MainelyA8

I'm slowly checking things off of my pre-winter to do list, and power steering fluid is next. The steering has been stiff ever since I got it back from the 3rd world country garage that did my TB service, so I figure now is a better time than ever.

I called the dealership, and I was told that the correct fluid is Pentosin CHF 202. After a little bit of looking online, most are saying that it's CHF 11S? Which is correct?

03_AR_CO

I've been using the 202

IndyAudi

The Pentosin website claims they are "fully compatible and mixable." However, their brochure says the CHF 11s is for Audi models up to 2005. The CHF 202 is for 2006 and later models.

http://www.pentosin.net/pressrelease...luid_guide.pdf

MP4.2+6.0

202 superseded 11F in Audi's book. I have used both. Spec differences seem pretty subtle from Pentosin's site.

Mister Bally

I still use the Pentosin 7.1 in my '04 A8, my son's '03 TT and my '01 Beetle. or the Bilstein equivalent (Febi 06162). The Pentosin 7.1 is getting hard to find so going forward it's the Pentosin 11.

Ballykid's Steering rack just started to leak pretty bad. We bypassed the hydraulic pump with a shorter serpentine belt yesterday to get him by. His TT requires subframe removal to access. A fun job for sure. Might pay an indy to do the job as time is precious right now.

uberwgn

The CHF 202 is a suitable and less expensive alternative to the 11S product.


I see these products at Advance Auto Parts nowadays.

richard-tx

CHf11S is thinner than CHF202

CHf202 is speced for Audi 2006 onward.

11s is for 2005 and earlier.

MainelyA8

I think I'll go ahead and source some 11S; thanks guys. I wonder why there's a difference between fluids between 05 and 06.

Jack88

You can find it for around $60 for a 5 quart container on ebay.

MP4.2+6.0

It shouldn't be a parts change on the steering side, but rather a spec change. The hydraulic systems can have some pump noise at very low temps. I had it on my 2000 A6 4.2 at like 0-30F until a pump change made it less noticeable. I noticed mostly starting on very cold mornings, like a start to warm car while I scraped off ice or snow. Audi also lowered the pressures a lot over the years (pre-D3) and took the power brakes out of the system to try to counteract the Mount Vesuvius stuff of the early (mid 80's) C3 implementation that used to blow hoses constantly. But in turn they would not get same flow rate at same viscosity of fluid, more so when very cold. Speculating here, but it would be logical and fit with my practical experience of having pump noise at low temps. My (2006) D3 has always been characteristic 12 cyl. quiet in the same mountain cold conditions.

On ABS/ESP side, likewise you can switch to the later brake fluid spec Audi has been using for some years now to allow more rapid ESP solenoid switching/responsiveness at very low temps. I did it some years ago now on D3, and what my Q5 and D4 both use already spec. wise.