tilt and trim fluid ? for a 1974 merc 888

[austinintexas]

hello all, this is my first post so be a little forgiving.
The service manual for my 1974 mercruiser 188/888 suggests 20wt oil for the tilt/trm pump. however i can not seem to find straight 20w, or at least not at the local automotive.
The guy at the local boat shop recommended mercury brand powersteering/trim fluid. being that this pump is, i assume, a bit dated.
Would this fluid work and will it mix with the 20w?

 

[Bondo]

Re: tilt and trim fluid ? for a 1974 merc 888

hello all, this is my first post so be a little forgiving.
The service manual for my 1974 mercruiser 188/888 suggests 20wt oil for the tilt/trm pump. however i can not seem to find straight 20w, or at least not at the local automotive.
The guy at the local boat shop recommended mercury brand powersteering/trim fluid. being that this pump is, i assume, a bit dated.
Would this fluid work and will it mix with the 20w?

Ayuh,... You can do that, or just use ATF....
Or Anybody's P/S oil...

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: tilt and trim fluid ? for a 1974 merc 888

My 233 (Ford 351) trim specifies SAE 30 oil forthe trim pump. It even has a placard on the trim pump base saying so. I'd imagine you could just use SAE 30, or ATF if you must.

 

[Don S]

Re: tilt and trim fluid ? for a 1974 merc 888

DO NOT mix oils. Do not mix ATF and Engine oil

 

[ziggy]

Re: tilt and trim fluid ? for a 1974 merc 888

for sure don't mix hydraulic fluids and oils like Don S say no to...

my rig wants 20w too. like you, i tried to find some when i got my boat too. all to no avail. i can't remember where i ended up, which company. but i ended up at the mfg. and they said, 20w hasn't been made in many years. there are no products that require 20w anymore. so. 20w is nla.

my rig came with motor oil in it. so, i also use 30w motor oil in my trim system... i would think that you'd want to use something similar to what ya got now. if ya go oil, use oil, if ya got hydraulic fluid, use that for ease of application..

 

[austinintexas]

Re: tilt and trim fluid ? for a 1974 merc 888

thanks for all the input. i am actually not sure what is in it at the moment. If i decide to go with pwr steering fluid would draining/clearing the system via the bleeding procedure(described in the service manual) be enough to clear out the possible oil that may be in there? given that i would bleed it until the liquid is consistent?

 

[johnzonh]

Re: tilt and trim fluid ? for a 1974 merc 888

I have a '74 888 with a similar trim pump... had a small leak so all my oil ran out. filled it up with SAE 30 because thats all I had...and haven't had a problem since. works like a charm.

 

[Don S]

Re: tilt and trim fluid ? for a 1974 merc 888

i am actually not sure what is in it at the moment.

If it's red, it's ATF, If it's the color of engine oil, well .................