ATF ?

[GordoSD]

Is there any difference between power steering fluid and ATF? Put ATF in my power steering by mistake. Seems to work fine.

Gordo

 

[thurlow]

I've got an old CJ-5 with a slow (external) leak in the power steering system; been using Dexron in it for years, with no problems.

 

[shrike]

ATF has abrasives in it and will eventualy wear out the P/S pump and steering box. Is'nt much you can do about it now.

 

[Uncle Ernie]

Depends on the year and brand of the vehicle. What does your manual say? ATF was used as power steering fluid for many years.

 

[Lefty]

Different veh mfgs have different specs,the fluids are NOT the same.Almost any liquid would work for"awhile"in such a system.Check the mfgs specs for the vehicle.Used to be PS systems used ATF,but in more recent yrs some vehicle manuals specifically WARN NOT to use it,specifying"Power Steering fluid"of certain API spec.

Heck I understand that in Siberia,they use Vodka for brake systems cuz it's cheap and doesn't thicken at -50

 

[TimV]

Ditto for an '83 Cutlass Supreme with the Olds 307 I had. Used ATF for years due to a slow leak in the pittman arm seal--never had any problems and the leak never got worse. However, in a newer vehicle, I'd definitely do a bit more research on that particular vehicle's power steering system before using it.

 

[Andy C]

ATF has abrasives in it????

 

[rustyfarmall]

Must not know what ATF is. If it had abrasives in it, you sure as heck couldn't use it in a transmission.

 

[al in ark]

is that before or after consumed? al

 

[Brian Jasper co. Ia]

ATF does NOT have abrasives in it. If it did it would jamb up the valve body in the trans for one, two it would cause wear.
Ford and Chrysler vehicles have used ATF for power steering for decades. Some imports do as well. GM does not use ATF, but I doubt it would cause damage.
Ford diesel pickups use GM Hydro Boost systems for power brakes and they have ATF running through them in a Ford and clear power steering fluid when in a GM vehicle.

 

[Gun guru]

Ummm.......where did you hear that?

I hope my ATF doesnt have abrasives, the only abrasives are the clutch and bands wearing away and that goes through the filter. (I hope)

When ATF fluid if filtered through a 5-10 micron filter is clean and does what it is supposed to do, which is lubricate valves and all internal moving parts.

 

[old]

Abrasives?????????? If it had them then a tranny sure would not last long where did you get a crazy idea like that from???????????/

 

[old]

Been using ATF in the power steer on things for decades now and it works just fine and cost less then the store power steering stuff does

 

[Anonymous-0]

The reason for the switch from ATF in power steering was due to fires. Power steering fluid is supposed to be non flammable.

In early years ie 50's auto manufacturers used ATF with differing coefficients of friction. They did not contain abrasives, but some were less slippery.

 

[GeneMO]

Yeah Rich, but we all know you have stock in the ATF companies. I'll be you even put ATF on your french fries!

Do you buy it in barrels?

Gene

 

[NCWayne]

Never used anything but ATF in any of my personal/small vehicles. Even my work truck (Freightliner) calls for Dextron in the power steering system.

 

[GordoSD]

It's the power steering on my SMTA. It's a Saginaw pump, original equipment on GM cars in the 50's. Tractor manufacturers, came up with their own brackets, the Char-Lyn torque generator, a mid shaft bracket, a flex coupling , and voila, power steering for the Farmall. Your local dealer installed the kits.
I did some more research thanks to Google. Seems PS fluid is more heat tolerant, and foams less. Also many people reported that systems that leaked ATF, did not leak when PS fluid was utilized.
I'm trying to eliminate a small leak in the pump body, so I'm going to switch to the PS Fluid. I installed new o rings, torqued the bejesus out of the body bolts, and the bolts that hold down the resevoir. I'll report back when it's up and running. (Mon night).

Gordo

 

[Anonymous-0]

The newer semi-synthetic fluids use Calcium @ 600 to 800 PPM, Boron @ 150 to 250 PPM, Phosphorous @ 160 to 300 PPM, Zinc @ 550 PPM, and Sulphur at 4200 to 5000 PPM. It does change to coefficent of friction. You don't want to use these new fluids in your power steering system.

 

[Owen Aaland]

(quoted from post at 08:59:52 08/02/09) ATF does NOT have abrasives in it. If it did it would jamb up the valve body in the trans for one, two it would cause wear.
Ford and Chrysler vehicles have used ATF for power steering for decades. Some imports do as well. GM does not use ATF, but I doubt it would cause damage.
Ford diesel pickups use GM Hydro Boost systems for power brakes and they have ATF running through them in a Ford and clear power steering fluid when in a GM vehicle.

Starting in 2003 GM went to using only Dex III in the Hydro Boost system. The same system up through 2002 used power steering fluid.

 

[old]

I buy it by the qt most of the time. I know of a place I can get used stuff for free but never seem to remember to take him a bucket so I can get some

 

[Dick L]

I buy hydraulic oil by the 55 gallon drum for my plastic presses. Both my Case backhoe and my 961 Dorf, that gets very little use, leak oil from the pump seals. The hydraulic oil works just fine. I was buying the ATF by the case which I still use for the fork trucks, both in the power steering and transmissions. Not much add in for them as we need not to have drips in the factory.

 

[T_Bone]

Hi Gordo,

I had a leak in my 02 F350 PS pump and would leak when I applied the brakes.

I bought a new pump but I can't see too install it but I switched too ATF type F in the mean time, no more leaks!!!

Why ATF type F, because I add that to my fuel tank and is what I had in the shop.

T_Bone

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Look at the specs for your car or truck. Some PS units cannot operate on ATF, and it eats the seals up. The old Chrysler K cars were like this. I recall a lawsuit. Woman driving down the interstate had a PS leak and got it fixed by a garage, who used ATF in a car that should not have it. Got down the road and PS crapped out and seized up, car crashed, woman dead, garage in big trouble.

My Plymouth Breeze manual says to use PS fluid of a certain spec. But later Chrysler changed the specs and OK'ed ATF+IV or whatever the Chrysler ATF is called, for the PS.

Charles

 

[DJM75]

type F has fiction additives added to it something like abrasives it was used for Fords because they always tried to save money and used less friction plates than Gm and thats why if you used dexron in the old fords the trans would slip but if you used type F as specified it wouldn"t.I use dexron in my power steering but never type F.

 

[barn E]

Have 91 caddy. One time used discount store transfluid and in 15 minutes, 3 seals were leaking. Might have been called all-trade. Be careful what you feed your baby. Dave