Power Steering Fluid Type

[wrc3]

I was wondering what fluid folks are using for Power Steering. I have heard both ATF and PS. If one or the other could someone tell me what type (like ATF Dextron III) they are using? Also is it possible to ruin the pump or cylinder with the wrong type?

thanks

B

 

[Mac]

I took care of the duplicate threads.

-Mac

 

[TWINRAY]

I was wondering what fluid folks are using for Power Steering. I have heard both ATF and PS. If one or the other could someone tell me what type (like ATF Dextron III) they are using? Also is it possible to ruin the pump or cylinder with the wrong type?

thanks

B

When I bought a "remanufactured" pump for my '69 (new wasn't available), the instructions said not to use ATF but to use only Castrol P/S fluid. Well, no one in my area had Castrol. So I bought another brand (manuf by Valoline, I think) and put that in. This was 2 or so yrs ago and no issues so far.

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Use the power steering fluid. I have read about people using both. The place where I bought my pump from told me specifically that ATF would void any warranty should I need to bring the pump back in.

 

[wrc3]

Use the power steering fluid. I have read about people using both. The place where I bought my pump from told me specifically that ATF would void any warranty should I need to bring the pump back in.

Well let's just for instance that I might have screwed up and put ATF in. Will that ruin the seals or what? Once I filled up with ATF it started leaking like crazy, but that could coincide with it just happening to be ready to fail.

 

[goertz]

Well let's just for instance that I might have screwed up and put ATF in. Will that ruin the seals or what? Once I filled up with ATF it started leaking like crazy, but that could coincide with it just happening to be ready to fail.

personally, I'd use PS fluid, but ATF should work just fine. I have heard for years the notion that using ATF can cause the seals to fail. If that were true, I'd have to imagine that using ATF in an automatic transmission would cause the seals to fail in the tranny, which obviously it doesn't. back in the 60's, there was no PS fluid, just ATF. dexron, type f, don't matter.

 

[GaryS]

IIRC, older GMs could use either PS or ATF. I doubted this at first and then a friend confirmed it. Oth, if you have access to PS fluid, why wouldn't you use it?
Gary

 

[JohnZ]

Use GM Power Steering Fluid (#89020661); it was developed specifically for power steering pump/valve applications, and has totally different additives than ATF (Dexron, etc.).

 

[wrc3]

Use GM Power Steering Fluid (#89020661); it was developed specifically for power steering pump/valve applications, and has totally different additives than ATF (Dexron, etc.).

I guess the question is have I ruined anything by putting ATF in there? Like I said it started leaking like crazy right after I filled it with ATF. But I am also driving it a lot more than I used to so it could just be worn out.