trans fluid or trim fluid

[steplift20]

in my manuel it says you can use transmission fluid if you dont have power trim fluid, The reason im asking is that i have a leak in my 150 mercury out board but i cant locate it, sounds funny but its the truth, so instead of buying trim fluid whitch is more money can i use trans fluid, is it the same, anybody know? thanks
my mechanic said if i hold it to the up position and hold it there it puts the system on with the greatest preasure so i should be able to find it then, im going to try it as soon as i get the batterys in it.I live in the n.e. new jersey so the weather isnt that good yet to work on it but very soon as soon as i get my house in order [thats what my wife said]

[smokeonthewater]

I would NEVER use atf in a trim system... I have had to repair a few that had atf and some water in them and when atf mixes w water it becomes the nastiest goop ever... a true nightmare to clean out.... top it off and find the leak... hint... it's most likely the seal on the cylinder or if it has a hose that is another possibility

[steplift20]

thanks for the come back I new it was to easy I guess why its more money thanks again

[THEFERMANATOR]

I would NEVER use atf in a trim system... I have had to repair a few that had atf and some water in them and when atf mixes w water it becomes the nastiest goop ever... a true nightmare to clean out.... top it off and find the leak... hint... it's most likely the seal on the cylinder or if it has a hose that is another possibility

Last I checked ATF was the same stuff except dyed red and had friction modifiers in it that trim fluid doesn't have. You could also substitute power steering fluid if you're in a pinch.

[smokeonthewater]

eh... YMMV but I very much did not enjoy my experience with it....

[macojoe]

I have used jack oil in a pinch, I got lucky I guess

[spareparts]

10W30 motor oil is specified by mercury before they started repackaging it as trim fluid. BTW, ATF has the same viscosity, just has a lot of detergents in it

[Kracker Jack]

off the subject but i also heard from numerous people that you can recharge your K&N filters with ATF also. its the same stuff that K&N sells. FYI

[Destroyer]

Last I checked ATF was the same stuff except dyed red and had friction modifiers in it that trim fluid doesn't have. You could also substitute power steering fluid if you're in a pinch.

Exactly correct. ... AND, like MJ said, jack oil will also work. In fact, ANY hydraulic oil will work. We buy 55 gal drums of hydraulic oil for our bulldozers and excavatrors and etc, and you can use that stuff also. THEFERMANATOR hit the nail on the head, the only difference in all of them is the different additives that manufacturers put in the oil for different reasons. And any water, in any oil, makes a mess that has to be cleaned out, because it makes oil loose lots of it's friction and corrosion fighting properties. (Although technically, you could use water itself as a hydraulic fluid in a cylinder.. the friction and corrosion that would result would ruin the cylinder in a short time, but in an emergency you could use it.)

[steplift20]

So im realy confused now,, would you use it or not use it

[reelapeelin]

So im realy confused now,, would you use it or not use it

I've never used anything but Trans fluid w/out any problems...if water gets inside the system, I imagine yer gonna have problems no matter what's in it...JMHO...

[THEFERMANATOR]

I use DEXRON 3 type ATF in all trim systems as well. DEX/MERC fluid will work just fine, plus has seal conditioners in it. Just don't go and use a synthetic ATF like DEX VI in it as it will eat the seals.

[smokeonthewater]

The stuff I had to deal with turned into a sticky goop about the consistency of toothpaste..... All I know is what I saw.... I used to feel it was fine and would have agreed with the guys here but now no way would I use it... you might be fine... maybe there was something else at play but I have encountered a few people with similar stories to mine... I suggest staying away from atf for this use but I have nothing concrete... in the end it's up to you. A couple say go for it and one says don't.... we aren't gonna agree and even if I am right you still might not have any problem.

Either way, just fix the leak and the cost of fluid becomes far less important... besides best not to be pumping any more oil into our waters than they already gets.


BTW I can say for certain that my K&N recharge oil is definitely not the same as ATF.. very thin aerosol and sticky when it dries... smells way different too