1973 Gibson houseboat oil cap

[Bdunbar44]

I’m wondering what this plug is? It’s on the dash with the control panel and says oil on it? What kind of oil do I put in this and how much? It’s left of the steering wheel

 

[Mc Tool]

Hydraulic trim tabs ?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Most likely hydraulic steering

 

[Grub54891]

Steering. If it gets to low, you lose steering.

 

[mr 88]

Probably a Sea Star system, which you can buy there steering oil , 30ish a quart online . Or you can use any light weight oil #5 ( hydraulic oil like they use for snowplows )and under . Transmission oil will also work. Fill to about a 1/2" below the cap , that's for expansion in the hot weather . Depends on where that oil goes to , could be remote tank under the fill hole , or this directly goes to the helm itself . Picture from behind would help . If you can see oil at the top now , your good to go .

 

[mr 88]

Edit above post . OP doesn't state how for from the " steering wheel " it is . If it's within a couple inches of the steering wheel shaft then fill it as stated above as it's not some remote fill system. Through me off when he stated it's on the dash , which can be where the gauges are or where you put your compass and electronics on . Me initially thinking the face of the dash , not the top . Maybe the OP will chime in on this .

 

[Grub54891]

Some systems have a reservoir down in the engine room, it gets filled to a certian level and pumped up with air to keep the system full. I don't recall those having a filler at the helm stations though. If this system loses air or oil, you lose steering completely. If it does lose air or oil, you have a leak someplace.