International Harvester 55 / 56

Power steering fluid capacity & service interval

International Harvester 55 / 56 uses power steering fluid with a capacity of 3 liters. Service intervals include checking every 50 hours and changing every 1000 hours. The data covers 4 configurations.

The configuration chart below lists fill volumes and service intervals for each engine and trim variant.

TypeSpecifications
1255 XL (1981-1985)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 3 liter
  • Check 50 hours
  • Change 1000 hours
1455 XL (1981-1985)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 3 liter
  • Check 50 hours
  • Change 1000 hours
1255 (1978-1981)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 3 liter
  • Check 50 hours
  • Change 1000 hours
1455 (1978-1981)
  • Use: Normal
  • Capacity 3 liter
  • Check 50 hours
  • Change 1000 hours

Additional Notes

  • The International Harvester 55 / 56 power steering system holds a capacity of 3 liters across all four configurations covered by these specifications, spanning the 1255, 1255 XL, 1455, and 1455 XL models.
  • A 3-liter capacity in a power steering reservoir is a relatively modest volume, consistent with the closed hydraulic circuits typical of agricultural tractor steering systems of the era.
  • The check interval is set at 50 hours of operation under normal use conditions across all four configurations, reflecting the routine monitoring frequency expected for hydraulic fluid integrity in field equipment.
  • The change interval is specified at 1000 hours under normal use conditions, meaning a full fluid replacement is not required until that operational threshold is reached during standard working conditions.
  • The 1255 and 1455 models share identical power steering specifications for their respective 1978-1981 production periods, with no variation in capacity, check interval, or change interval between the two configurations.
  • The XL variants of both the 1255 and 1455, introduced in 1981, carry the same 3-liter capacity and identical 50-hour check and 1000-hour change intervals as their non-XL predecessors, indicating continuity in the power steering system design across the model revision.

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