Power steering fluid .. what type ?

bucket · Apr 2, 2024

SquareRoot said:
Including Hydroboost?

Yep.

Stuff like this is typically what I use:

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AuroraGirl · Apr 2, 2024

bucket said:
Yep.

Stuff like this is typically what I use:

You must be registered for see images attach

if youre using it in hydroboost id really make sure the year vehicle you do is compatible with that. I wouldnt dare put dexron in the hydroboost in my 2005 because thats just asking for it to leak

bucket · Apr 2, 2024

AuroraGirl said:
if youre using it in hydroboost id really make sure the year vehicle you do is compatible with that. I wouldnt dare put dexron in the hydroboost in my 2005 because thats just asking for it to leak

I've been using it in my '79 since 2010 or whenever I bought it and also in my '00 Suburban 2500 that we've put around 180k on. I think both my Express vans are filled with ATF too. A '00 and a '13, although I'm not positive about the '13.

AuroraGirl · Apr 2, 2024

ATF flows worse at low temps and foams easier , two things you dont want in the hydraulic circuit giving your brakes power assist

shanegtr · Apr 2, 2024

I now generally use an ISO 32 hydraulic oil in all my power steering compartments across all my vehicles I own. Used to use Dex3 ATF but the hydraulic oil is cheaper here

bucket · Apr 2, 2024

AuroraGirl said:
ATF flows worse at low temps and foams easier , two things you dont want in the hydraulic circuit giving your brakes power assist

I won't argue those facts at all, I'm simply not knowledgeable on it. But I can say with certainty that it works well enough for me to have zero brake or steering assist issues, in all conditions. In the case of my '79 and my '00, I had to change the pumps not long after I bought them. I know for sure that the '79 had ATF in it and I'm pretty sure the '00 did too. The '00 likely had the original fluid in it, as it was a 1-owner rig without a bunch of miles on it.

SirRobyn0 · Apr 2, 2024

I would argue that in most older traditionally built vehicles it just doesn't really matter. In a hydroboost system maybe it does because of the added strain on the fluid. I do run a universal type P/S fluid in my truck but I've known guys that swore by DEXIII andd others DEX6 but we all have one thing it common. Our P/S systems are working just fine. Just think about Ford for a second. Especially the 90's era Explorer and Rangers, didn't matter what fluid was in them all you had to do was look at them and they'd foam. Or go up a hill and they'd push P/S fluid onto the exhaust manifold. I sure am glad I'm a Chevy guy....

idahovette · Apr 2, 2024

Kind of a fored trash talk, huh, Rob @SirRobyn0 ^^^^^^^

85K304SPD · Apr 2, 2024

I use power steering fluid for power steering. I have had bad luck putting ATF in power steering pumps. There must be a reason that they call it power steering fluid and the other one is called automatic transmission fluid. The front of the container tells you which fluid goes in which system.
I would not put power steering fluid in an automatic transmission. They are not interchangeable, or it would say so on the container.

bucket · Apr 2, 2024

85K304SPD said:
I use power steering fluid for power steering. I have had bad luck putting ATF in power steering pumps. There must be a reason that they call it power steering fluid and the other one is called automatic transmission fluid. The front of the container tells you which fluid goes in which system.
I would not put power steering fluid in an automatic transmission. They are not interchangeable, or it would say so on the container.

If that's what the manufacturer calls for, then it should have ATF put in it.

It's funny this subject popped up. I was at Advance yesterday picking up some donut gaskets I ordered. A lady came in behind me, holding a new quart of ATF, then went to the counter and said they sold her the wrong stuff. Said her boyfriend said it had to be PS fluid. The guy at the counter told her it called for ATF and I could tell she wasn't believing it. So then I piped in, lol. I told her it was true, some manufacturers call for ATF in the steering system. She said thanks and said she would let her boyfriend know it takes ATF. I don't remember what the vehicle was, some boring SUV thing that might have been 10 years old.

DoubleDingo · Apr 2, 2024

For years I bought PS fluid, and then switched to ATF because there is no need to carry two separate bottles of fluid when ATF is sufficient for both transmission and power steering. Saves space and money.

Octane · Apr 2, 2024

85K304SPD said:
I use power steering fluid for power steering. I have had bad luck putting ATF in power steering pumps. There must be a reason that they call it power steering fluid and the other one is called automatic transmission fluid. The front of the container tells you which fluid goes in which system.
I would not put power steering fluid in an automatic transmission. They are not interchangeable, or it would say so on the container.

All my 70s trucks did not call for atf.My 60s Ford cars did.I dont think a 70s Chevy can be hurt by atf tho.So it seems.But I believe some units can eventually develop a squeaI with atf.I flush my power steering every 3rd year anyway.

Ricko1966 · Apr 2, 2024

85K304SPD said:
I use power steering fluid for power steering. I have had bad luck putting ATF in power steering pumps. There must be a reason that they call it power steering fluid and the other one is called automatic transmission fluid. The front of the container tells you which fluid goes in which system.
I would not put power steering fluid in an automatic transmission. They are not interchangeable, or it would say so on the container.

All power steering fluids are not interchangable,just because they say power steering fluid,many different varieties for different manufacturers. .Toyota,Ford and GM both recommended atf for years maybe decades,I'm not going to research it that far. But it's what GM used in the Saginaw power steering which is what our trucks have. The caps used to say use atf. I'm too lazy to go look at some of my power steering reservoirs right now,but I might later. Dexron replaced type A and continued to be recommended. As a matter of fact the label doesn't tell the whole story,I can't count how many manual transmission call for automatic transmission fluid.

CountKrunk · Apr 2, 2024

My ps squeals at full lock i thought that was just because it's old af lol.

It could be bc it doesn't have atf in it?? Any other possible cause? Fluid is at proper level, I'll take a look at the cap and see what it says.

Ricko1966 · Apr 2, 2024

CountKrunk said:
My ps squeals at full lock i thought that was just because it's old af lol.

It could be bc it doesn't have atf in it?? Any other possible cause? Fluid is at proper level, I'll take a look at the cap and see what it says.

They did that even when they weren't old AF you aren't supposed to hold it at full lock,squeeling at full lock isn't something I'd be concerned with.

Power steering fluid .. what type ?

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