Alpha One Stern Drive Trim Fluid Flush/Fill

[No1uNo]

I have a '92 Invader with a Mercruiser 3.0 I/O and Alpha One power trim. I was winterizing my boat a few days ago and noticed that my power trim fluid is getting a bit low and wanted to add some before next season. The problem? I just bought the boat last year and don't know what kind of fluid is in the system. I contacted the previous owner and he doesn't know either. I've read online that the system can take power trim fluid, dexron II, or even motor oil such as 10w30 but that these fluids shouldn't be mixed with one another. I'm pretty sure it's not dexron II as the fluid looks brown, not red. If I had to guess I'd probably say it looks like motor oil but I have no idea what power trim fluid looks like. The fluid looks nice and clean so it probably doesn't need to be flushed if I can figure out what the fluid is. Does anyone know how to tell the difference between power trim fluid and motor oil? Do they look totally different or are they very much the same in appearance? And, if there's no way to be sure what it is, is draining and refilling the system including bleeding the new fluid through the lines something I can do relatively easily at home or is it better to get the pros to do it? I've looked through a few videos online and it doesn't seem that bad but I haven't yet been able to find a video of the exact same system I've got and most of the ones I've seen are replacing way more stuff on their trim than just the fluid.

 

[Scott Danforth]

stick your finger in the PTT reservoir. if its red, its ATF or Dexron. if its brown, its motor oil.

they all can be mixed in the PTT as the system doesnt care the only reason you dont mix ATF and Dexron in automatic transmissions is the clutches and the seals in the transmissions are specific and some interact with various trans fluid additives. you can use hydraulic oil, biodegradable hydraulic oil, motor oil, ATF, Dexron, UTF or other light hydraulic oils.

if you want to drain the system, pull the pump and dump the contents, add new, then pull the lines and flush.

 

[No1uNo]

Thanks so much for your help! Truly appreciated.

 

[banderberg]

stick your finger in the PTT reservoir. if its red, its ATF or Dexron. if its brown, its motor oil.

they all can be mixed in the PTT as the system doesnt care the only reason you dont mix ATF and Dexron in automatic transmissions is the clutches and the seals in the transmissions are specific and some interact with various trans fluid additives. you can use hydraulic oil, biodegradable hydraulic oil, motor oil, ATF, Dexron, UTF or other light hydraulic oils.

if you want to drain the system, pull the pump and dump the contents, add new, then pull the lines and flush.

Can't you just disconnect the lines from the trim cylinders and move the drive up and down to purge the lines and the resivoir?

 

[Chris1956]

A lot of those reservoirs unbolt from the pump, with a single bolt on the bottom. It will drain right into your bilge, or hopefully a catch basin.