medent

I drove my 964 out of the garage this morning and when I turned the steering wheel it made a horrible sound. So I opened the engine lid and found that the steering fluid reservoir was completely empty. I must have a leak and I'll be looking at that today.
So what fluid goes in there? I asked at the local garage and he says there are a few types that are used. In my case, the fluid that was in there was pink.
Any advice would be most appreciated.

Laker

I flushed mine and use Valvoline DEX/MERC ATF. The official recommendation is Pentosin 11s or 202. If yours is pink you have ATF in there now, and you can't mix so you're gonna have to flush ($$$) with Pentosin, to use Pentosin, as it can't be mixed with ATF.

9six4

+1 on the Valvoline DEX/MERC ATF. If you are lucky, all you need to do is tighten the hose clamps from the reservoir to fix the leak.

Earlydays

I use Castrol Multi-Vehicle ATF

Earlydays

PS - look for leaks at the hose below the reservoir...new clamps solved my leaks.

FeralComprehension

I replaced that hose and am using Redline synthetic ATF.

LM964

http://www.powerenhancer.co.uk/produ...ul-dexron-ll-d

The above is what I use. Not Porsche specific and doesn't have to be. Dexron II or Dexron III are the ones recommended in Streather's book. He also warns not to use synthetic automatic transmission fluid - the gaskets and seals will be destroyed in minutes!

FeralComprehension

Yes, he does.

So far as I can tell, he's wrong.

20k miles on my setup as described; no issues whatsoever.

To be honest, Adrian Streather's injunction is ridiculous on its face- these fluids are all designed for the same set of applications. There's no way a reputable manufacturer could bring to market a fluid that's ostensibly in compliance with a particular set of requirements (Dexron) and death to conventional seal materials.

Maybe when he wrote the Enthusiasts Handbook synthetic fluid wasn't as good as it is now.

Maybe he read/was told something at some point and never verified its veracity.

Either way: busted.

Ghengis

I have just had a very similar experience to the OP and my issue turned out (eventually) to be a split hose. It was the pressured line from the pump to the rack ( with the banjo fitting). Easy enough to replace at home £104 + vat. I used auto transmission fluid as advised by my local specialist.

After replacing the fluid I worked the wheel several times then syringed out the fluid from the reservoir. Refilled and repeated until only fresh new fluid was seen. The improvement on my steering is like night and day to what I was experiencing for the last 2 years.

As some have mentioned it may just be that the pipes need tightening up.

Good luck

Thomas

LM964

Very interesting (and unusual it seems)... I wonder if there was some inhibitor or other chemical compound in synthetic fluid 10 years ago that caused concern.

HiWind

thanks again Rob!

Steering Gear - New Type Oil
Group 4
Number 9606
Model
6 Cyl.
Part Identifier 4800
June 11, 1996
Subject:
New Type Oil for Steering Gear
ATTENTION:
Service Manager / Service Technician
Model Affected:
911 Carrera 2 and 4, Model Years 1989 to 1994,
911 Turbo, Model Years 1991, 1992 and 1994, and
911 Carrera (993) 1995 Model Year on
Concern:
In production, the power assist steering system is now filled with Pentosin CHF 11S fluid (green in color).
General Information:
From the following VIN numbers, the power assist steering system is factory filled with Pentosin CHF 11S fluid:
As of March 25, 1996 from VIN:
99 9 TS 32 3082 Coupe
99 3 TS 34 1781 Cabriolet
99 8 TS 38 5439 Targa
Pentosin has been selected for use because of better and more uniform viscosity behavior at low ambient temperatures.
Vehicles of the model types affected produced before the above mentioned VIN numbers used ATF in the power assisted steering system. It is now permitted to use Pentosin CHF 11S in these vehicles as well.
ATF fluid and Pentosin CHF 11S fluid can be mixed. In vehicles produced before the above mentioned VIN numbers, Pentosin CHF 11S fluid can be used to top off the fluid reservoir.
The 1996 911 Turbo uses Pentosin CHF 11S fluid in the steering and hydraulic assisted clutch systems. In this system, ATF must not be mixed with Pentosin CHF 11S.
Vehicles having repairs made to the steering gear that involve loss of the steering fluid should be refilled with Pentosin CHF 11S fluid.
Parts Information:
Pentosin CHF 11S fluid (1 Liter), part number - 000 043 203 33

SuperUser

So I am bumping this to confirm that it is OK and preferred to top off my ATF fluid with Pentosin CHF 11S fluid.

Thanks

FeralComprehension

IF that's what's in there. Above it was stated that the Pentosin hydraulic fluid was incompatible with conventional fluid (I can neither confirm nor deny).

jimq

I use Pentosin in my 996 Turbo. That stuff is expensive and if you have a leak drip on the exhaust can burn your car up real quick.

SuperUser

My confusing comes from the first posts saying not to mix it but then the TSB said you can except in the 1996 turbo.

Is it more flammable than the ATF? I did have a leak and just tightened the clamps below the reservoir to fix it.

I already have a can of Pentosin but can return it, should I just go with Valvoline DEX/MERC ATF?