Hydraulic Fluid for Seastar/Baystar

I cannot buy Mil-H-5606 anymore, but you can probably special order it somewhere.
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Boris, I wonder if this is a California thing? Maybe shipping? What I just received in by UPS about 2 weeks ago is "Mil-H-5606 A" It was manufactured in Dec 2016 according to the DOM on the can.
 
Bringing this thread back alive as I noticed that the hydraulic steering fluid in our new 25 is a bluish color. I used some Aeroshell 41 in Midnight Flyer which is red. And I know the expensive stuff from Seastar is clear. Anyone know what brand is bluish? I may flush most of it out when I install the autopilot into C-Traveler, but just wondering what might be in there now? Thanks. Colby
 
Colby, congratulations on the purchase of your 25 Cruiser. My opinion for you is to do a full flush of the old hydraulic fluid and put in the recommended fluid for the Seastar unit. I think you will feel better in doing so and you will not have any worries after the job is done.
 
I had a horrible leak in my Wagner lower helm on my new boat. A zinc piece had disintegrated into crumbs allowing oil to squirt out. After looking at everything I could find on the web about the scarcity of Wagner parts and no agreement on which specific hydraulic oil(s) work with my old model, I went to the hardware store and bought new o-rings and Brand X hydraulic fluid.

The fluid, which I also use for my log splitter and garage jack was $14 for a gallon. No dye or anything. So far, when I turn the wheel the rudder moves due to hydraulic pressure. That was my goal. Time will tell if I have a catastrophic failure for not using the right colored expensive stuff from a marine store, assuming people can finally agree on which is the right one. Color me sceptical.

Mark
 
I believe the Wagner systems will do fine on almost any fluid. I have had a couple of them thru the years, and used everything from "jack oil" to mil spec.

I use one of the Mil spec equivalents for the Sea Star. My Phillips is reddish color. I am going to do a complete flush when I put new seals in my ram sometime in the next few weeks.

It is probably a good idea to flush the system every few years--maybe 5 would be a good goal.
 
I bought aviation hydraulic fluid. I got a gallon for what the small bottle of Seastar cost and the only difference is it's dyed red so leaks can be more easily located.
 
Thanks for the idea Colby! I just purchased a gallon from Pearson Field here in Vancouver, WA for $44 + tax. That's about 1/3 it would have cost per quart!
 
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