Power steering oil

[Grand]

My E60 power steering oil is already at half mark. Thought of topping it to the max. Brought to my mechanic and he was about to pour in the oil when i stopped him as i realised that the said oil is red in colour whereas mine is greenish (when view from above the power steering reservoir) and yellowish in colour when wiped with tissue. Care to share what's the colour of your power steering oil? Is it safe to add in red oil instead of the original colour oil?

 

[davidykhor]

active steering or no ?

I don't know if the e60 (without active steering) is the same as my m5, (none active steering system), if it is, the oil in the steering rack is not atf(red =atf) but its a blend of hydraulic oil.

Fyi ..

 

[moots]

Plse refer to the owners manual for the correct fluid .
Some cars use pentosin (sp) and some can make do with the red ATF oil.

My e39 uses ATF dexron 3.Don't think your car can.If in doubt,DO NOT top it up until you are sure.

Oh btw...if there is a reduction in the PS fluid in the reservoir then there is a leak somewhere in the PS system hydraulics.

 

[Grand]

My E60 comes with active steering. My previous E39 uses the same red oil which many mechanics have. But when I saw that the colour of the oil in the power steering reservoir is not red, I thought better to be cautious on the safe side. May just have to approach some of the reputed BM workshop and ask them to top up for me. However my intention of asking this question is to buy the correct oil in a small bottle to be on the standby. For the record, there is no leakage nor wet hoses in the engine bay. The level could have dropped after some time of usage by the previous owner. I just felt more secured if the oil level is at max or near max.

Did anyone here have the habit of keeping a bottle of power steering oil on the standby? Not that I want to "borrow" some of your oil but may be can share what is the brand and specs written on the bottle to assist me to buy the correct one. :wink:

 

[davidykhor]

Just drop by Bavarian Auto (Bmw parts stockist, at jalan ipoh, walk in, get a can, pay and come out )

 

[Grand]

Just checked the oil level again at operating temperature i.e. after driving the car for about 25 minutes after my breakfast with family and was pleased to see that it is at max level. For correction, the level when i checked earlier was in the morning and it is actually slightly above half way to max.:smokin:

Btw, just curious why there is no dedicated thread on "costs and maintenance" for the E60 unlike those for E46 and E39?:hmmmm2:

 

[Sr20]

Grand,
the power steering fluid for later BMW are diff compare to ur e39, the greenwish color ps fluid they call CHF.. just for power steering system...the thickness of the fluid are diff. SO....PLS DON'T MIX UP WITH OTHER FLUID.
it wont cost a lot i think should be about 80-90 ringgit only.

hope this info can help u..

 

[Grand]

No worry, I have checked and it is using CHF 11s. costing about RM45.00 per 1 litre bottle at Munich Auto.

 

[Sr20]

Happy Motoring !!! yahooooo....