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456 Power steering Fluid

Discussion in '456/550/575' started by kosmo, Mar 21, 2009.

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  1. kosmo

    kosmo Formula 3

    Oct 19, 2008
    1,569
    BIg D
    #1 kosmo, Mar 21, 2009
    any recommendations besides the Shell Donax TA? Donax is a pain to find. There was a thread about a year ago in the Techincal section in which a chatter recommended Mobil 1 power steering fluid. thanks
     
  2. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    39,025
    Clarksville, Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Terry H Phillips
    #2 tazandjan, Mar 22, 2009
    kosmo- We are using Valvoline MERCON®V fully synthetic ATF in my 575M's steering. Should work for you, too.

    Taz
    Terry Phillips
     
  3. kosmo

    kosmo Formula 3

    Oct 19, 2008
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    BIg D
    #3 kosmo, Mar 23, 2009
    ok dumb question. Is ATF the same as power steering fluid?
     
  4. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    39,025
    Clarksville, Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Terry H Phillips
    #4 tazandjan, Mar 23, 2009
    kosmo- Pretty much,

    Taz
    Terry Phillips
     
  5. kosmo

    kosmo Formula 3

    Oct 19, 2008
    1,569
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    #5 kosmo, Mar 23, 2009
    another marketing scam!!!!

    Taz just a couple more things:
    1. On The 456m the "power steering fluid" also supplies the rear hydrolic self leveling system. Is the valvoline ok?
    2. I think the Shell Donax TA is a mineral based oil while the valvoline is synthetic. Is it ok to mix the 2 or should I drain it first? The reservoir is very low. thanks again.
     
  6. mwhitesell

    mwhitesell Formula 3

    Sep 17, 2006
    1,083
    Atlanta
    Full Name:
    Mark
    #6 mwhitesell, Mar 23, 2009
    Ferrari of Atlanta gave me ATF fluid to add to mine and it worked fine. I still have another quart of it that I wont need if someone near Atlanta wants it.
     
  7. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    39,025
    Clarksville, Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Terry H Phillips
    #7 tazandjan, Mar 23, 2009
    kosmo- I would not mix the two. Different manufacturers' additives are different. If you just want to top it off, you might try Shell Donax TX, which is their semi-synthetic ATF. The additives would be more compatible. The 456 and 456M OMs call for changing the fluid every year, at any rate. This may be overkill since it is lumped in the same box with the brake fluid. The interval is every 2 years on my 575M, but it does not have self-leveling rear shocks. Synthetic ATF should work fine for your shocks.

    Brian, Dave, Steve- Chime in here if you have an alternative you like.

    Taz
    Terry Phillips
     
  8. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    39,025
    Clarksville, Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Terry H Phillips
    #8 tazandjan, Mar 23, 2009
    Mark- Missed your post. That is probably the Shell Donax TX.

    Taz
    Terry Phillips
     
  9. kosmo

    kosmo Formula 3

    Oct 19, 2008
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    BIg D
    #9 kosmo, Mar 24, 2009
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2009
    Ok I got 2 bottles of Valoline at the autoparts store w/ no hassles + it was cheap unlike the shell/ferrari cr@p.
    thanks Taz!

    Now I wonder how I can drain the old fuild???
     
  10. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jul 19, 2008
    39,025
    Clarksville, Tennessee
    Full Name:
    Terry H Phillips
    #10 tazandjan, Mar 24, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Kosmo- There is a drain on the bottom of the tank for draining the fluid. When you refill it, the 575M WSM says to to turn the steering wheel five times with the engine off (that should be fun), check and top off, start the engine for only about 5 seconds and shut off and do five more steering wheel cycles. Repeat until the level remains steady. Do not know what differences the self-leveling shocks add because I only have a partial 456M WSM and that is not in it. From Ricambi's site, here is the drain plug, #6. On my car you have to remove an underbody panel to reach the drain. Calls for 40 nm of torque on the 575M to tighten.

    Taz
    Terry Phillips
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