Upgrade from GM power steering fluid?

[default]

I ran random cheap dex in both GM cars I ever had(both Saginaw pumps), over 2 years in my 96 Sunfire, I once even go bored and dumped a few ounces of STP in it to see if the pump would quiet down at all, no changes were noted. The 98 Bonneville blew a motor right after I broke the pump and installed a reman one full of supertech dex 3 HM. Never a problem, didn't whine any worse than it did on anything else.

My father only ever used dex 3 in his GM pickups with saginaw pumps. Again, no issue.

Power steering fluid doesn't need to do much but deal with heat(hence the M1 recommendation)and be good at being hydraulic fluid. Most cars are running on some black watery fluid that was once cheap trans fluid, PS fluid, or some combination, anything fresh is better than that, you could probably run a Saginaw pump on 5w30 motor oil and it wouldn't complain.

Though not really a GM product, I just flushed my 99 Prizm, which at least in Toyota trim, calls for ATF, with M1 ATF, I hope to never need to touch it again.

 

[tig1]

M1 ATF is outstanding in extreme temps. Never had a pump fail usin it in 20 years.

 

[Jeff_in_VABch]

Originally Posted By: GMorg
To default: Have you used M1 ATF for long periods of time in a GM? I have not because GM suggests that ATFs are not compatible with all of their seals over time. I have M1 ATF in my wife's Mercury. I think that it is great stuff in Ford PS systems. Do you KNOW that M1 ATF will not cause any of the issued that GM suggests that it may.


Starting in 2012 many GM vehicles have switched from the GM power steering fluid to Dex VI. The hardware is all the same from 2011 to 2012. The reason was to resolve customer complaints about noise in some situations. Im guessing that in the future, those GM vehicles with PS pumps will all use ATF. If you look at the specs, the vis is pretty close on PS fluid and ATF.

From the Jan 2012 GM tech tips issue:
Steering System Conversion to Dexron VI
Dexron VI fluid was introduced in the power steering systems
on the Acadia, Enclave and Traverse in production during the
2012 MY.
There may be some questions about the use of Dexron VI fluid in
the power steering system when performing a repair on these
vehicles from a past model year: 2007-2012 Acadia, 2008-2012
Enclave, 2009-2012 Traverse, and 2007-2010 OUTLOOK.
Refer to #PI0620 for information on using Dexron VI in the power
steering system. The information includes:
• The procedure for converting the system to Dexron VI
• How to procure an identification tag for the power steering
reservoir to identify that the system has been converted
• Conditions under which this conversion should be performed
To prevent a pinion seal squeak in the future, it is recommended
to convert to Dexron VI only when a steering gear is replaced. It is
not recommended to convert to Dexron VI for any other service to
the power steering system because the pinion seal has already
been exposed to the old fluid, which is the cause of the squeak
condition. Converting to Dexron VI without changing the pinion
seal would not prevent a pinion seal squeak in the future.
Furthermore, if a squeak should develop from the steering gear
pinion seal, it is imperative to convert the system to Dexron VI
before replacing the pinion housing and inlet hose as outlined in
#PI0029F. The new housing recommended as part of this service
procedure contains a fresh seal that must not be exposed to, or
contaminated by, the old fluid or it may develop a squeak in the future.
The new inlet hose also has a larger diameter orifice to allow
for less system back pressure.