Fluid for 86 F-150 P/S

[JZiggy]

Hey guys,

I've been helping a buddy work on his old, abused 86 F-150 with the 4.9. His P/S fluid looks like mud and I want to change it out.

He's used standard P/S fluid in the past. My question is, what is the *correct* fluid for this application? Can I get a jug of multi vehicle dex/merc and use that?

 

[Clevy]

I've used transmission fluid in the power steering pump in a pinch but drained it(well it drained itself) until I fixed the leak.
I would assume any modern power steering fluid is leaps and bounds better than what was available in 1986. You could do a couple of changes to flush out the mud but in a truck(power steering pump) that old I wouldn't use any type of solvent flush. Leaks are entirely possible. Just change the fluid and call er done.

 

[JeffM]

Type F ATF is the correct application.

 

[abycat]

Even my 94 calls for type f. Many people use dex/merc but since type f is easy to get im sticking with that. If he wants a quiet ps pump get one from the van including the bracket and it bolts right up. The van uses the quiet saginaw one.

 

[JZiggy]

So would the best bang for the buck be some Supertech Type F? This is a beater truck, no need to get fancy.

 

[KD0AXS]

Supertech Type F will work great.

 

[artificialist]

It calls for type F, but I have used all other kinds of ATF in Ford power steering systems and never had any problems.

 

[MinamiKotaro]

Dad's 1981 F150 calls for Type F but he's used Mercon V - power steering and trans - in it for years with no ill effects.

It's convenient since his Taurus also uses Mercon V.

 

[Garak]

Same, my Fords of that vintage have called for Type F, but I've also used Dexron/Mercon types without any problems.

 

[Jim Allen]

I have a full set of '86 service manuals (I have an '86 F250 bought almost new) and they call for Type F.

 

[JZiggy]

So I could really run anything in there...