What is the correct power steering fluid to use for pre-LCI E90?

[Red_Bean_Bun]

Re: What is the correct power steering fluid to use for pre-LCI E90?

IMHO ...... And the reason why a theorist thinks a pre lci e90 should be using the Pentosin .....

E.g. The n46 (4cyl) prior to 2008 etc came with ATF out of the factory. Caps came with ATF inscribed for those rides.
The PS fluid when I looked at the supplementary information at the parts catalog today, however is the CHF11S

View attachment 58112

So in referencing the other WS manuals - both PS fluids - Dexron and CHF11S are listed as acceptable for the n46. What is not acceptable is mixing the 2.

Please get the facts right. E90s with n46 engines use dexron 3 ATF for power steering oil. The 6cyl uses chf-11s. Ts did not even state his model. There is even n53 equipped cars that use electric power steering.

 

[R2D]

Re: What is the correct power steering fluid to use for pre-LCI E90?

The factory used dexron3 oil and sticking to that would be better, IMHO. The car is a pre-lci model and if the owner does not even remember what came with the car, how can we generalize and say the documents say this and that? If another previous workshop had poured something else, would the oils react? If there was a problem after the flush (perhaps 3mths later), would u be responsible for the problem? Looking at the pic, owners car looks like a PI car from japan. But the cap could be replaced. How do we know?

btw, the 2 oils are not the same. The chf oil is thicker to serve hydraulic duties in the dynamic roll stabilization hardware.

 

[Red_Bean_Bun]

Re: What is the correct power steering fluid to use for pre-LCI E90?

You hit the nail right on the head - you are right in that who knows what's in there - so maybe it's better to go with what is the latest spec and flush out whatever is in there ..... Empty out the reservoir or maybe even change it since the filter is built into it.

The other thing is that the 2 oils have different colors (red versus green). If it's not too polluted maybe can still identify though there is still a risk that it maybe previous partially mixed.

The factory used dexron3 oil and sticking to that would be better, IMHO. The car is a pre-lci model and if the owner does not even remember what came with the car, how can we generalize and say the documents say this and that? If another previous workshop had poured something else, would the oils react? If there was a problem after the flush (perhaps 3mths later), would u be responsible for the problem? Looking at the pic, owners car looks like a PI car from japan. But the cap could be replaced. How do we know?

btw, the 2 oils are not the same. The chf oil is thicker to serve hydraulic duties in the dynamic roll stabilization hardware.

 

[zhelinm]

Re: What is the correct power steering fluid to use for pre-LCI E90?

Hi R2D,

Just curious how is the dynamic roll stabilization implemented in the steering? Could not find any info on it and am curious.

 

[R2D]

Re: What is the correct power steering fluid to use for pre-LCI E90?

On some cars, the power steering pump serves as the hydraulic pump for roll stabilization. These cars have a huge reservoir of oil in the tank. Look for the 6 series with v8 blocks. But there are other i6 cars with this too. All factory optioned.

 

[zhelinm]

Re: What is the correct power steering fluid to use for pre-LCI E90?

On some cars, the power steering pump serves as the hydraulic pump for roll stabilization. These cars have a huge reservoir of oil in the tank. Look for the 6 series with v8 blocks. But there are other i6 cars with this too. All factory optioned.

I see, so its a shared pump. Thanks for sharing the info.