Steering wheel fluid specs and maintenance? Not in manual?

[MileHigh]

I can't find the specs for the power steering fluid in the manual. As far as I can see, the manual doesn't have ANY mention of the steering fluid?

 

[Tenac]

https://www.theineosforum.com/threads/ineos-grenadier-fluids-and-specifications.12413939/

 

[MileHigh]

They mention a brand of steering fluid there, but not the specification? Looking around at a lot of posts and things I think I know what one I should use. But I always like to have it in hard black-and-white.

 

[Skydance]

FUCHS TITAN CHF 11S Steering and... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07VRTCXCH?tag=globalgrena0b-20

I used this which is the original steering fluid for BMW.

 

[Tenac]

They mention a brand of steering fluid there, but not the specification? Looking around at a lot of posts and things I think I know what one I should use. But I always like to have it in hard black-and-white.

This is the exact one I have used. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010MA2R8U/?tag=globalgrena0b-20

 

[MattA]

Dare I ask?
Why are people replacing power steering fluid in a brand new vehicle?
It should be good for at least 5-7 years

 

[C-Mack]

Most likely just for topping up reasons? Cold winter weather where I live the fluid contracts a bit and needs a touch to bring it back up to level just part of normal checks. Likewise for coolant… always good to have factory recommended fluids on hand to save an unwanted trip to the dealer.

I could also see scenarios where folks levels were just above minimum when they first received their vehicles and with a bit of driving and temperature changes some additional fluid is now needed.

That said, anything beyond top ups requiring fluid flushes or replacements would be a bit of a head scratcher on such newer vehicles unless it’s trail damage, burst line, pump failure or steering box leak.

 

[TheDocAUS]

Page 15 Rok Dr Guide, see third row from bottom.

 

[C-Mack]

Fluids to have on hand for weekly checks for petrol engine models at least:

Coolant: BMW HT-12/LC-18 (Green color)
Oil: BMW 0w20 Longlife 17 FE+
Steering: Pentosin CHF 11S (Green color - expensive stuff must be made from freshly squeezed Emeralds)

Other brands are available these were just the easiest for me to get hold of and I was actually surprised my local parts store stocked CHF when they typically only stock the more common fluids for US domestic brand vehicles.

 

[HereinDaRockies]

My ps fluid level is barely above min? When engine is cold. Once warm, I see go up to the max level

 

[MileHigh]

My ps fluid level is barely above min? When engine is cold. Once warm, I see go up to the max level

There is nothing in the manual. Does the lid or something mention cold or hot measuring?

 

[C-Mack]

Best to check level when cool. Keep the level at the mid-point between the low and top mark on the dipstick. There is plenty of headroom in the reservoir for fluid heat expansion plus there is a vent port in the cap. Keeping it centered between the marks I’ve never had an issue with it overflowing when hot and have several vehicles with the same exact style of reservoir and maintain them all the same way with no issues.

 

[Tenac]

There is nothing in the manual. Does the lid or something mention cold or hot measuring?

Power steering fluid is always checked cold, top it up to max and then drive around like normal and check again. This is exactly how I solved that high pitch whine from the PS pump... Now I've seen first hand about 4 others do it and solve their loud PS issues.

 

[HereinDaRockies]

Power steering fluid is always checked cold, top it up to max and then drive around like normal and check again. This is exactly how I solved that high pitch whine from the PS pump... Now I've seen first hand about 4 others do it and solve their loud PS issues.

Intriguing! However I fail to believe that dealers have not leaned on this recourse!? Instead telling customers to deal with the pump in some instances.

Occam’s Razor would say you must be referring to another symptom right?

This is the whine you are referring to?

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/fz0zyN2OO3s?si=FqTj_uqV1cDc3aZ6

 

[Tenac]

Intriguing! However I fail to believe that dealers have not leaned on this recourse!? Instead telling customers to deal with the pump in some instances.

Occam’s Razor would say you must be referring to another symptom right?

This is the whine you are referring to?

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/fz0zyN2OO3s?si=FqTj_uqV1cDc3aZ6

It's hard to tell from that video for me, but what I can say is with the hood popped you can clearly go to passenger side look down and hear the noise. Also while steering it got louder in say a parking lot. I think that sound in your video is the same just hard to pin point with the camera view. Yeah at first mine was quiet and I was happy but after a few hundred miles and my first off roading trip I got the whine. So one morning checked it out and it was just at the min or just below I topped it off to Max cold. Drove around all day checked a gain later and took it back up to max never had a peep since. Here in AZ its window down weather so I can tell you that noise was not livable so I had to do something or try something. lol I haven't spoken with the local dealer yet but I plan to stop by on Friday or next week and see if they can test it out directly on one of the lot ones that has a whine. My guess is when installed since the reservoir is so far from the actual pump they don't have enough time to run it to temp and bleed the system all the way out.... Just my two cents.

 

[HereinDaRockies]

It's hard to tell from that video for me, but what I can say is with the hood popped you can clearly go to passenger side look down and hear the noise. Also while steering it got louder in say a parking lot. I think that sound in your video is the same just hard to pin point with the camera view. Yeah at first mine was quiet and I was happy but after a few hundred miles and my first off roading trip I got the whine. So one morning checked it out and it was just at the min or just below I topped it off to Max cold. Drove around all day checked a gain later and took it back up to max never had a peep since. Here in AZ its window down weather so I can tell you that noise was not livable so I had to do something or try something. lol I haven't spoken with the local dealer yet but I plan to stop by on Friday or next week and see if they can test it out directly on one of the lot ones that has a whine. My guess is when installed since the reservoir is so far from the actual pump they don't have enough time to run it to temp and bleed the system all the way out.... Just my two cents.

Ok @jawn37 posted a more stark capture of the noise
Post in thread 'Power steering noise'
https://www.theineosforum.com/threads/power-steering-noise.12412423/post-1333315662

 

[C-Mack]

In the video clip there looks to be a lot of fluid which has seeped out of the fill cap vent port? Suggests to me air is getting into the system somewhere and it is bubbling inside the reservoir. As the fluid heats up the air comes out of solution and mists out the cap vent.

It wouldn’t take more than a slightly loose hose clamp or connection to allow air to constantly seep back into the system as it cools down after a drive. I’d double check any hose connections and cinch them up if they are not the one-time use clamps and see if it gets any better.

I suppose it could be a pump issue but that noise sounds more like air cavitation inside the pump vanes and the pulsing noise is the duty cycle of the pump as it is electric. If it was a pulley driven pump it would be more of a steady state constant noise I would expect. Start with the basics and look for places where air can enter the system first. It’s not always obvious there are leaks especially on the return lines as they are not under as much pressure and can allow air to enter the system directing it toward the pump.

 

[MattA]

If air is getting into the system then oil would be leaking everywhere and very easy to identify
When the fluid drops it makes the pump noisy and will do damage
When it leaks it will spread a mile over everything but the source of the leak will be obvious because it’s wet, the other spread of oil will look dry
Power steering oil level will not rise or fall due to temperature change, never seen that in my life even after driving and camping in snow in the high country to trips in summer that in the mid to high 30’s c
Finally any dealers who state any noise from a power steering pump is normal is a lying idiot, find a different service centre before they destroy your car

 

[HereinDaRockies]

If air is getting into the system then oil would be leaking everywhere and very easy to identify
When the fluid drops it makes the pump noisy and will do damage
When it leaks it will spread a mile over everything but the source of the leak will be obvious because it’s wet, the other spread of oil will look dry
Power steering oil level will not rise or fall due to temperature change, never seen that in my life even after driving and camping in snow in the high country to trips in summer that in the mid to high 30’s c
Finally any dealers who state any noise from a power steering pump is normal is a lying idiot, find a different service centre before they destroy your car

Dealer is constraint by the cheap fks at Ineos. They won’t honor warranty on this fault. What can the dealers do?

 

[MattA]

I specifically stated find a new service centre, as in mechanics
If the dealers are that bad they would never see any of my cars for service