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ATF for power steering. #985579 05/03/11 07:22 PM 05/03/11 07:22 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 21,648 San Jose,CA migsBIG OP YouTube is my go-to news source
migsBIG OP YouTube is my go-to news source Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 21,648 San Jose,CA	We were finishing the tightning and fill of the firm feel box and remembered back in the good old days we used to use ATF in those thing. Was wondering if there was any benifit to running that instead of the moddern ps fluids that are now out. [IMG]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p265/migsbig/Hippo_skull_dark-1.jpg[/IMG]

Re: ATF for power steering. [Re: migsBIG] #985580 05/03/11 07:34 PM 05/03/11 07:34 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 4,588 St. John's Newfoundland 440newport master
440newport master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 4,588 St. John's Newfoundland	I don't think there is a benefit but I always used ATF.

Re: ATF for power steering. [Re: 440newport] #985581 05/04/11 03:31 AM 05/04/11 03:31 AM
Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 18,493 Granite Bay CA Kern Dog Striving for excellence
Kern Dog Striving for excellence Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 18,493 Granite Bay CA	I have read several times that with Mopars, ATF is for the trans and Power steering fluid is for the pump. Nobody has explained why to me either. I have used ATF for years with no ill effects. Maybe a member can offer more insight?

Re: ATF for power steering. [Re: Kern Dog] #985582 05/04/11 07:59 AM 05/04/11 07:59 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,732 North Dakota 6PakBee I Live Here
6PakBee I Live Here Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,732 North Dakota	FSM 6616667-PowerSteering-small.jpg (98 downloads) "We live in a time when intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people won't be offended".

Re: ATF for power steering. [Re: migsBIG] #985583 05/04/11 08:23 AM 05/04/11 08:23 AM
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 5,746 Ontario, Canada Dodgem master
Dodgem master Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 5,746 Ontario, Canada	I read once in a manual or some place that Mopar says you may want to use auto transmission fluid in cold climates

Re: ATF for power steering. [Re: Dodgem] #985584 05/04/11 11:10 AM 05/04/11 11:10 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 9,436 Blair County,PA 62maxwgn master
62maxwgn master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 9,436 Blair County,PA	Run one of each for a year,drain and you will see why they don't recommend ATF in power steering pump.

Re: ATF for power steering. [Re: Dodgem] #985585 05/04/11 11:36 AM 05/04/11 11:36 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 75,043 U.S.S.A. JohnRR I Win
JohnRR I Win Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 75,043 U.S.S.A.	Quote: I read once in a manual or some place that Mopar says you may want to use auto transmission fluid in cold climates That was for 833's ...

Re: ATF for power steering. [Re: JohnRR] #985586 05/04/11 02:31 PM 05/04/11 02:31 PM
Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 18,493 Granite Bay CA Kern Dog Striving for excellence
Kern Dog Striving for excellence Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 18,493 Granite Bay CA	Come on, people... we are all car guys. Telling us NOT to do something isn't enough. The traits that make us good mechanics ALSO make us curious people. WHY? WHY? WHY??? I have a much easier time accepting an answer when I know the reasoning behind it. This is certainly one of the reasons that I was a "pain in the butt" kid. I never liked hearing people say..." Because I am the mother/father/uncle/policeman, THATS why."

Re: ATF for power steering. [Re: JohnRR] #985587 05/04/11 02:48 PM 05/04/11 02:48 PM
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 5,746 Ontario, Canada Dodgem master
Dodgem master Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 5,746 Ontario, Canada	Quote: Quote: I read once in a manual or some place that Mopar says you may want to use auto transmission fluid in cold climates That was for 833's ... that's probably it used it in my 4 speed or a 50/50 mix. but I did use ATF for power steering in all my cars and trucks from 1976 till 2001. Yup it's in the manual transmission part of my 68 manual but I converted to auto in the spring of 1984 Last edited by Dodgem; 05/04/11 02:53 PM.

Re: ATF for power steering. [Re: Dodgem] #985588 05/04/11 03:37 PM 05/04/11 03:37 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,402 Littleton Colo G Geezer pro stock
Geezer pro stock G Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,402 Littleton Colo	Tom Lee used to recommend for saginaw boxes the over the counter GM product or the Havoline product,must not be available anymore as he is selling his own now. http://lee-powersteering.com/rebuild-misc.htm

Re: ATF for power steering. [Re: 62maxwgn] #985589 05/04/11 04:40 PM 05/04/11 04:40 PM
Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 804 Houston, Texas racerx20 Standard but OK
racerx20 Standard but OK Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 804 Houston, Texas	Quote: Run one of each for a year,drain and you will see why they don't recommend ATF in power steering pump. My 05 GTO uses ATF in the power steering pump from the factory. 1972 Road Runner 1988 Shelby CSX-T

Re: ATF for power steering. [Re: racerx20] #985590 05/04/11 06:03 PM 05/04/11 06:03 PM
Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 3,533 Indiana F Fury Fan master
Fury Fan master F Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 3,533 Indiana	Lots of science between fluids and the seals. PS is just a hydraulic system, so anything will work, right?. The question is - for how long and what will the effects be? The OEMs alter seal materials to keep pace with the recommended fluids (and vice versa). The effects might take a while to manifest and therefore might be attributed to normal wear -- and not to incorrect fluid. Dexron 6 is a prime example.

Re: ATF for power steering. [Re: Fury Fan] #985591 05/04/11 06:25 PM 05/04/11 06:25 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 25,858 Rio Linda, CA John_Kunkel Too Many Posts
John_Kunkel Too Many Posts Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 25,858 Rio Linda, CA	Compare the P/N of some steering box seals from the era when they used ATF to the later era when they warned not to use ATF...same P/N, same seal so material compatability isn't the issue. The INTERNET, the MISinformation superhighway

Re: ATF for power steering. [Re: John_Kunkel] #985592 05/04/11 07:19 PM 05/04/11 07:19 PM
Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 14,889 up yours Supercuda About to go away
Supercuda About to go away Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 14,889 up yours	Quote: Compare the P/N of some steering box seals from the era when they used ATF to the later era when they warned not to use ATF...same P/N, same seal so material compatability isn't the issue. You are making an assumption that may not be warranted. Who is to say the seal material wasn't changed with the later made PN? Be cheaper to make all seals out of one material that is compatible with both fluids than to use two different materials. One thing I do know, some GM types told my wife to run ATF in my 72 Dart's power steering when the was low. Shortly thereafter I had to replace the seal in the steering box output. Coincidence? I dunno but it's a job that is no fun to do. They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.

Re: ATF for power steering. [Re: Supercuda] #985593 05/04/11 08:07 PM 05/04/11 08:07 PM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 10,218 Someplace you aren't S SomeCarGuy I Live Here
SomeCarGuy I Live Here S Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 10,218 Someplace you aren't	You could always just run a manual box. No fluid to worry over then. I want my fair share

Re: ATF for power steering. [Re: Supercuda] #985594 05/04/11 08:07 PM 05/04/11 08:07 PM
Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 394 md W wicked enthusiast
wicked enthusiast W Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 394 md	Seems to me power steering fluid had a little higher viscosity than atf, and I know I've had less issue with leaks using it

Re: ATF for power steering. [Re: wicked] #985595 05/04/11 08:10 PM 05/04/11 08:10 PM
Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 4,872 connecticut pnypwr master
pnypwr master Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 4,872 connecticut	its says not to run type a atf, fords run dex3 in their ps systems, ive seen type a being thinner and leaking, type f is heavier, but nowadays its all mixed and called FA i run dex 3 with no ill effects. "Are you gonna bark all day lil doggy? Or are you gonna bite?" 05 ram 2500 ctd 74 gremlin x 360 65 mustang 347 70 coronet R/T 440 03 Mach 1

Re: ATF for power steering. [Re: wicked] #985596 05/05/11 02:01 AM 05/05/11 02:01 AM
Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 18,493 Granite Bay CA Kern Dog Striving for excellence
Kern Dog Striving for excellence Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 18,493 Granite Bay CA	The owners manual for my 2007 RAM 1500 states that ATF+4 is to be used in the power steering pump. Its synthetic.

Re: ATF for power steering. [Re: migsBIG] #985597 05/05/11 09:22 AM 05/05/11 09:22 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 21,074 Niles , Ohio T therocks oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
therocks oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah. T Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 21,074 Niles , Ohio	Back in the day I never saw anyone run PS fluid.Everyone just used ATF.There should have been millions of bad ps units then.I use PS fluid now as most newer cars require it.My sons 62 still has ATF in it.No problems after almost 50 years.Rocky Chrysler Firepower

Re: ATF for power steering. [Re: therocks] #985598 05/05/11 09:39 AM 05/05/11 09:39 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 15,551 Norwich CT USA moparts I Live Here
moparts I Live Here Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 15,551 Norwich CT USA	I know as of 5 years ago when I was still working for a Dodge dealer, the PS Fluid was switched over to the ATF +4 which is a synthetic type fluid. Not sure if they still use the ATF+4 as PS fluid but they did for awhile Tom , 2011 Ram 3500 C&C Diesel 2009 Challenger R/T 1971 Challenger Conv. 511/4 speed 1970 Challenger R/T 503/727

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