[V8] Pentosin crisis

[Acadian Lion]

Well, all this information is very interesting in that it is so diverse.  Standing in the Audi dealer last Friday, I read the label on the current Audi power steering fluid (which is all they stock), and it specifically states on the container that it is NOT to be used with CHF 7.1.  They stock no 11S nor does anyone else I have spoken to from Belfast to Bangor, Maine.  VIP and NAPA can order 7.1 and VIP will eventually stock 11S once the changeover to O’Reilly Auto Parts is complete, which is a couple of month.

The reason I search for 7.1 is because that is what is in my car, which was built in mid 1989 as a 1990 model. It is also the fluid the Audi dealer that I do have some trust for, used and was strict in their instructions. The service manager at that time was the service manager in that store when my car was sold new, so I had a certain level of trust.  Also, the mechanic in that Audi store, who was the ONLY Audi dealer tech to have touched my car was trained by Audi at the time of the V8 rollout.  (Yes, their gray hair was grayer than mine!). I have NEVER seen 11S on any of the autoparts shelves I have looked for here, although I have seen 7.1 in VIP and sometime ago, I seem to remember seeing it in NAPA. We have few other autoparts outlets.

Roger

From: cobram at juno.com 
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2013 12:15 PM
To: Acadianlion at hotmail.com 
Cc: V8 at audifans.com 
Subject: Re: [V8] Pentosin crisis

It's Deja-Vu all over again.  
Where are you getting your information?  The newer synethetic is backwards compatible, Audi had a bulletin about it and it's written right on the bottle.

Audi tech bulletin 48-89-T07 issued in November 1989. States: "The new [synthetic Pentosin 11S] and old power steering fluid [non-synthetic Pentosin 7.1] can be mixed if necessary ... the part number [remains] unchanged."  
The composition of the fluid changed (CHF 11S synthetic mineral oil vs CHF 7.1 non-synthetic mineral oil), but the part number remained the SAME as the old stuff for the new. 
"All 1990 - on Audi models have come filled from the factory with the synthetic CHF 11S Audi power steering fluid (G002000). "

Why would you want to pay exorbitant price for something that can be substituted with several other fluids which cost much less and are easier to find?
Search the archives for Pento$in or DTE.  Some of the substitutes only come in 5 gallon pails (for the price of a few quarts of Peno$in), so you can use sythetic ATF in the system without any reported consequences.  

As for the Bilstein, instead of buying that overpriced brand for the hydraulic suspensions in both the Mercedes wagons, I use the DTE instead.  This way I can flush the system every year or not have to mortgage the house when one of the steel lines springs a leak and I can't get to it for a while.  I also use the stuff as fork and hydraulic shock oil on the motorcycles too.  

If this is for the V8Q, you weren't supposed to be using 7.1 anyway if you went by what Audi says.

BCNU,
Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes.

Acadian Lion <Acadianlion at hotmail.com> writes:
> I need to buy another can of Pentosin CHF 7.1.  It is unobtainable 
> anywhere I am, having tried all the autoparts stores in Maine as 
> well as the dealer.  I even tried ordering a case on Amazon which 
> was at a price per litre not to be believed, only to find that it is 
> out of stock.  
> 
> All that is available to me here through the one parts store that 
> has ANY sort of mineral oil based power steering fluid is some stuff 
> made by Bilstein.  I have NO idea if it is fully compatible with CHF 
> 7.1, and draining and refilling the entire system is just out of the 
> question right now.
> 
> Any comments?  No one seems to have any CHF 7.1 which is for the 
> older cars like our V8’s.  NAPA Auto Parts here in town tells me 
> they can order it, but do not stock it as they move only one liter a 
> year.  The newer Audi stuff is NOT to be used as mixing the 
> synthetic and original will rot the steering system as you watch.
> 
> Has anyone on the list used the Bilstein fluid MIXING it 
> successfully?