Hi all, I've had a scout around the web and there's a bit of confusion as to what power steering fluid I should be adding to my 2009 Focus mk2.5 1.8 Duratec.  Haynes reckons WSS-M2C204-A2 and Halford say they don't have anything compatible.

I pulled O/S/F headlamp and opened the fluid reservoir and the fluid is Black?  so I can't work out if it's supposed to be red or green?  I don't want to damage the pump so would it be fine to just syphon the tank with a turkey baster and add some of the Prestone's generic "one for all" fluid?

any ideas? thanks in advance.

4 minutes ago, Bar72 said:

I can't work out if it's supposed to be red or green? 

I'm sure @TomsFocus has answered this question before for someone. If I remember right, some cars left the factory with the wrong colour fluid in them from new, or so it seemed. In reality the Ford Owners Handbook had probably just not been updated and was still showing the old fluid type.

It should be green.  Some factories continued to use up the old red in Mk2's which causes confusion.

Surprised it's black on an EHPAS system.  They don't usually burn like the hydraulic systems do.  That may suggest a deteriorating hose somewhere instead.

I'm very sceptical of Prestone's 'one for all' claim.  But don't have any evidence to suggest the long term effects of using it on a Mk2 EHPAS system.

@TomsFocus Maybe just my eyes as it's a sunny day up here.  I took a quick pic, you correct in saying it's Green.  I'll just order up the M2C204-A2.  Many thanks again, saved me buying the wrong stuff.

 

its all meant to have green if its a Mk2

the handbook should be correct stating ford green fluid - go to your local dealer and buy some
the readily available green stuff - Comma MVCHF is really a compromise between CHF11S and CHF2022 - and is slightly the wrong spec, making the steering about 7% heavier than it should be

I suspect part of the fun is a USA spec fluid that is their equivalent to the Ford spec is illegal to sell in the UK and Europe -  see here

Quote

Description - CHF11S:
Pentosin CHF 11S is a Clear, synthetic high-performance hydraulic fluid for lifetime application in modern vehicle aggregates.  Specially designed for hydraulics in the automotive industry with the highest technical requirements such as in: power steering, level control, shock absorber, hydro-pneumatic suspension, stability and traction control, hydraulics for convertible tops, central lock systems, etc. It is suitable for all extreme conditions and guarantees full performance from -40°C to over 130°C system temperature.

CHF 11S PRODUCT ATTRIBUTES:
Appearance Dark Green
Density at 20°C 825 kg/m
Kinematic Viscosity at 100ºC 6.0 mm/s
Kinematic Viscosity at 40ºC 18.7 mm/s
Kinematic Viscosity at -40ºC 1100 mm/s
Viscosity Index 313
Pour Point -57°C/-70.6°F
Flash Point 160°C/320°F
Ignition Temperature 235°C/455°F

 

Description - CHF 202
Pentosin CHF 202 is a synthetic high-performance hydraulic fluid for lifetime application in modern vehicle aggregates. Pentosin CHF 202 is specially designed for hydraulics in the automotive industry with the highest technical requirements such as: power steering, clutch hydraulic, electro-hydraulic mechanisms of convertible tops, etc. It is suitable for all extreme ambient temperatures and guarantees full performance from -40°C to 130°C system temperature.

CHF 202 PRODUCT ATTRIBUTES
Appearance Dark Green
Density at 15°C 840 kg/m³
Kinematic Viscosity at 100ºC 6.1 mm²/s
Kinematic Viscosity at 40ºC 19.3 mm²/s
Kinematic Viscosity at -40ºC 1400 mm²/s
Viscosity Index 302
Pour Point -54°C/-65.2°F
Flash Point 154°C/309.2°F
Ignition Temperature 245°C/473°F

Comma MVCHF
Density @ 20°C 0.827 g/cm3
Viscosity @ 40°C 19 cSt
Colour Green
Viscosity @ -40 °C 1050 cSt
Viscosity Index 330
Pour Point -54°C

which is why Castrol don't even have a suitable product in Europe !!!
its also got stupidly expensive, the SAME as Ford spec, you need for a Merc is now £33 a litre

the RED crap (like an auto box used) doesn't cope as well as the later better GREEN stuff - you can sort of get away with either - but the RED crap will be GREY and full of iron filings from your power steering pump within 2 years, and goes BLACK after 10 years !!!!

the Green stuff we are allowed in the UK has a shelf life of 5 years....  so its service life is likely even less...  I just did a change on my Merc (who when everyone else had moved to the new Green stuff - used a straw colour for their own label product).  When I got the old stuff out, it was a lot darker and smelt horrible... the current version of the Merc Fluid is MB345 and has at last aligned with the world and its now GREEN 

It was full service history from Ford dealership until 120,000 / 2020.  I doubt the fluid ever been changed as it's a lifetime schedule and it certainly doesn't look Green.  Anyways, I ordered the Green stuff so I'll drain and fire some of that in and job done for another few years.