My power steering fluid looks weird. It got a new pump a bit under a year ago.

 

What do you use for power steering fluid?

 

It’s ATF Mercon. Napa brand. I can double check tomorrow.

 

Not normal. Flush the system. Type F is the correct fluid according to the owner’s manual fluid.

 

I’ll flush the system, what causes that color in it though? Is something coming apart inside the system, or is the dyes in the fluid already oxidizing? Even if it’s the wrong fluid, I have heard on so many people running this stuff in the pumps all over this forum, no issues, it’s fluid was replaced when pump was replaced since the pump was removed. It never looked like this since I did the replacement of the pump and now it looks like crap,

 

It might have gotten some moisture in it. Moisture and atf makes it turn lighter colors all the way to pink.

As for the type of fluid to use, hate to say it, but the pump won’t really care what is in it. Atf, power steering fluid, hydraulic oil, 10W30 and combinations of them all are what I have ran in power steering systems on Fords.

 

While it’s true that the pump will pump whatever is in the reservoir, there are different additives put in those fluids. I have always used what Ford recommended and haven’t had any trouble with pump noise or leaks.

 

the pumps fluid, to me, appears to be a mix between heat and contamination. if you flushed out the old fluid and put mercon in there, there is probably left over debris causing most of the color. Also possibly some air bleeding out. put Type F in there, if the color returns to that its probably the interior of the hoses discoloring it.