks a quart. Is this what everybody is using or is there other brands / oils that I can use that are less expencive?

This is for my Baja with the Alpha 1 I/O outdrive.

Thanks for any input!!

$9 is BS. If you ask a Mercury person they can't tell you why its better. Use power steering fluid but get a good brand.

 

[burp]

Re: Tilt / Trim Oil???

Might want to read in the service manual what the manufacturer specifies.......or listen to Don S. ......neither of them will steer you in the wrong direction. Sure you can use other fluids which are cheaper, but you will be paying the price later. The manufacturer specifies a specific fluid for a reason.

 

[Don S]

Re: Tilt / Trim Oil???

This is from the OEM service manual #6.
All the other answers are nothing more than what that particular person thinks or uses, but not what Mercruiser recommends.

 

[dubs283]

Re: Tilt / Trim Oil???

you may want to investigate as to why the resivior is empty as well

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Tilt / Trim Oil???

Might want to read my reply to that other post sea flower mentioned.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=437912

Piston pump! That's a good one!!!

Obviously he's never had one apart......

 

[scca vette]

Re: Tilt / Trim Oil???

This is from the OEM service manual #6.
All the other answers are nothing more than what that particular person thinks or uses, but not what Mercruiser recommends.

Thank you for the information! What I find interesting is that the Merc fluid can be used for both the trim pump and the steering pump where if you were to use 10w 30 motor oil it can not be used in a PS pump. Sounds like the Merc fluid is a happy compromise between the 2.

I might look around and see if I can find the correct merc fluid cheaper than 9 bucks a qt.

 

[scca vette]

Re: Tilt / Trim Oil???

you may want to investigate as to why the resivior is empty as well

I unbolted it from the floor and then tied it over to the motor when i replaced the floor and it was at a angle where it all leaked out the cap on the resevour.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Tilt / Trim Oil???

Howdy,


The Mercury trim system is a VERY simple hydraulic system. You can use any of the power steering and auto-trans fluids, hydraulic jack oil, John Deere Hygard or even motor oil etc....

I use ATF because it's red and easily identifiable



Regards,


Rick

Ayuh,... While Don, as usual, is Exactly Right,....
Ricks post covers the practical, common sense approach to it...
It's about the simplest form of Hydraulics goin',+ will gladly handle it's job with most Any oil under 50W....
But thinner works Better...

I use ATF for the color, or straight Hyd. oil, in Either the trim/tilt, or the P/S....

Change the word grease to Oil,+ my signature line applies...

 

[sea flower]

Re: Tilt / Trim Oil???

Piston pump! That's a good one!!!

Obviously he's never had one apart......

Obviously you and Don S. can't read. I never said piston pump I said a piston driven from a pump JA.....

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Tilt / Trim Oil???

Thank you for the information! What I find interesting is that the Merc fluid can be used for both the trim pump and the steering pump where if you were to use 10w 30 motor oil it can not be used in a PS pump. Sounds like the Merc fluid is a happy compromise between the 2.

The difference between the two fluids was said to be, using the engine oil, The drive will trim up slower versus using the Merc style fluid.

Also back in the day it was said that Merc would prefer you to use one or the other and not both only if it could be avoided, But if it couldn't be avoided in a situation, Then it was considered to be ok to mix the two oils until it could be corrected.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Tilt / Trim Oil???

Obviously you and Don S. can't read. I never said piston pump I said a piston driven from a pump JA.....

Hmm....yeah...Here's what you wrote.....

It's a piston, driven from a pump. Hydraulic oil. I'm a maintenance mechanic/electrician

Ok.... I take it back!


But you can use just about any oil in it. So there!


And you're only partially right...... I can't read sometimes......

 

[sea flower]

Re: Tilt / Trim Oil???

All is forgiven----I like offering my input from my experience. it's all good

Make It Happen