My Power Steering Fluid experiences with 97 Buick Park Ave

[Carlostrece]

My power steering pump moaned loudly using OEM ACDelco PSF, which is conventional oil. I don't know its cSt viscosity.

I tried Lucas PSF, which is conventional oil with 7.5 cSt @ 100KV. It still moaned loudly.

I tried Idemitsu PSF, which is synthetic oil with 7.65 cSt @ 100KV. It still moaned loudly.

I tried Lubegard Complete Multi-Vehicle PSF, which is synthetic oil with 5.34 cSt @ 100KV. It now has little to no moaning. It's a huge improvement. I think my pump is still a slightly sick puppy, but it's doing much better now when using Lubegard.

In a similar Buick Park Ave, I used Valvoline Pro Series PSF, which is synthetic oil with 7 cSt. It did not moan.

So it appears to me that Buicks (at least those from 90s through 04) power steering likes a synthetic oil with viscosity cSt from 5.3 to 7 @ 100KV.

Redline PSF has 7 cSt @ 100KV. So (I assume) it'd be another good choice.

I highly recommend Lubegard Complete Multi-Vehicle Synthetic PSF for Buicks, Oldsmobile, Chevy, and other 90s to 04 GM cars. Valvoline Pro Series Synthetic PSF is good too. I assume Redline PSF is good (based on its cSt), but I haven't tried it.

 

[Johnny248]

I have been running Lubegard syn PSF in three of my vehicles and have been very happy with it. Especially one one if them that wasn't a big fan of cold winter mornings. Curious how yours would do on ATF.

 

[AZjeff]

I highly recommend Lubegard Complete Multi-Vehicle Synthetic PSF for Buicks, Oldsmobile, Chevy, and other 90s to 04 GM cars. Valvoline Pro Series Synthetic PSF is good too. I assume Redline PSF is good (based on its cSt), but I haven't tried it.

Wonder how many 90s to 04 GM cars are in use by BITOG members? In the United States?

 

[Carlostrece]

Wonder how many 90s to 04 GM cars are in use by BITOG members? In the United States?

Probably a lot are still on the road because they're excellent cars.

I mentioned 90s GM cars because that's what I have the most experience with, but
Lubegard, Valvoline, and Red Line PSF are multi-vehicle synthetic PSF. Their usefulness isn't limited to 90s to 04 GM vehicles. These excellent multi-vehicle synthetic PSF claim to be good for American and Japanese cars over a wide period of time (decades).

I have also used Valvoline Pro Series Synthetic PSF in another 90s Buick and in a 96 Jeep Cherokee XJ with excellent results in both.

There might also be other brands of excellent multi-vehicle synthetic PSF. I only mention the ones I'm familiar with.

One important point that I was trying to make is that having an appropriate viscosity synthetic PSF seems to be crucual to success. That's why I stated the viscosity of each PSF that I tried.

The various brands of multi-vehicle PSF that I Iooked at the datasheets of have 100KV viscosity ranging from 5 to 7.65 cSt. My Buick likes from 5-7 cSt.

That's ^ 100KV cSt (full op temp).

40KV cSt matters too. Lubegard excels at that too. Lubegard has 26 cSt @ 40KV and pourpoint is -51C or -60F.

 

[Carlostrece]

I have been running Lubegard syn PSF in three of my vehicles and have been very happy with it. Especially one one if them that wasn't a big fan of cold winter mornings.

Same here. My Buick was moaning terribly at cold start and during first 5 min of engine running. That problem existed with stock OEM ACDelco conventional PSF. Had same problem with Lucas conventional PSF, and then Idemitsu synthetic PSF.

Lubegard Complete Multi-Vehicle Synthetic PSF mostly (90%) cured the moaning.

I know my pump is a high mileage sick puppy, but when using Lubegard Complete Multi-Vehicle Synthetic PSF my pump is much improved. I wish I'd switched to it years sooner.

Lubegard Complete Multi-Vehicle Synthetic PSF specs:
5.34 cSt @ 100KV.
26 cSt @ 40KV
Pour point -51C or -60F

 

[charbaby]

I’ve cured lots on 90’s GM power steering moans & groans with HONDA Genuine PSF(for Honda & Acura vehicles.

IDK if Idemitsu made Honda Genuine PSF back in the day however, LubeGard PSF was supposed to be as close to or equivalent to Honda Power Steering Fluid(w/o getting sued). Honda Power Steering Fluid is great stuff and even better than the aftermarket PSF that(supposedly) meet Honda Power Steering Fluid spec, especially in the fridge temps.

You may want to do one more fluid change with either Honda Genuine or the LubeGard fluid.

 

[AZjeff]

If you 97 Park Avenue won't work properly on OEM fluid is it failing?

 

[Carlostrece]

I’ve cured lots on 90’s GM power steering moans & groans with HONDA Genuine PSF(for Honda & Acura vehicles.

OEM Genuine Honda Power Steering Fluid has 12.6 cSt @ 100KV. That's excellent for Hondas, but is way too thick for other Japanese and American cars, IMO. I would put OEM Genuine Honda Power Steering Fluid in a Honda, but not in anything else.

IDK if Idemitsu made Honda Genuine PSF back in the day.

Idemitsu makes OEM Genuine Honda Power Steering Fluid and puts it in a Honda bottle and then Honda sells it as Genuine Honda brand PSF 12.6 cSt @ 100KV. It's much thicker than Idemitsu branded PSF 7.65 cSt @ 100KV.

However, LubeGard PSF was supposed to be as close to or equivalent to Honda Power Steering Fluid(w/o getting sued).

Lubegard Complete Honda/Accura Synthetic PSF has 13.2 cSt @ 100KV and is excellent in Hondas. I use it in my neighbor's Honda. However, it's a very different product than the version of Lubegard I use in my Buick.

In my Buick, I use Lubegard Complete Multi-Vehicle  Synthetic PSF 5.34 cSt @ 100KV.

Honda Power Steering Fluid is great stuff and even better than the aftermarket PSF that(supposedly) meet Honda Power Steering Fluid spec, especially in the fridge temps.

OEM Genuine Honda Power Steering Fluid is excellent for Hondas.

Lubegard Complete Honda/Accura Synthetic PSF is excellent for Hondas.

Lubegard Complete Multi-Vehicle Synthetic PSF is excellent for American and Asian cars other than Honda..

You may want to do one more fluid change with either Honda Genuine or the LubeGard fluid.

I did it twice using the correct version of Lubegard for the application. However, once would have been enough because I replaced the fluid in entire system each time (not just the resevoir).

 

[Carlostrece]

If you 97 Park Avenue won't work properly on OEM fluid is it failing?

It was failing, or threatening to fail, on stock/OEM PSF. It was moaning loudly for 5 min after coldstart.

Lubegard has made it much better. Now it only softly moans for 1 min after cold start. It's a signifigant improvement. Now I think it'll last 5-10 more years. Eventually I might need to buy a new pump.

It's a shame I didn't start using Lubegard PSF sooner - back when it was a lower miles car.

 

[Nessism1]

Could it be that the 28 year old pump is just tired?

 

[GSCJR]

I used PSF "for Asian" vehicles in my dad's '06 Uplander 3.5L which was also "suitable for" Hondas. There was no negative impact in both performance or sound.

 

[Carlostrece]

Could it be that the 28 year old pump is just tired?

Yes. It's defineately tired.

 

[silversport]

I’ve cured lots on 90’s GM power steering moans & groans with HONDA Genuine PSF(for Honda & Acura vehicles.

IDK if Idemitsu made Honda Genuine PSF back in the day however, LubeGard PSF was supposed to be as close to or equivalent to Honda Power Steering Fluid(w/o getting sued). Honda Power Steering Fluid is great stuff and even better than the aftermarket PSF that(supposedly) meet Honda Power Steering Fluid spec, especially in the fridge temps.

You may want to do one more fluid change with either Honda Genuine or the LubeGard fluid.

I recall this being a recommended fix back in the day...as was this fluid from AC Delco...

 

[Carlostrece]

I recall this being a recommended fix back in the day...as was this fluid from AC Delco...
View attachment 316613

Yes. I've heard of that ACDelco Cold Climate PDF. The Lubegard Complete Multi-Vehicle Synthetic PSF that I'm now using is excellent for cold climates and all climates.

 

[nascarnation]

Back in the day we called this "morning sickness".
I cured a similar problem on my grandson's Lexus ES330 switching to Valvoline ULV ATF.

 

[charbaby]

OEM Genuine Honda Power Steering Fluid has 12.6 cSt @ 100KV. That's excellent for Hondas, but is way too thick for other Japanese and American cars, IMO. I would put OEM Genuine Honda Power Steering Fluid in a Honda, but not in anything else.

Idemitsu makes OEM Genuine Honda Power Steering Fluid and puts it in a Honda bottle and then Honda sells it as Genuine Honda brand PSF 12.6 cSt @ 100KV. It's much thicker than Idemitsu branded PSF 7.65 cSt @ 100KV.

Lubegard Complete Honda/Accura Synthetic PSF has 13.2 cSt @ 100KV and is excellent in Hondas. I use it in my neighbor's Honda. However, it's a very different product than the version of Lubegard I use in my Buick.

In my Buick, I use Lubegard Complete Multi-Vehicle  Synthetic PSF 5.34 cSt @ 100KV.

OEM Genuine Honda Power Steering Fluid is excellent for Hondas.

Lubegard Complete Honda/Accura Synthetic PSF is excellent for Hondas.

Lubegard Complete Multi-Vehicle Synthetic PSF is excellent for American and Asian cars other than Honda..

I did it twice using the correct version of Lubegard for the application. However, once would have been enough because I replaced the fluid in entire system each time (not just the resevoir).

All I am saying is, throughout the 90s & early 2000’s, Honda Genuine PS Fluid cured a large number of GM PS units that experienced the noise, groans, sticking(a.k.a. Morning Sickness) that you were talking about and it was heavily discussed here at BITOG. I have never used Honda PS fluid in other Japanese vehicles that required other PS fluids or ATF.

Also at that period of time, LubeGard had(IDK if they still have) a PS additive that they claimed, “would convert other PS fliuid into HONDA PS fluid”. So, at that period of time that I was referring to, the HONDA PS Fluid was an easy go-to resolution.

I am glad that you found your resolution.

 

[nthach]

I recall this being a recommended fix back in the day...as was this fluid from AC Delco...
View attachment 316613

Isn’t that stuff rebottled Pentosin CHF 11s?

I’ve used Red Line D6 or MaxLife in Toyota power steering with success. I used it in a Subaru that sees Tahoe, works out nicely on 0-10 degree mornings.

 

[Egg_Head]

FWIW specs on Pentosin CHF 11:

https://crpautomotive.com/wp-conten...roduct-Data-Sheet-Hydraulic-Fluid-CHF-11S.pdf

Specs of LubeGard Multi-vehicle PSF:

 

[Carlostrece]

FWIW specs on Pentosin CHF 11:

https://crpautomotive.com/wp-conten...roduct-Data-Sheet-Hydraulic-Fluid-CHF-11S.pdf

Specs of LubeGard Multi-vehicle PSF:
View attachment 317255

Wow. Pentosin CHF-11 specs are amazingly good. That's excellent info. Thanks!

So the specs show that Pentosin CHF-11 would be an even better for my 97 Buick than Lubeguard Complete Multi-Vehicle Synthetic. I will keep that in mind.

However, Lubegard is doing fine. So I think my problem is already solved. I'm sure my cousin is sick of changing my PSF. I know I am. So I'll just let sleeping dogs lie.

But I will keep Pentosin CHF-11 in mind.

 

[Egg_Head]

Wow. Pentosin CHF-11 specs are amazingly good. That's excellent info. Thanks!

So the specs show that Pentosin CHF-11 would be an even better for my 97 Buick than Lubeguard Complete Multi-Vehicle Synthetic. I will keep that in mind.

However, Lubegard is doing fine. So I think my problem is already solved. I'm sure my cousin is sick of changing my PSF. I know I am. So I'll just let sleeping dogs lie.

But I will keep Pentosin CHF-11 in mind.

I've used LubeGard as a Hyundai PSF-4 substitute with excellent results. I'm a big believer.