Hydraulic tank notice

[Greg Kamper]

What is this suppossed to say? I'm assuming it must have synthetic transmission fluid. Does it say anything else like what exactly it is? The "STOP" part

Thanks,

[Joel Ashley]

Not sure what you are referring to.

And please let us know your year and model of coach.

Joel

[Greg Kamper]

I was referring to the sign on the tank. I thought I had the picture attached... my bad. I'm assuming it's the transmission oil res.

[Joel Weiss]

That reservoir has nothing to do with the transmission.  It is the hydraulic fluid (ATF) for the power steering and engine fan.  I don't have any such label on mine. Possibly the label was attached after the transmission was switched to synthetic fluid (Transynd).

[Karl Welhart]

Greg,

I think that is your hydraulic fluid reservoir for power steering.  The sign may be to warn you that it requires a certain type of fluid (normally Dexron III transmission fluid).  It would be important to read your owner's manual just to be sure.

[Edward Buker]

Greg,

You know it wouldn't surprise me if some shop thought that was a transmission reservoir of some sort given it is not labeled on the reservoir what it is for. It has transmission fluid in it anyway so it could be confusing. I think what I could read under the stop looked like the start of the word transmission. It could be someone said change the transmission over to synthetic and that is possibly what they got......a little far fetched but  plausible. If it is synthetic in that reservoir used for the fan and power steering that is a good thing but it leaves you with a question about the transmission. Maybe the maintenance slips for the coach may shed some light. Usually when they convert there was a tag on the dipstick tube or some information posted in the engine compartment. This is a bit of a Dick Tracy type mystery....

Later Ed

[Richard And Babs Ames]

Any Dexron III or higher number was what came in. It  is the reservoir for the cooling fan fluid. We added a lot of fluid to ours when the seal on our cooling fan failed and soaked our toad among other things.  

[Edward Buker]

Greg,

That is the hydraulic fluid reservoir for the power steering and hydraulic radiator fan.

Later Ed

[Greg Kamper]

Thanks for the information. Unfortunately I don't have much information on the history of the coach. I bought it sight unseen from a wholesaler half way across the country, who was a friend of a friend for a very small amount. How full do I need to fill it?
Thanks.

[Edward Buker]

Greg,

I use my finger as a dipstick, if the end is wet you are O.K. There is a sight glass on the side but it may be hard to see the level. You need a little space for expansion as the fluid as it gets hot, maybe within a half inch or so from the top of the tank for a level is good. Certainly not coming up within the welded on fill spout.

Later Ed

[Richard And Babs Ames]

Greg,

That is the hydraulic fluid reservoir for the power steering and hydraulic radiator fan.

Later Ed

On our 1997 Patriot "non Thunder" there is a seperate hydralic system (pump etc) for the power steering, the tank shown is for the radiator fan only and a third for the jacks and slide out.

[Joel Weiss]

On our 1997 Patriot "non Thunder" there is a seperate hydralic system (pump etc) for the power steering, the tank shown is for the radiator fan only and a third for the jacks and slide out.

Your setup is not relevant to the OP's post.  I have exactly the same coach and have already noted that the reservoir is for his power steering and fan.  The leveling jacks use a totally separate reservoir combined with the motor and pump.  With all due respect, these threads become longer and more confusing than necessary when people post extraneous information.

[LarryNCarolynShirk]

Greg,

Is it Possible the PO changed the Dextron to Transynd?  I think the color of the fluid is different.  You should check that possibility before adding Dextron III.  I am color blind, so can not help on which color is which.

Do not overfill, or it will run out the fill cap when it heats.  That is messy.  Leave it no higher than the bottom of the sight glass.

Larry

[Joel Weiss]

Greg,

Is it Possible the PO changed the Dextron to Transynd?  I think the color of the fluid is different.  You should check that possibility before adding Dextron III.  I am color blind, so can not help on which color is which.

The label clearly states "This transmission is filled with synthetic fluid"

A 2000 Patriot Thunder would not have come from the factory with synthetic fluid (Transynd).  The logical assumption is that some PO converted it to Transynd as mine was before I bought it and posted this notice (or his mechanic did) to make sure that no one inadvertently added Dexron fluid to it.  The STOP was just to make sure people paid attention before adding fluid.  Unfortunately, no one adding transmission fluid would see that notice since that's not where you add fluid.

The fact that the note was posted on the side of the hydraulic reservoir may have been coincidence or it may have been because the PO didn't know that the reservoir had nothing to do with the transmission.  Take a fluid sample from the transmission and have it analyzed.  It will tell you whether or not it is Transynd.  If it isn't you ought to get it changed anyway IMO.