power steering fluid
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2012
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power steering fluid
hi guys im putting on a new power steering pump this weekend. my neighbor told me i should fill it with tranny fluid instead of power steering fluid 
this just doesnt seem right to me but hes more of a mechanic then i am. so i figured i would ask the experts here before i ruin my new pump. thank
this just doesnt seem right to me but hes more of a mechanic then i am. so i figured i would ask the experts here before i ruin my new pump. thank
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 668
Likes: 3
From: NW Kans
yes. i use type F auto transmission fluid. in all my 70s fords and even my 89. idk if they still recommend it or not in their newer stuff. i have used power steering fluid in them and things started leaking.
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 298
Likes: 4
From: Highland CA
hi guys im putting on a new power steering pump this weekend. my neighbor told me i should fill it with tranny fluid instead of power steering fluid this just doesnt seem right to me but hes more of a mechanic then i am. so i figured i would ask the experts here before i ruin my new pump. thank
this just doesnt seem right to me but hes more of a mechanic then i am. so i figured i would ask the experts here before i ruin my new pump. thank
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,364
Likes: 117
From: starship enterprise
the ford manual for the old ones and even my 96 recommends type f. It specifically recommends type F. I went to ford and just baught motocraft oil. I have ran it all in the old ones though. Power steering seemed to whine worse than type f. I had a die hard ford truck guy tell me that hydraulic fluid stopped all the noise. I ran john deere hyguard for a few years, and that only whines when its cold. I never had any problems though. It just needs to be full of good clean oil.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,326
Likes: 48
From: Middle TN
Type F is the correct fill. Whine is caused from air leaks, low fluid or rarely from using too thick of oil, a stopped up filter causing cavitation. The 78-79 Ford units with the plastic case are bad about leaking air where the plastic case seals to the metal body.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 650
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From: Plant city florida
i was told ATF and PS fluid are the same thing, and by smelling them and pooring them next to eachother they are visually the same to me. my dad and stepdad say they are so similar(if not the same) it doesnt matter which one you use.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 138
From: Northern California
My 08 fusion, 05 freestar and my 75 f100 all use tranny fluid. I used to assume just to put the clear power steering fluid in it but once I read the manual I learned other wise. Not sure at this point why they even make that clear crap; probably causes lots of issues due to misuse. Funny cause in my fusion it doesn't use tranny fluid in the tranny but it does go in the power steering; it uses synthetic gear oil. (manual tranny)
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 8,261
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From: Big Sky Country
Your neighbor's right Ford specs call for Type F, though some do use power steering fluid without any ill-effects, they're both hydraulic fluid.
I prefer Type F for its heavier vicosity, Type F uses a 20w base stock, power steering fluid uses a 10w base stock, therefore is a little more prone to leaking than Type F.
I prefer Type F for its heavier vicosity, Type F uses a 20w base stock, power steering fluid uses a 10w base stock, therefore is a little more prone to leaking than Type F.
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Joined: Aug 2001
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This says it all:
Not All Power Steering Fluids Are Created Equal
Specifically this: "A general statement claiming the fluid meets O.E. requirements DOES NOT guarantee good fluid quality. Currently there are no API (American Petroleum Institute) standards established for power steering fluid which is why there are so many questionable brands out there."
Use Type F and only Type F
Josh
Not All Power Steering Fluids Are Created Equal
Specifically this: "A general statement claiming the fluid meets O.E. requirements DOES NOT guarantee good fluid quality. Currently there are no API (American Petroleum Institute) standards established for power steering fluid which is why there are so many questionable brands out there."
Use Type F and only Type F
Josh
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 13,131
Likes: 347
From: THIS IS SPARTA!, ...Mo.
ATF is NOT power steering fluid.
After 30 years of turning wrenches, I'll tell you what I know. If you have the plastic reservoir on your pump, you should use power steering fluid. If you have the Saginaw pump, ATF is ok. ATF attacks rubber. .....(like the big o-ring that seals the plastic reservoir to the cast iron pump) The newer pumps also DO NOT like to work properly with atf. More times than I care to remember, I put brand new pumps in vehicles and filled them with atf. The pumps whined and moaned. I drained the system and flushed it with power steering fluid. The pumps worked better and didn't whine any more.
Yours works fine with ATF? congratulations. I'm not taking that chance anymore. Once and done.
After 30 years of turning wrenches, I'll tell you what I know. If you have the plastic reservoir on your pump, you should use power steering fluid. If you have the Saginaw pump, ATF is ok. ATF attacks rubber. .....(like the big o-ring that seals the plastic reservoir to the cast iron pump) The newer pumps also DO NOT like to work properly with atf. More times than I care to remember, I put brand new pumps in vehicles and filled them with atf. The pumps whined and moaned. I drained the system and flushed it with power steering fluid. The pumps worked better and didn't whine any more.
Yours works fine with ATF? congratulations. I'm not taking that chance anymore. Once and done.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 8,261
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From: Big Sky Country
The following excerpt is from http://www.stangerssite.com/steeringsysteminfo.html ...
"Check your owners manual or shop manual for the fluid that is supposed to be used in your car. In most cases, this is Type "F" Automatic Transmission Fluid. This is what the engineers who designed the system recommended and built the system around. The seals, gaskets and rubbing surfaces were all designed for Type F fluid. Do not use auto parts store generic power steering fluid in your system. It may say on the bottle that it is compatible with all systems, but it isn't the specific fluid recommended by Ford for your car. It often contains some form of alcohol which is used to swell and soften old seals to stop them from leaking. You don't need additives in a system with new seals and parts. Type F Fluid is cheaper than special power steering fluid and it is what your system was designed to use. Failure to use Type F Fluid may void the warranty on your new parts, particularly the power steering pump.
Type "F" fluid was originally designed to work in modern automatic transmissions where it acts as a lubricant, a hydraulic fluid and a coolant. It is designed for high temperatures. Many aftermarket power steering fluids will not hold up well under high temperature and can cause trouble. Some fluids, when over heated will cause the internal pieces in a pump to malfunction and pressure can suddenly fall or fail when hot. Always use Ford Type "F" fluid in cars designed and designated to use it."
Thread Starter
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Senior User
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well i got my new pump on tonight. i didnt hear any weird noises or anything so i went for a drive ant the truck steers nice n firm so im a happy camper 
i asked the counter guy at napa what fluid i should buy for my pump. he didnt even flinch just said all the old fords use type F so it was good to hear he agreed with you guys. at least if my pump leaks this time ill see the red drips on the ground 
i asked the counter guy at napa what fluid i should buy for my pump. he didnt even flinch just said all the old fords use type F so it was good to hear he agreed with you guys. at least if my pump leaks this time ill see the red drips on the ground
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 372
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From: New Mexico
power steering fluid
My pump was squealing when I turned the wheels while not moving. In checking the fluid level, I noticed it wasn't very read - maybe the PO used some regular PS fluid in it? Anyhow, after reading this thread (and many others), I decided to drain my fluid and replace with type F tranny fluid. I'm amazed. After the third drain/fill, the squealing is entirely gone! And I've got 35x12.5s turning on my concrete driveway lock to lock! Even seems to take less force now to turn the wheel.
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After 30 years of turning wrenches, I'll tell you what I know. If you have the plastic reservoir on your pump, you should use power steering fluid. If you have the Saginaw pump, ATF is ok. ATF attacks rubber. .....(like the big o-ring that seals the plastic reservoir to the cast iron pump) The newer pumps also DO NOT like to work properly with atf. More times than I care to remember, I put brand new pumps in vehicles and filled them with atf. The pumps whined and moaned. I drained the system and flushed it with power steering fluid. The pumps worked better and didn't whine any more.
Yours works fine with ATF? congratulations. I'm not taking that chance anymore. Once and done.
Yours works fine with ATF? congratulations. I'm not taking that chance anymore. Once and done.
Go by the owner's manual.... Type F and only Type F is recommended, all the way well into the 90s did Ford advise to use and only use Type F in the Power Steering.
Many times you'll hear 70s and 80s Fords with whining pumps and you know they used off the shelf power steering fluid and not Type F.
I'll add, as an equipment manager and head mechanic for several years, the attitude of "I've been doing this for 30 years and yadda yadda" made for a good time telling the person to grab their tools, handing them their last check and then telling them, to STFU and get lost.
You may have your way, but there is also Ford's way and Ford's way is the best and recommended way to take care of the P/S system.
Josh