Originally Posted By: wallyuwl
I have a 2003 Pontiac Vibe. I want to change the power steering fluid since it is looking a little "used up". I've been good with replacing the other fluids, just let this one slide I guess. The manual calls for using just Dexron III ATF fluid.
I'm considering using MaxLife ATF fluid (fully synthetic and meets Dex VI specs). Should I do this or just another synthetic such as their Dexron VI fluid (blue bottle)?
Thanks!
First of all, the Maxlife product you speak of does NOT meet DEX VI; that is their marketing speak, seen here:
http://www.valvoline.com/products/consum...ission-fluid/37
Fundementally, they cannot "meet" the (former) DEX III(h) specs, and the DEX VI specs, with the same fluid. They also claim it OK for Mercon, Mercon V, Mercon LV and SP, TES-295 and TES-389 ... quite a miracle fluid if you ask me! The bottom line is that it's "recommended for use" by them, which is NOT the same thing as being licensed for specifical applications. GM and Ford don't even license the old stuff any longer.
All that said, I do not mean to infer it's not a good fluid; probably is great stuff, and will likely work very well in your p/s system. Any product that would meet the (former) DEX III and/or Mercon criteria will work. For example they also have this:
http://www.valvoline.com/products/consum...ission-fluid/33
I find it mind-numbing that they state " ... qualified by both General Motors and Ford." Neither GM or Ford license those products any longer, and haven't for several years.
Sometimes marketing is quick to make claims, slow to update outdated material, and generally full of rehtoric. Go figure.
As for the new fluid in your car not being red, that clearly means they did not use an ATF. They likey used a specific p/s fluid replacment; GM's steering fluids are clear for most all of their products. In contrast, Ford's steering fluid has been ATF for years and years (I know because I worked at their power steering factory in Indy for 16 years ...). Your Vibe (a veiled Matrix) was made in concert between GM and Toyota. Toyota uses ATF based products for many of their p/s systems. Hence, the call for DEX III rather than clear p/s fluid in your manual.
As long as they got all the old fluid out, and changed over to the new stuff, you might be OK. The real problem is that I'm not all that confident of all the potential chemical reactions (long term) that might happen from mixing ATF with clear hydraulic p/s fluid. Perhaps one of the few true chemists we have here could comment.
If it were me, I'd be a bit ticked off that they blindly didn't check the fluid spec before doing the work; clearly they didn't pay any attention. I would think the color difference alone would alert them to a potential issue, but that's what you get at some (or many) service facilities. In this situation, I'm the type person that would (at the very least) go back and speak to the site manager, and really drop an ear-full, so that perhaps the NEXT customer didn't get treated that way. And I'd likely demand a full refund, or work re-done, at their expense, just to make a point. I'm kind of a jerk that way. I'm sure their marketing hype brags upon their "professional service" and "trained employees"; make them earn it!
The reality is that your simple act of replacing the fluid (with any one of a multitude of reasonable choices from any major brand competitors) is
MUCH more important than the nuiance of which brand you pick, as long as you use one that is specifically targeted to the performance characteristics of the (former) fluids. But I, for one, would at least want the right type of fluid used, if for principle only.