power steering fluid again! red/green 30741424

[v40p2]

Hi All
I have searched the thread up and down before this post.
I have a v40 1.9d 2003 (phase 2) and want to top up the power steering fluid.
I checked vida and the forum and ordered genuine volvo part 30741424 which is green and states on the back of the bottle “mineral oil, solvent refined 60-100%.
The colour of existing oil is clear to red/brown (not dirty).
The book states “ATF oil….or Pentosin CHF 11 S if mainly use in temps below 0 deg C.”
Previous posts state:
- “After 2000- they used ATF which is red or Pentosin CHF 11 S which is green but phased out the red later on.”
- “ATF = automatic transmission fluid”
- “CHF = central hydraulic fluid”
- Pentosin CHF 11 S is synthetic
- “ATF is mineral”
- “ATF is red and green is Pentosin which is the alternative.”
- 30741424 is mineral and not Pentosin CHF 11 S (both are green)?
- Also http://www.skandix.de/en/spare-parts...l-1-l/1015964/ says Volvo recommends the green oil (Skandix 1015964) for all hydraulic power steering systems. But we recommend to avoid mixing oil types at older vehicles (RWD Volvos and Volvo 850) which have red oil in the system. Replacing the whole red oil in the system with green oils is not recommended. Skandix 1060027 is an ATF-Oil which matches the old specification. In fact Skandix 1060027 can be used to replace or top up the old red oil.
- “I had exactly the same problem as you. I also have a Volvo s40 03 model, after doing a great deal of research I found that Volvo changed from red to green around about the release of our Volvo s40 03 models. Many mechanics and garages also seem to be unsure some will have green ATF while others will have red PSF.
Mine has red so I just stick with red Universal PSF. One important factor is not to mix red and green together.”
- “Despite what you have been told red dextron 3 ATF is completely interchangeable with Pentosin CHF11. Volvo state this in Vida and Porche have a service bulletin which says the same. CHF11 is just a synthetic hydraulic oil that has a greater low temperature range than dextron but basically is exactly the same stuff. When Volvo changed to Pentosin CF11 in 1999 (V70) they did not change the specs of any seals in the rack, pipework or pump and the V40 range continued with Dextron untill 2004. I know some have had seals go but I suspect this was just coincidence or another unrelated problem, I have been topping up the Pentosin CF11 with Dextron 3 for the past 7 years in my 2000 V70R with no problem at all.
If I remember correctly, Clan who is a Volvo master mechanic has also stated that both fluids are compatible. However there are 2 downsides to mixing:-
1 You lose the low temperature advantage of Pentosin.
2 The mixing of green and red makes a less attractive brown colour. John”
I think the clearest advice is from Skandix so I think I will use this http://www.skandix.de/en/spare-parts...g-1-l/1060027/
There seems to be some confusion as ATF is red and mineral, CHF 11 S is synthetic and green but 30741424 is green and states on the back of the bottle “mineral oil, solvent refined 60-100%.
Would the 30741424 be ok as it is mineral but also green?

[upv5]

Who do you want to believe, Volvo or Skandix.
Please read my previous post carefully. Unless you live in a Scandinavian country the only problem with mixing Dextron 3 and CHF11 is the resultant colour.
Volvo, Porsche and many others changed to CHF11 when it became available as it has a better temperature range and they only want to use one product wherever the car is going to be used.

John

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by upv5

Unless you live in a Scandinavian country the only problem with mixing Dextron 3 and CHF11 is the resultant colour.

There's plenty of UK drivers on this very forum who have had issues in the past with ATF and in particular mixing ATF with CHF in the PAS system so you just replace with CHF11S and forget about it.

CHF is widely available for £10 a litre and as long as it is still clean and the correct level, will cause no issues.

I use this one.

[Dannydude]

Just looking up power steering fluid, to flush out the 9 year old fluid that's in my 2012 XC60. Just something I like to do on my cars. I came across this Green Power Steering Fluid Hydraulic Oil 1 Ltr and it is compatible with all Volvo's.

Same colour as the Volvo 30741424 and is OEM specification (CHF11S as well). Half the price to Volvo Fluid which is lists as £17.20 plus VAT = £20.64 Go with 3 litres for a complete flush.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/173877307543

At GSF parts as well;

https://www.gsfcarparts.com/980bm0020

There is a happy Volvo Enthusiast in Canada "VolvoSweden" who has a You Tube video on flushing out and purging the old power steering fluid (on his 2009 XC70 AWD), quite straight forward.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op6vqOlutTE

Why you may ask? All oils, even synthetics degrade over time and have micro particles suspended in the oil. Changing the oil can prolong the life of the pump and seals.

Happy Volvo Motoring!

[ButterBean]

Originally Posted by Dannydude

Just looking up power steering fluid, to flush out the 9 year old fluid that's in my 2012 XC60. Just something I like to do on my cars. I came across this Green Power Steering Fluid Hydraulic Oil 1 Ltr and it is compatible with all Volvo's.

Same colour as the Volvo 30741424 and is OEM specification (CHF11S as well). Half the price to Volvo Fluid which is lists as £17.20 plus VAT = £20.64 Go with 3 litres for a complete flush.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/173877307543

At GSF parts as well;

https://www.gsfcarparts.com/980bm0020

There is a happy Volvo Enthusiast in Canada "VolvoSweden" who has a You Tube video on flushing out and purging the old power steering fluid (on his 2009 XC70 AWD), quite straight forward.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op6vqOlutTE

Why you may ask? All oils, even synthetics degrade over time and have micro particles suspended in the oil. Changing the oil can prolong the life of the pump and seals.

Happy Volvo Motoring!

Really good thread. I'm looking to change the PAS on my 2004 S40 SE 2435cc series ll petrol UK car. I was wondering what fluid to use. I'll have to check what colour mine is as I've only just purchased the car...

[ITSv40]

Originally Posted by ButterBean

Really good thread. I'm looking to change the PAS on my 2004 S40 SE 2435cc series ll petrol UK car. I was wondering what fluid to use. I'll have to check what colour mine is as I've only just purchased the car...

You need to post in the S40/V50/C30/C70 forum as this only deals with the classic S/V40 upto 2004. Completely different cars.

[v_forty]

Picking up an old thread as I've done lots of reading but have found different answers!

On my 2002 V40 I want to do a refresh of the pas fluid. It's a deep brown colour (and a little below the min line).

Popped in to Volvo this week who advised to use 30741424. I believe this is CHF? And Green in colour.

Were the S/V40s filled with ATF when new? - this is what Haynes also suggest is needed. If I were to mix the two - ie not a complete drain/flush - is this likely to cause any issues?

[ITSv40]

The Haynes manual doesn't deal with the phase2 cars very well and doesn't cover all the updates. My 2001 fluid was a dirty brown when I purchased it at 90,000mls. I went to Volvo and they confirmed it should be CHF. The car had full Volvo dealer service history so I can only assume the colour had changed through use. I purchased some Volvo.CHF fluid - which is a nice bright green - and flushed the system through with clean fluid and then topped up to the correct level. No problems since and the fluid is still dark green.

[v_forty]

Great thanks, think I'll end up flushing it all out and renewing rather than just a 'refresh'. Am I right in thinking it holds 1l total?

[ITSv40]

Originally Posted by v_forty

Great thanks, think I'll end up flushing it all out and renewing rather than just a 'refresh'. Am I right in thinking it holds 1l total?

Yes, I undid one of the pipe connections at the rack and soon flushed the old fluid out - front wheels off the ground and just lock to lock a few times and soon done. 1litre sounds about right, but cannot recall exactly. I think I flushed about half a litre through after the system was empty and reconnecting the pipe.