Interesting subject on using Mobil1 ATF in...

[panzerwagen]

steering system of our cars. There is an interesting thread going on the AW Forum for 80/90/CQ cars on why Mobil1 could be used as a substitute for Pentosin.
Just why are we using Pentosin in our systems? Wouldn't Mobil1 be adequate since it is a synthetic and not based on a dino-oil base?

http://forums.audiworld.com/9080/msgs/455872.phtml

[S2central.net]

God that AW forum is impossible to navigate with all that nested text...

I for one wouldn't risk using anything else but the proper Audi stuff (G002000 aka Pentosin in the US aftermarket) - the potential cost of it damaging something is just too much of an unknown for me. What is the alleged upside of using the Mobil 1 stuff ?

[panzerwagen]

Think about it Paul...This posting in AW explains something..

http://forums.audiworld.com/9080/msgs/455963.phtml

It does make one start thinking WTH?.

[S2central.net]

Well all I know is that I have had to replace bombs on two S2 Coupes that had been running ordinary 'red ATF' for a long time - unbeknown to their owners. Maybe that is coincidence but again I reiterate - what is the alleged benefit of going away from the official green stuff to the Mobil stuff. Even if it was half the price per liter? It just seems like an awful small saving for the potential to cause big damage by using the wrong stuff. If someone has run it for 6 years (versus 6 months) without failures - assuming a fluid change evry 2yrs then I'd be more convinced.

All I see here is risk and no reward... Someone else can be the guinea pig !

[Mcstiff]

Cost and Availability

[Jamo]

Cost and Availability

******, GSF sell the stuff for the same price as the ATF

Why risk it? don't forget it will also eat at the rack

Pays your money takes your choice

[panzerwagen]

Hmmm going to this site has told me something...

http://www.globalautoparts.biz/pentosin_hydraulic_fluids.html

Interesting in what this site says like.....
"CHF 7.1 is a mineral oil based fluid; CHF11S and CHF202 are synthetic oil based fluids. CHF 7.1 fluid is green in color, and CHF11S and CHF202 are dark green in color.

And this...."if vehicle specifications state CHF7.1, CHF11S and CHF202 can be substituted in place of, but not mixed with, CHF7.1."

And since Mobil1 is the same as CHF11S.....

[Mcstiff]

******, GSF sell the stuff for the same price as the ATF

Why risk it? don't forget it will also eat at the rack

Pays your money takes your choice

GSF?

If your system is leaking and your bomb is likely dead (as they all seem to do) then the risk is low.

Nobody seems to have a reason that 11s is better other then "because it is". I think 202 will be my choice if/when I rebuild my system (pending the outcome of the ATF trials).

I filled up with a BG Products fluid this morning that seems like another option

[Mcstiff]

Frome the AW thread:

Gleaning any empirical hard facts about CHS Pentosin 11S is exceedingly difficult
some sites say it's mineral oil, others say it's synthetic and yet others say it's a "blend." And ALL of these are CHS sites!

My personal favorite is line #3: "Distillates, (petroleum), solvent de-waxed heavy paraffinic" Well, first off paraffin IS wax so this reads like "dewaxed heavy wax" WTF is that!?!

In studying the ingredients listed on the side of an 11S can I read mentions of petroleum based oil stock and petroleum based mineral oils specifically but absolutely no mention of man-made, synthesized or chemically engineered molecular stranding as in other synthetic oils.

It's almost if CHS doesn't want someone to get too close. Yet the Mobil 1 products are fully disclosed in great detail.

Make of that what you will but the "intent" reeks a little to me of CHS wanting to keep a LOT of things secret. As to whether or not that involves scare tactics via non-disclosure I cannot say. But I find it VERY strange they list it as petroleum at one site, synthetic at another and petroleum on the can. Just makes no sense to me. Seems like they're intentionally or accidentally trying to make it as confusing and misunderstood as they can. "Confuse em with ambiguity!"

To me throwing petroleum distillates, petroleum based lubricating oils and petroleum based mineral oils in a container and calling it "synthetic" just because it doesn't occur naturally in the ground is NOT my idea of "synthetic" oil.

MSDS for GUNK's Syn PS Fluid

[Error404]

In my experience don't f**k about with the fluid - just use the proper stuff, its not like its expensive or hard to get hold of


Becasue some retards had been running "normal" fluid in the car before I bought it for god knows how long, I've had to replace EVERY part of my hydraulic system so far except the rack, and thats only becasue I can't get at it with the engine in the way - its shot to f**k. The seals were all disolved into grey sludge.

I'm sure there are other options that would work fine, but whats the point in messing with sommething that doesn't need another solution? No brainer for me anyway

[macspring]

W T F ! R U 4 real ?

As others have said, stick with the factory spec for prefect results and peace of mind.

Spend your time and effort on doing something that will definitely improve the car, e.g. a chip, brakes, ARBs, shocks, valeting it?

Not fussing about availability and cost of fluid that you fit and forget for a couple of years.

Refocus big time.

Rant over.

Peace and goodwill to all, calming down now.

[urquattro-island]

just

to inform you, if you change the green fluid for another fluid, you WILL, brake something, eventually. Thats a fact, i have changed to many steering racks as a mechanic to ignore that fact, it eats the rubber seals and it will eventually start to leak somewhere. No matter what people say, it will break.

[Mcstiff]

I think you guys are missing the point that many of these systems are already leaking. Check back to AW for heat testing results. Is seems that 11s is great for Arctic duty but looses effectiveness when heated up.

What exactly is going to "eat the seals"? Killer Whales? Unless Pentosin has some secret seal preserving ingredient M1 ATF would be "Better" for seals. The thing that kills seals is heat which makes them deform and harden. When you start with 100*F ambient temp things get hot quick.

I replaced my pump with a ZF rebuilt one and after a few years the top o-ring was weeping fluid. It had only 11s.

[Mcstiff]

M1 or 11s it sounds like running a magnet in the system is a good idea. http://forums.audiworld.com/9080/msgs/456325.phtml

[mcandmar]

I recently bought and Avant and the owner in his own words said "the PAS pump has been leaking like a sive since the clutch was done". Sure enough when i picked up the car he handed me the a 5litre can of generic power steering fluid. The pump was totally shagged, leaking out the center of the shaft, both cross plugs, and out around the brake hose. The bomb was also toast to the point i lost brake assistance a few times driving the car home.

Seems a bit odd to me that the car was fine until his mechanic drained the system and refilled with cheap fluid. Needless to say i fitted a new pump and bomb and bought some proper fluid from my local Audi garage, anything else is a false economy IMO.