PS Fluid vs various ATFs - revisited

[Leo]

quote:

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Originally posted by MolaKule:
Nissan and these GM's use the same fluid for ATF and PS. I think same fluid in both is the norm rather than the exception.

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Even tho my car isnt auto, my Nissan specifies Nissan Genuine ATF for the transmission and Dexron III for the PS unit.

Strange eh!

Anyways, not sure if this has been asked, but is there any advantage to using a PSF in a car that specifies Dexron III?

And how do some additives mate steering easier?? Not that I'd use them, just curious..

 

[MolaKule]

If you look at the fine print in your Nissan manual, the equivalent Nissan ATF is specified as Dexron III.

I would not use PS in a transmission, but one can use ATF in a Power Steering unit.

The reason is that the ATF has all the additves necessary for a transmission and a PS, but not vice versa.

 

[GT Mike]

Last winter my dad complained of stiff steering in his '00 Dakota with rack and pinion steering, and I researched this a little more on the Dodge Dakota forums, and was made aware of a TSB reccomending the use of Mopar ATF+4 in the PS unit. I tried it, and since then the stiffness has gone away completely.

Any thoughts?

 

[Smoky14]

Does anyone have specs on Honda fluid? It seems to be something special as we always used it at the shop on Hondas and ATF on most other brands. MoPar seems to like PS fluid.

 

[Spector]

quote:

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Originally posted by jsharp:

quote:

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Originally posted by sbc350gearhead:
Toyota PS fluid,

is a Dexron III atf without the dye.

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Interesting that Toyota uses red dye in their antifreeze because it's easier to trace leaks, then uses a clear fluid for the PS system...

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Yea, except when they use the Toyota red in an older car that has the red PS fluid. then you have red coolant, red PS fluid and red transmission fluid. Actually, coolant is more pinkish when you place them side by side.

 

[2windy]

quote:

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Originally posted by pgtr:
May not come as a surprise given the Ford connection but Mazdas do (or did at least mine did) spec Type-F for the PS as well...

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FWIW, in my wife's new '03 Protege5, they spec Mercon-V for the sport-shift trans and Dexron III for the PS unit.

- Scott

 

[Pitbull]

Changed the fluid in mine after 130K+ miles and now it started leaking. Not bad but a few drips here and there. Bought some Lucas PS stop leak that works with ATF or PS fluids and sucked some out and added about 4 oz's of the Lucas. Have not noticed anymore drips and the fluid level is fine. The bottle recommended to just keep adding the stop leak if it continued to leak. This is what I get for changing the fluid.

 

[Spector]

quote:

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Originally posted by Pitbull:
Changed the fluid in mine after 130K+ miles and now it started leaking. Not bad but a few drips here and there. This is what I get for changing the fluid.

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I feel your pain. Over the last year I have been removing the fluid from the reservoir and adding synthetic ATF (manual says ATF) Well, a week after the last procedure (about the fourth one)it began to leak, primarily when cold. I will bet the synthetic finally crept through the old seal. Tried the RX route to no avail and am now on the PS Fluid Stop leak trials. Maybe Lucas is in my future or move to Fla where it probably will not leak.

There is a lot to be said for leaving well enough alone!!!!

 

[Whimsey]

Spector,
Did you remove all the old ATF fluid from the PS and replace with synthetic atf at one time? Or did you do it a bit at a time. I have a 1996 Contour with about 58,000 miles on it and I'm replacing just some of the fluid at a time, about 8 oz.. I've had no problems or noises but want to avoid them! Since I need Type F atf I'm just using Valvoline non synthetic. It's not too easy to get Type F fluid anymore. The old fluid was a bit darker but not bad. I just want to avoid expensive repairs/leaks on the R&P unit.

Whimsey

 

[Spector]

quote:

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Originally posted by Whimsey:
Spector,
Did you remove all the old ATF fluid from the PS and replace with synthetic atf at one time? Or did you do it a bit at a time. I have a 1996 Contour with about 58,000 miles on it and I'm replacing just some of the fluid at a time, about 8 oz.. I've had no problems or noises but want to avoid them! Since I need Type F atf I'm just using Valvoline non synthetic. It's not too easy to get Type F fluid anymore. The old fluid was a bit darker but not bad. I just want to avoid expensive repairs/leaks on the R&P unit.
Whimsey

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WOW, I have a 96 Mystigue as well which I have been syphoning out and replacing gradually over a year, same method as the one that now has the leak, So, not all at once, maybe over 9 months.

Type F fluid is easy to find, any Advanced Auto or AutoZone carries it and that is what I use on the Mystique. The one that is leaking I used synthetic ATF.

 

[Whimsey]

Spector,
When you first removed some fluid from your Mystique what was the color. Mine was "darkish" purple. Not black or burned looking just darkish purple. The new Valvoline I added was a light purple/dark pink. Did you have any problems with the steering system or did you do this just for maintenance to head off any potential problems? I don't even know but does the type F ATF come in a synthetic or did you use "regular" type F?

Do you have the 5 speed manual transmission in the Mystique? If so what transmission fluid are you using? I swapped over the Ford special synthetic for the MTX-75 transmission. It was expensive but it sure made a difference in shifting quality for all seasons.

Whimsey

 

[Spector]

quote:

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Originally posted by Whimsey:
Spector,
When you first removed some fluid from your Mystique what was the color. Mine was "darkish" purple. Not black or burned looking just darkish purple. The new Valvoline I added was a light purple/dark pink. Did you have any problems with the steering system or did you do this just for maintenance to head off any potential problems? I don't even know but does the type F ATF come in a synthetic or did you use "regular" type F?

Do you have the 5 speed manual transmission in the Mystique? If so what transmission fluid are you using? I swapped over the Ford special synthetic for the MTX-75 transmission. It was expensive but it sure made a difference in shifting quality for all seasons. Whimsey

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I did the PS just for Maint. the color looked dark red when removed if I remember correctly, The Type F does not come in a synthetic to my knowledge.

I have the auto and use the Amsoil ATF with a drain and fill every 20,000 or so. If manual I would use the RedLine gear oil MTL or MT90 in the transmission, I use it in another auto and IMO slightly better gear oil then Amsoil.