Brown power steering fluid
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Canada
I just had a look. Yep I see the hole in the filler cap now. We haven't had much soda lately. But I found a can of beans. It's a little big but it does the trick. Got her on there just in case. Also I found that there is a down spout right above the filler cap for rain water off the wind shield. The pipe on there had come totally loose. I was able to reconnect it simply just now. Sweet!
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
I don't know for sure, but I'd feel better with a soda can than a can of beans. First, the soda can is a pretty tight fit, doubtful it would come off while you're driving. Secondly, the soda can is rather thin, compared to your bean can. The only risk I can see in using any can on top would be any heat build-up issues. So I'd feel better about using the thinner soda can.
Even if you're not a soda drinker, I'd recommend swinging by your local Walmart, get a can of Sam's cola for a quarter, pour it out, cut off the top and use that. I think its worth a quarter for a tighter fit and potentially less heat build-up.
Even if you're not a soda drinker, I'd recommend swinging by your local Walmart, get a can of Sam's cola for a quarter, pour it out, cut off the top and use that. I think its worth a quarter for a tighter fit and potentially less heat build-up.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,720
Likes: 5
From: Washington state
bean can may cause extra gas buildup in pwr steering system~
Lt. beer can is better than pop can, less calories
pull the return line off pump if you don't have a cooler line to pull and drain all as you refill reservior
may take 4-6 quarts to flush all the old dirt, goop, gunk, water rust mush out....start with 2 quarts of cheap grade Dextron/Mercon ATF thru until drainout is fresh....then put at least 1.5 quarts of top quality name brand ATF thru until full...
power steering systems are extremely hard on pwr steering fluid/ATF.....full synthetic is the best, least breakdown
ATF is cheap, new pumps and racks are not.....$600+ US job at shop for pump, rack and align
the guys have it 100%, get the res. cap leak fixed first before doing anything else
Lt. beer can is better than pop can, less calories
pull the return line off pump if you don't have a cooler line to pull and drain all as you refill reservior
may take 4-6 quarts to flush all the old dirt, goop, gunk, water rust mush out....start with 2 quarts of cheap grade Dextron/Mercon ATF thru until drainout is fresh....then put at least 1.5 quarts of top quality name brand ATF thru until full...
power steering systems are extremely hard on pwr steering fluid/ATF.....full synthetic is the best, least breakdown
ATF is cheap, new pumps and racks are not.....$600+ US job at shop for pump, rack and align
the guys have it 100%, get the res. cap leak fixed first before doing anything else
Last edited by 96_4wdr; Jan 28, 2007 at 05:49 PM.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Canada
Yes brown beans have been known to cause gas, this is true. 
The lt. beer can could cause erratic steering I think. Now I just have to find where all these coolant and return lines are; if I have time to do it after work tomorrow. Oh ya, monday is gymnastics night. Tuesday is figure skating night. Wed..............?!
The lt. beer can could cause erratic steering I think. Now I just have to find where all these coolant and return lines are; if I have time to do it after work tomorrow. Oh ya, monday is gymnastics night. Tuesday is figure skating night. Wed..............?!
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,720
Likes: 5
From: Washington state
yes, Mercon rated ATF is what the Ford Aero Service manual calls for....Ford has been using Mercon for years...most of the old systems that called for Ford Type F ATF are in the boney yards
from Ford Service DVD
<table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="top">Power Steering Reservoir </td> <td align="center" valign="top">Motorcraft MERCON® ATF </td> <td align="center" valign="top">XT-2-QDX </td> <td align="center" valign="top">MERCON® </td></tr></tbody></table>
use full synthetic such as Redline D4, Amsoil or Mobil 1 Mercon ATF if you want the longest life from your ATF and least wear/breakdown....well worth it in hvy duty severe use, high heat deserts, all intown, towing with weight transfer hitch, heavy cargo loads, lots of deep mud rough logging road driving.....
mineral oil ATF breaks down quickly under severe pwr steering duty
use a top quality mineral oil ATF such as Chevron, Mobil, Penzoil, Quaker State, etc if price cost is a limiting factor in light normal duty use
from Ford Service DVD
<table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="top">Power Steering Reservoir </td> <td align="center" valign="top">Motorcraft MERCON® ATF </td> <td align="center" valign="top">XT-2-QDX </td> <td align="center" valign="top">MERCON® </td></tr></tbody></table>
use full synthetic such as Redline D4, Amsoil or Mobil 1 Mercon ATF if you want the longest life from your ATF and least wear/breakdown....well worth it in hvy duty severe use, high heat deserts, all intown, towing with weight transfer hitch, heavy cargo loads, lots of deep mud rough logging road driving.....
mineral oil ATF breaks down quickly under severe pwr steering duty
use a top quality mineral oil ATF such as Chevron, Mobil, Penzoil, Quaker State, etc if price cost is a limiting factor in light normal duty use
Last edited by 96_4wdr; Jan 28, 2007 at 06:41 PM.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,111
Likes: 3
From: Lexington Mo
No ATF
Get yourself a good power steering fluid flush. Not an at home deal. Several places (firestone) will do these. Make sure it is flushed and filled with power steering fluid. ATF and Power Steering fluid are not the same thing anymore.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,242
Likes: 0
From: Kiev, Ukraine
Well... My steering flued was brown but I drow my aero without PS pump for a week, and when I installed PS pump and refilled all the PS, the color became to be red as blood of just killed pig.... (Exuse me for this comparation, I sow it on a farm), but now it is a bit darker.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,720
Likes: 5
From: Washington state
most of us on the Aero forum do home DIYer power steering flushes on our rigs often...easy quick and save lots of money
technique has been around for years...i learned it from my uncles and father who drove some of the first power steering cars in the 50s....
i've been using top grade Mercon and Mercon full synthetic ATF in Ford power steerings per Ford Service specs for 15 years
Pablo,
i love your pig blood red hands after changing ATF.....don't go to town after changing ATF and leaving some on finter nails....cops will dig up your back yard looking for those old girl friends
commercial shop power steering ATF changes are for those that have a shop change their motor oil.....
stupid brother in law this weekend tried to change oil for the first time without reading a book or calling for info....stripped his oil drain plug hole treads in pan by cranking wrench wrong direction on his new Buick....then put back in and cross threaded...all the new oil leaked out....he wants me to fix it for FREE in winter in cold shop because he can't move it....
FAT CHANCE...NEVER GONNA HAPPEN
technique has been around for years...i learned it from my uncles and father who drove some of the first power steering cars in the 50s....
i've been using top grade Mercon and Mercon full synthetic ATF in Ford power steerings per Ford Service specs for 15 years
Pablo,
i love your pig blood red hands after changing ATF.....don't go to town after changing ATF and leaving some on finter nails....cops will dig up your back yard looking for those old girl friends
commercial shop power steering ATF changes are for those that have a shop change their motor oil.....
stupid brother in law this weekend tried to change oil for the first time without reading a book or calling for info....stripped his oil drain plug hole treads in pan by cranking wrench wrong direction on his new Buick....then put back in and cross threaded...all the new oil leaked out....he wants me to fix it for FREE in winter in cold shop because he can't move it....
FAT CHANCE...NEVER GONNA HAPPEN
Last edited by 96_4wdr; Jan 29, 2007 at 02:42 PM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,860
Likes: 4
From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
Originally Posted by 96_4wdr
i've been using top grade Mercon and Mercon full synthetic ATF in Ford power steerings per Ford Service specs for 15 years.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,720
Likes: 5
From: Washington state
yep, Type F has almost disappeared of the oil store shelves here along with non detergent oils
all my Fords for the past 15 years have spec'd Mercon in pwr steering...Type F has far less antiwear and friction modifiers so will destroy a Mercon rated system in short order
nuzoid Ford shop ruined 4R100 auto in fathers Ford PU years ago by putting in Type F
all my Fords for the past 15 years have spec'd Mercon in pwr steering...Type F has far less antiwear and friction modifiers so will destroy a Mercon rated system in short order
nuzoid Ford shop ruined 4R100 auto in fathers Ford PU years ago by putting in Type F
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,860
Likes: 4
From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
I have three Fords, a 92 Aerostar and 95 F150 both spec Type F. I don't know what my new motorhome (a 97) specs but the old motorhome was 90 E350 and Type F. So you can put Mercon in Type F system with nothing bad happening?