Power Steering Fluid to ATF idea.

[Dyusik]

My heep has a 33" tires (with room for 35") and has a stock steering setup. I would like to make it last as long as possible. I know the a/c rad should be utilized for cooling, but I haven't decided on it due to winter mountain play.
Anyway, by smelling power steering fluid and atf, the atf has a significant amount of sulfur, while power steering fluid smelled like the bottle it came from. Due to power steering fluid pump abuse, and aw chemistry in atf, would it be beneficial? For the life of me I could not find any voa/uoa or anything else on power steering fluid (composition)

 

[Ramblejam]

Magnefine and synthetic PSF to maximize performance/longevity.

 

[rslifkin]

I swapped my ZJ from PSF to ATF+4 a while ago, despite the dire warnings in the manual to never do this. No leaks, no issues, no noises (still on the original PS pump at almost 194k miles). And the steering behaves better for the first few minutes when it's below 0* outside too.

I do also run a good size (5x11") stacked plate cooler in the PS return line (it's actually the factory trans cooler from a tow package I6 ZJ).

 

[artificialist]

A/C rad? An A/C radiator is called a condenser, and they were never made to cool power steering fluid or ATF. If you want extra cooling for your power steering system, you can plumb in an external transmission cooler.

 

[DoubleWasp]

If you use a good synthetic fluid in your power steering system, cooling won't be such a critical issue. The power steering system is fine up to 270F with a good syn fluid.

The ticket is to use a good sized transmission cooler mounted behind the radiator if you are concerned with winter temps overcooling your PS system. The air coming off the radiator is more than sufficient to keep the PSF below 270, and you'll never get overcooling.

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: DoubleWasp
If you use a good synthetic fluid in your power steering system, cooling won't be such a critical issue. The power steering system is fine up to 270F with a good syn fluid.

The ticket is to use a good sized transmission cooler mounted behind the radiator if you are concerned with winter temps overcooling your PS system. The air coming off the radiator is more than sufficient to keep the PSF below 270, and you'll never get overcooling.


Another thing he could to to ensure quick warmup is to install a thermal bypass that is designed for transmissions. Here is an example:
http://www.makcotransmissionparts.com/708-4739.html

 

[rslifkin]

Even with the cooler up front, I've never had an issue with the power steering not getting warm enough to be happy, even at -10* F.