Top fluid question..

**LS1 Trans am** · 02-04-2007, 03:33 PM

What kind of fluid do you put in the pump for the convertible top? I was thinking hydraulic, or transmission fluid? Hope somebody knows, mine is getting low.

**Hotwheels Camaro** · 02-04-2007, 10:45 PM

Use Mineral Oil. I haven't had a problem with it yet.

**charlesss** · 02-05-2007, 08:11 AM

wheres the pump located to check the fluid

**Eugenio_SS** · 02-05-2007, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by charlesss

wheres the pump located to check the fluid

opposite side of the spare tire. you'll find a little opening... pull on the trap door and you have access to the hydraulics.

**charlesss** · 02-05-2007, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by Eugenio_SS

opposite side of the spare tire. you'll find a little opening... pull on the trap door and you have access to the hydraulics.

Thanks.. I knever new they had to be topped up

**LS1 Trans am** · 02-05-2007, 05:38 PM

Mineral oil? WTF is that? You sure that is what to use, and where do I get that at?

Originally Posted by Hotwheels Camaro

Use Mineral Oil. I haven't had a problem with it yet.

**LS1Z28** · 02-05-2007, 06:08 PM

Originally Posted by LS1 Trans am

Mineral oil? WTF is that? You sure that is what to use, and where do I get that at?

Any supermarket or drug store. GM changed to mineral oil because the hydraulic fluid was eating the seals. I've had it in my car since 1999 with no problems to date.

**JohnnyBs98WS6Rag** · 02-06-2007, 07:14 AM

Originally Posted by LS1Z28

Any supermarket or drug store. GM changed to mineral oil because the hydraulic fluid was eating the seals. I've had it in my car since 1999 with no problems to date.

Correct. Mineral oil is used as a laxative, you'll find it next to ExLax.

I've switched to mineral oil too, but I've yet to see anything "official" from GM in writing that states this, so I'm going off of the trust I have for my fellow LS1.com'ers.

**LS1 Trans am** · 02-06-2007, 04:46 PM

If you guys say so.. So should I drain what fluid is in there and put straight mineral oil in or not and If so How do I drain it? Thanks guys..

**JohnnyBs98WS6Rag** · 02-12-2007, 05:33 AM

Originally Posted by LS1 Trans am

If you guys say so.. So should I drain what fluid is in there and put straight mineral oil in or not and If so How do I drain it? Thanks guys..

Well, to get ALL of the old fluid out so that you have a 100% mineral oil fill, you'd probably have to disconnect all the hoses, blow them out and manually cycle the cylinders. This sounds difficult and messy, probably not worth it. I just topped off my fluid w/ mineral oil and left what was left of the old stuff (probably Dextron III) in there. Mine still has a slow leak, so the mineral oil didn't help or hurt that, but at least the pump and cylinders are still fine, just need to keep it topped off.