CH12/LHS2/RR363 substitute

[Jan Forrest]

For those who run earlier models needing vegetable/synthetic hydraulic fluid this page ...

http://www.candokaraoke.com/fluid.html

... may pique your curiosity.
Many have expressed concerns that RR363 is not 'made like it used to be'- perhaps due to the substitution of the original castor oil with a synthetic substitute.
As the basic design of the Rolls Royce hydraulic system is virtually identical to the one fitted to early Citroen DS/ID models it is reasonable to assume that the same fluid should be used in any varient of it.
The author of the site has concluded that a ratio of 9-10% of castor oil in otherwise pure DOT4 hydraulic fluid will give an identical viscosity to the original CH12/LHS2/RR363 with no known adverse reactions. Admittedly some Australian enthusiasts have gone as high as 15-18% castor oil with similar results although it has been noted that this quantity might be too high in many countries if the ambient temperature drops below freezing, when 'clumping' of the castor oil has been observed.
So far I've obtained 5 litres of DOT4 and I'm waiting for delivery of the 500ml of castor oil to mix into it. Once done, and time permitting, I shall flush through the hydraulic system of my Shadow 1 and replace all the old fluid with the new mix. Then after a few hundred miles I shall report back with my observations.

[Omar Shams]

I have read the notes with interest. It has been a year since the above posting, and I am dying to know if the experiment has worked. Shall I swap the RR363 in my Wraiths to Dot4 and 15% Castor oil? I have already bought the castor oil.......... waiting to hear form someone please