power steering...
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 899
Likes: 0
From: Irmo, SC
On the drivers side of the engine behind the fan. As said above dont put power steering fluid in there. You need to use atf, synthetic fluid works well.
Snowboard season cometh..
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,406
Likes: 1
From: Gulf Coast of Florida
Seriously, that's the way it is. As for a technical reason why, that you'll need someone else to help out with.
Smokin
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 8,849
Likes: 0
I'm a bit curious about this myself. Both are hydrolic fluids, ATF even has additives in it that aren't necessary for a PS pump.
But like Brendan says..do it 'cuz that's what the instructions say.
But like Brendan says..do it 'cuz that's what the instructions say.
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Of the next Riffraff East
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,679
Likes: 2
From: Concord NC
Not sure myself, but I think I have read that the ATF is a much higher quality fluid and with the fluid also serving the hydroboost, ATF just holds up better, and becaus the instructions say so.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12,177
Likes: 40
From: Newport, WA
Power steering fluid is basically the same thing as ATF anyways, if the book says ATF then ATF it is for me. I'm glad I found this out in case I ever need to top mine off... does is say to use ATF on the fill cap?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,051
Likes: 4
From: Caro, MI
No my cap says nothing about using ATF rather than PS fluid.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 436
Likes: 1
From: Mass
its in the service manual (if your truck has one) in the glove box under capacitys. i also have a haynes service manual which states the same to use atf. and i'm not 100% sure on this but i think atf is more dense of a fluid than powersteering fluid. powersteering is fine for cars and small trucks but when you own something as big, bad and heavy as a 7.3 you need to kick it up a notch with the atf.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,241
Likes: 1
From: Powder Springs, East TN
Now what kind of person would think to put Powersteering fluid in the Powersteering pump I mean come on common since :-p. It is what my book says and it is what FTE says so ATF it is for me.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 436
Likes: 1
From: Mass
i thought the same thing and put powersteering fluid in my truck a while back after replacing a hose and it whined like a b****. after researching some on here i still had a hard time beilieving it "whatda mean, atf in the powersteering" but no its true. its in both manuels i have and after changing the fluid to atf there was a noticable differance.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,881
Likes: 84
From: Wake Forest, NC
ATF has more antifoaming agents than regular PS. It holds up to the heat and shear forces better too. With the hydroboost, you will get more of both. In general though, it seems that Ford pumps like ATF better than regular PS.