For the longest time I've always used transmission fluid in the power steering. What is the differance between the two fluids?

All you ever wanted to know about power steering fluid and them some.'
JIML82
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/powerstrgfluidrev24ja07.doc

Glad I read that doc. I wondered why my reservoir cap specifies ATF.
Thanks

:hurray: Thank you very much for the link. It answered all my questions. :thumbsup:

Ok. I read what it said. I did not see where ATF is NOT recommended. May we assume that those of us who have used ATF for decades are NOT doing it WRONG,

Given that :


""So around the same time, Saginaw Steering Gear Division and Texaco began testing and developing a fluid specifically for power steering. The fluid characteristics were specifically formulated to provide anti-corrosion and non-foaming qualities with excellent lubrication for year around use. There was also particular emphasis placed on wear testing performance with respect to the vanes, rotor, cam ring, and the driveshaft bushing in the big Saginaw “P” model power steering pump.""

ATF already has these properties and has had for decades!

I just want to be clear that IMHO ATF satisfies ALL of the objectives that GM set out to meet and always has.

IMHO GM power "steering fluid" as opposed to ATF was just one of the thousands of gimmicks that "GM", "Ford", "Chrysler" and for that matter all of the other companies, in collusion with "tool" companies like Snap-on, Mac, Sears and all the rest to make GREATER PROFIT at the DIRECT EXPENSE of the public at large who are at the mercy of these COMPANIES.

I will give you a classic example of what I mean. Consider "TORX" headed fasteners. At what point, ever, have they become more efficient than slot headed or phillips headed or hex headed fasteners? Keeping in mind that I have worked as a line mechanic for over 40 years and seen the evolution of all of what I am talking about.

I have been forced to buy tools for fasteners that, in no way, improved the fastening of one part to another. I have seen TORX female fasteners suddenly appear with a little pin in the middle of the female portion which instantly obsoleted the solid ended torx tools I had already been forced to buy. I then had to go buy MORE identically sized torx headed tools that accomodated that little pin.


In my mind there is absolutely NO difference between those tools and GM power steering fluid/ATF.

Its all one big game to extract ever more dollars from either the mechanic's or the public's pocket.

ATF is ANTI- foaming and corrosion resistant and at the same time a fine lubricator. If it werent I guess our automatic transmissions would simply turn into internally bound up, rusted, foam filled pieces of junk the moment we drove them off the dealers lot.

Since, obviously, that hasn't been the case historically I guess that if ATF is good in the transmission then by definition it will also work pretty well in the power steering pump driven by the same engine and subject to similar forces.

Gotta love those tamper proof internal Torx that require a tamper proof Torx bit to remove.Go figure eh.Another fine example of how to stimulate the economy.It is worse than a sin tax...........we wrenches have no option other than to purchase.:sad:

I've been known to break that little pin off out of sheer spite :D

GM power steering fluid was developed specifically to work in the Saginaw power steering pumps. Other fluids may work well, but they don't have the track record of the GM fluid. Given the logic in one of the above threads, why not use power steering fluid in place of the oil in your engine? Or vice versa, why not use engine oil in the power steering system? The fluids may both be petroleum based, but they are very different for very different applications.

As I mentioned in my first posting, GM did use ATF in the power steering system back in the 60s. But the requirements for a fluid to operate in automatic transmissions changed from the requirements that were set for power steering fluid.

Jim

"tamper proof" ?...if i don't have the tool or the patience, i just "tamper" it using my dremel with a cutting disk and cut a slot in it, then, either use a standard screwdriver or if you're dead center, and its small enough, or you work it right, the center pin will be removed and you can use your regular torx bit (which are much better than standard or phillips heads just like a 5 point box wrench is much better than an open end wrench (provided equal access, of course), or even, just like a phillips is a vast improvement over a standard slot head) ...this also works swell for cable tv housing locks and anything else that turns like a screw via a "special" tool, don't ask me how i know...when i worked as a shot-hole driller in mont-wyo oil fields the company used GM type ATF (dexron II ?, it was red anyway, that much i do remember) fluid in all the hydraulics on every rig, i always wondered about that, ive also heard that regardless of what make auto trans you run, ford type is the better fluid, and i believe that B&M trick fluid is ford type (for whatever thats worth) just another thing i've wondered about, that and, why is thunder so loud?

All you ever wanted to know about power steering fluid and them some.'
JIML82
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/powerstrgfluidrev24ja07.doc

Great info, thank you :thumbsup: