power steering fluid question for 2011 XC90 3.2 I6

[rred]

Hello,

I purchased a used 2011 XC90 3.2 I6 with 100k miles about a month ago for my expanding family. Now I just found the power steering fluid is below the MIN line. The manual says the fluid is Pentosin CHF 11S or equivalent. A google search tells me the color is green. However, the fluid inside the reservoir looks light brown. So should I
(1) top-up the fluid with Penstosin CHF 11s, or
(2) flush the fluid with Penstosin CHF 11s, or
(3) use some other fluid?

Thanks a lot!

[SuperHerman]

Two things: 1) If the fluid is low you have a leak. Track this down - just look at the lines and where they connect. (PS Bottle, PS Pump, and Steering Rack) Usually it is the hose that attaches to the PS Bottle, the clamp gets loose. If loose it can also cause air to enter into the system and your fluid will look funky. It could be the Power Steering Pump, you will see it is wet with PS fluid or even the Power Steering Rack (pretty rare but possible), you will find the rack boots are wet or filled with PS fluid. Either way address why you are low on fluid first.

2) At 100k and for less than $30 in fluid it will only help to change out your fluid rather than refill. CHF 11S is easy to obtain at most stores so I would stick with it - it is more expensive than other fluids, but the added cost is marginal. I suppose if you cannot find a leak, you can top it off with some CHF 11S and watch it carefully until you find the leak. Then fix the leak and change the PS fluid.

Plenty of right ups on changing the PS fluid.

[ggleavitt]

Pentosin CHF202 or CHF11s, whichever is more easily available - http://forums.swedespeed.com/showthread ... ost2256918, couple other posts on MVS as well.

What's in there is supposed to have at least a green tinge, if it looks like red or brown, it's possible someone did a top up with ATF (not green).

Should get the fluid changed, as noted by poster above.

[cn90]

- Pentosin ($20/qt at local NAPA store) is basically synthetic ATF.
- I have seen people regular ATF (Dexron-III at $4/qt) and it is fine too.
- Your call.

[rred]

Thanks for all your suggestions. I will try to track down the leak and then probably a flush with the correct fluid. The current fluid doesn't look anything green to me. I'm worried that wrong fluid was used.

[ggleavitt]

ATF is appropriate for Volvos up to 1999- http://forums.swedespeed.com/showthread ... ring-fluid , some mention of use up to 2000 in the P80 lineup.

Sure, can put all sorts of stuff in the reservoir. Don't agree that it's "fine" to put ATF in a post 2000 vehicle, like putting DEX into an AW5x transmission.

[cn90]

Nope,

I would not compare PS system with Trans.

Trans is very complex and people should use the recommended fluid such as Aisin ATF or Mobil ATF etc. etc.

PS is just vanes in the pump and a rack.
The reason for Pentosin fluid is from the complaint of noisy PS Squeaky noise during the winter at -20C. Regular ATF is a good hydraulic fluid, used in many Volvo and BMWs (that came from factory with Pentosin) with no issues. Search the internet and you will see.

[ggleavitt]

So Volvo moved the entire PS pump line to Pentosin fluid to resolve cold temperature squeaking? I'll search the internet some more, not something that I recall reading over the 13 years I've owned my XC90. Thanks for clearing this up.

[Rattnalle]

The Pentosin fluid is a newer spec than the fluid used before. Whatever reason for the progression the seals and everything will be speced for the new fluid. Using something else is just being a cheapskate and nothing I would do if I was planning to keep the car running.

[SuperHerman]

Plenty of other fluids and straight ATF will work, but for an additional $5-10 I would use CF11. The system works great with it and moving forward you know exactly what you have and what you need. Unless you cannot source CF11 it is more trouble to change fluids. Long term it will make maintenance easier.