Tranny fluid for power steering fluid?

[GreeCguy]

Howdy fellow oilers:
Some of you might remember "back in the day" when it was perfectly acceptable to use Transmission fluid in your power steering pump. Can a person still do that in so called "modern automobiles." (Mine would be 95 Saturn, 93 Ford Taurus, 96 GMC Sonoma).

 

[Gary Allan]

quote:

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Some of you might remember "back in the day" when it was perfectly acceptable to use Transmission fluid in your power steering pump.

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Not only was it perfectly acceptable, it was mandated since there was no such thing as power steering fluid. I'd still like to hear the case where it couldn't be used ..a REAL case ..not just "it's not what the owners manual says". I mean something like, "It been proven that the xxxyyzzz in ATF is hostile to the blabla in contemporary steering systems" and not "well while I was out searching for BIG FOOT, my cousin and I, added 0.000001 oz. of ATF, just to top off our resevour and it instantaniously cause, not only, seizure, but rapid disintegration and spontanious combustion in the unit." type bullfeathers.

So many evolutions went by without me noticing, that I never even noticed that "power steering fluid" was the current offering. I thought that someone figured that, with the onset of mass idiocy, they could just rebadge smaller quantities of AFT and sell it at a premium to the ignorant bafoons that would buy it. It was one of the points in my life where I thought that I knew it all. Unfortunately, I stood still on the knowing ..and the world moved on

To answer your question: I dunno

I hope someone chimes in with REAL knowledge and not the hockey pokey that I described above.

hmm..but let's move this to the Trans/rear section...

 

[wavinwayne]

FWIW,

Our '97 Ford Expedition's power steering unit uses Type F auto tranny fluid. So, yes, it is still acceptable in certain vehicles.

 

[rrudd2]

Ditto the Lincoln Mark VIII. Type F ATF is the recommended power steering fluid.

 

[mechtech]

I'm pretty sure the Taurus is spec'd for Mercon ATF, in the P.S..

 

[kc8adu]

i know a few folks that use atf in the power steering.
i will do some research before i convert my gm stuff to syn atf.
the 88 chevy van has new pump and gear so shouldnt be any issues with seal compatibility.
the psf i added at the instalation is darkening and smells different than new.

 

[brianl703]

Both from my own experience and what I've heard, Dexron III/Mercon can be used in Ford power steering units that spec Type F with no problems. I'm using Dexron III/Mercon in the power steering units in a 1988 Mustang and a 1996 Contour with no problems. Both are spec'd for Type F.

I'd heard that the factory fill power steering fluid on these cars is Mercon, and that Ford just didn't update the owner's manuals. It makes sense..I don't see them keeping Type F around in the factory just to fill power steering units when Mercon would do just as well...and I don't see them bothering to update the user's manuals when Type F is readily available and can be mixed with the factory Mercon fluid with no problem.

I think the reason they finally changed the manuals is..well..have you looked for Type F transmission fluid lately? It's getting a bit hard to find..

 

[widman]

I looked into the Type F/Mercon recommendations a while back and was told that they just had continued the recomendations without any testing and that the friction modifiers in the mercon were not necesary but would not hurt anything.

I've used Dexron III/Mercon in everything, and was told by the Lubetec people that it was fine for the Porche where PS is recommended. I was surprised to see the 2005 Honda Odessy book say PS fluid only.

 

[Crashbox]

I remember ATF was NOT recommended for older Chrysler products; never understood why except it may have had something to do with the fluid being, shall I say, "integral" with the recirculating ball assembly (if my memory serves me correctly on its design).

FWIW, I just got rid of an old Sta-Lube bottle of power steering fluid formulated specifically for the old MoPars.

[ August 14, 2005, 12:08 AM: Message edited by: Crashbox ]

 

[blupupher]

I know Honda has a specific type of PS fluid that is not Tranny fluid.

I actualy asked Pablo about some PS fluid for my Hyundai and he said the Amsoil Tranny fluid was not recomended for PS fluid for a Hyundai.

 

[97tbird]

My 97 Tbird uses Mercon ATF in the PS unit.(per manual)

 

[Shaman]

quote:

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Originally posted by blupupher:
I know Honda has a specific type of PS fluid that is not Tranny fluid.

I actualy asked Pablo about some PS fluid for my Hyundai and he said the Amsoil Tranny fluid was not recomended for PS fluid for a Hyundai.

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Honda PS pumps are very picky about what fluid you use.

BLupher, did Pablo give you a recommendation on what to use for PS fluid for the Lantra.

 

[Leon]

Back in 1980 my 74 Charger would leak all ATF from the PS overnight. Never leaked a drop when I was filling the PS with cheap engine oil.

 

[bulwnkl]

The '88-'91 Subaru XT6s with the electric "Cybrid" power steering systems must not use ATF nor power steering fluid. There is a Subaru fluid whose composition is unknown to me that must be used. If ATF or power steering fluid is used in these systems, excessive pressure will be generated in very cold weather. This will cause the failure of the rack in a noticeable percentage of vehicles (over 10%) and require very expensive replacement. See xt6.net or usmb.net for more info.

 

[Cutehumor]

I've been using redline D4 atf in my 92 mitsu mirage power steering reservior for over 5 years. no problems so far..ditto for auto trans

 

[y_p_w]

The majority of the cars I've seen spec any "generic" petroleum oil based power steering fluid. Other than that, Dexron-type (I/II/III) ATF seems to be a fairly common specification for certain power steering systems (Toyota and Subaru come to mind). Honda seems to have the most "exotic" PS fluid, although it's reasonably priced at dealers.

 

[MolaKule]

quote:

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Some of you might remember "back in the day" when it was perfectly acceptable to use Transmission fluid in your power steering pump. Can a person still do that in so called "modern automobiles." (Mine would be 95 Saturn, 93 Ford Taurus, 96 GMC Sonoma).

---

Except for the "exception" noted, Honda PS, it is perfectly acceptable to use ATF in the PS.

Racers and performance enthusiats who would prefer something above and beyond a normal mineral or blended ATF fluid for their PS can acquire a synthetic PS fluid from Specialty Formulations.

 

[Truck&Cycle]

I had an 84 Toyota that specifically called for ATF Dextron in the P.S. unit.

I replaced the original fluid with Dextron as stated and in a few days, the steering wheel would not turn. It got progressively harder until it almost locked.

In desparation, I went to Wally World and bought the cheapest crap P.S. fluid on the shelf.

I then flushed the Dextron and added the cheap stuff. In a few minutes, the steering came back and I proceeded to put another 80,000 or so miles on the car.

The only thing I can figure on this one was that the book called for Dextron 11 and all that was available at the time was Dextron 111, a suposed upgraded fluid.

 

[mechtech]

Hondas should only use approved fluids in the PS. For sure.

 

[pezzy669]

Add VW/Audi to the list of using only approved fluids.

The PSF I think is only made by Pentosin (think ATF+4) and runs like $20. Some kind of exotic synthetic fluid.