Picked up some fluids today...

[The Critic]

Prestone DOT3, for my brake fluid change. $3.99/qt.

SuperTech Power Steering Fluid, for my power steering system "suck-n-fill." $1.99/qt, bought three quarts.

For the transmission, I'll be using SuperTech Dexron-III(H) I bought a few months ago along with a Fram P6646 spin-on transmission filter. Will be doing a 4.2 qt case drain and filter change, which will remove nearly 60% of the old fluid.

Thoughts? Comments? This is for a beater '96 Saturn SL2 with 93,500 miles on it.

 

[gtx510]

3qts of PSF? For one car? Dad is gonna be ******.


Use your leftover brake fluid (you should have a bunch) as paint stripper.
Once you open the bottle it starts absorbing moisture from the air.
You can use it as a top-off but remember to get new stuff next time you flush.


you could do a "suck-n-fill" on the transmission and then change the filter after 3-5k?

 

[The Critic]

quote:

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Originally posted by gtx510:
3qts of PSF? For one car? Dad is gonna be ******.

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Doubt I'll use all of it. Will be doing five "suck-n-fills" using the shop's compressed air operated Mityvac. Current fluid looks like Pepsi. Pitch black in the bottle, but brown on paper.

quote:

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Originally posted by gtx510: Use your leftover brake fluid (you should have a bunch) as paint stripper.

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Actually, I'll use it as an excuse to do dad's '92 Toyota van which has 14 years+ on the original fluid.

Then, as an excuse, I'll check his van and ask to change the coolant, transmission, and power steering fluids as well.

quote:

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Originally posted by gtx510:you could do a "suck-n-fill" on the transmission and then change the filter after 3-5k?

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Why would I want to do that? The current fluid has 24,000 miles on it and has previously been changed about every 30-35k miles. Current filter does have 60k miles on it though.

Not too worried, as the Allison uses the same filter and specs a 100k service interval. But I'll be changing it much more frequently from now on.

 

[labman]

quote:

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Originally posted by gtx510:



Once you open the bottle it starts absorbing moisture from the air.
You can use it as a top-off but remember to get new stuff next time you flush.

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Play around like that and no wonder you have to flush the system. My owners' manual says never top off the master cylinder. In 85K, I haven't had the cap off of my 04.

 

[cfromc]

I agree, when would you ever need to top off a master cylinder? Only when bleeding the system.

 

[gtx510]

You guys must drive newer cars?
M/C's and calipers can leak, they don't normally, but they can.
Until I dig into the rear brakes this is how I "flush" my 510 brake fluid.

If you don't need a top-off then go back to my paint stripper comment.


And if you run you brakes WAY down you can go from the max to below the min mark.
But if you top-off, fluid will probably come out of the M/C when you change your brake pads and compress the calipers (pistons).


critic, I was figuring that you'd never changed the ATF.
definately flush dad's brakes too.
maybe the PSF also?

 

[The Critic]

quote:

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Originally posted by gtx510:
definately flush dad's brakes too.
maybe the PSF also?

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Yep. PSF too, except that unit takes ATF.

Need to do his AT as well. Only one drain and fill at 45k with Chevron Dexron-III(H) at the dealership. Currently has 62k on it.

PS- I've never had top-off brake fluid.

 

[gtx510]

PSF should be able to replace ATF in a PS system, especially if it's D/M3 ATF.
I did that with Redline PSF in my '88 Mazda 323GTX and Valvoline Maxlife or Synpower PSF in our '91 Jeep XJ.


Be glad, topping off brake fluid usually means that you need to start replacing/rebuilding stuff.

 

[Islandvic]

I think they will work just fine,.

I used Super Tech Power Steering FLuid in my '95 K1500 with multiple turkey baster applications.

I added 4oz of LubeGard P/S Protectant also.

I used Super Tech DexIII for multiple drain/refills too on the Z-71 with LubeGard Red.

The power steering and trans are still working great!