Steering box oil grade

[russelm]

Can anybody confirm the grade of oil that should be used in the steering box?

The workshop manual states SAE90 2 1/8 pints (1.2 litres) but I have seen mention of using engine oil.

http://www.fordson-dexta.de/downloads/section2.pdf

To me, the SAE90 seems a more sensible option given the application but, having just re-built and re-sealed my steering box I want to make sure I get the right stuff!

Thanks all!

Mark

[Brian]

If you check the Dexta Oil Specs on this forum, you will find the Ford recommendation is 20/30 Multigrade or 30W. There is a Ford spec sheet in Oscar's post.

[russelm]

Thanks Brian

So does that mean the service manual is wrong or did they change the spec?

I looked at the spec sheet in the sticky and it said use the engine oil but had the quantity required wrong and hence the question (I could have imagined that a typo would be possible).

The steering boxes I have encountered in the past have also been 90 grade.

Thanks again

Mark

[Brian]

They changed the spec because, at the time, farmers wanted one oil to do everything, also 90W was a bit slow to fill via the steering column filler.

[russelm]

Thanks Brian

It sounds like its not a particularly critical one then if they could happily change the spec by so much.

Thanks again

Mark

[Brian]

At one time, in the early Dexta, the rear axle was supposed to use 140W!

This was fine until they found it would not go through the valves and ports in the lift! It was soon changed to 20/30W but the manual oil spec. still says 140W.

Shock! Horror! Fords can make mistakes!