Hi all, I normally hang in the 7.3 SD section, but have a friend with a 1993 f250 with the 351 in it.

My question, is what fluid does the power steering unit take on that truck? I know my SD diesel takes ATF, but have no idea on that one.

Thanks for any help, Tom

 

All Fords take Type "F" ATF.

 

Thanks for the info!

 

You don't even have to use Type F if you don't want to. Any old ATF will do. Type F is getting pretty hard to find these days.

 

The 1995 owners manual still calls for Type "F".
Off the shelf Power Steering Fluid will make a Ford pump make noise.

 

Agreed with Subford, "steering fluid" is bad for the pumps. Dex/Merc-III works decent tho.

 

I got a chuckle out of this. Owner's manuals don't update themselves?

I've looked up a couple dozen threads on the topic and responses are split pretty much 50/50 between regular ATF and Ford's Type F spec.

 

I always use universal synthetic ATF that covers Mercon V. Synthetic seems to be a bit quieter, although that may just be me convincing myself of that.

 

I'm always a bit nervous going to synthetic well north of 100k, but at least that probably addresses the 'better viscosity' concerns of using the proper stuff.

 

I have heard of mercon causing more pump noise. I would recommend just sticking with type F. You can find it at any auto parts stores. I even still see it at gas stations.

 

Not true. Mercon V is what is used now. Mercon V can also be used in older trucks.

 

Being a ford tech, I can tell you that Mercon V doesn't make it any louder than type f from my own experience

 

You would know better than me. Do you know if ford changed the power steering pump design at all after this era of trucks? I noticed that's when they stopped saying to use type F.

 

I don't believe they did, but they don't even use type F in dealerships anymore because everything is replaced by Mercon V or Mercon LV. There isn't much to change on a power steering pump other than pressure or pulley size conidering it is just a simple belt driven pump for hydraulic fluid

EDIT: I would also just like to add that Ford PS pumps are just loud in general.

 

I was more concerned about the seals. That's why I stuck with type F(don't want synthetic with 23 year old seals). Ford pumps are louder due to the design using spring loaded slippers unlike the Saginaw pumps.