Internet seems to believe a lot of things. Mostly a BMW guy and they use almost 100% ATF. Looking for something I can pickup at AutoZone or similar. What is the 'proper' fluid?

 

Pretty much any brand that is labeled as Power Steering Fluid will work.

 

Agreed. Transmission fluid is often substituted for power steering fluid, and while it apparently will work, from what I researched years ago it doesn't have the same high pressure capabilities/ratings as power steering fluid.

 

Back in the day it was ATF. There was no such thing as power steering fluid (at least for american cars) until rack and pinion steering came out. Check your owners manual, bet it will say ATF.

 

i have always used atf BUT try that in a vw your gonna spring leaks from places you didn't even know exist.i developed a leak in my 2000 jetta one day stopped at a parts store and picked up some p.s. fluid.topped it off and took off.about 15 miles down the road it started screaming again,so stopped and checked .hmm empty so topped itoff and look underneath and it was like i was just missing the hole and dumping it on the ground.vw's use mineral oil

 

^^^THIS. The CSMs of the 1960s even say that ATF can be used in PS systems. Look in Chapter 0, in the Chassis Lubrication chart.

 

 

Uh, no. The truth is what the manufacturer recommends, not what people on the internet think.

 

I have a manual transmission. Can I still use ATF in my PS pump?..

 

""The fluid recommended for these pumps and gearboxes is Automatic Transmission Fluid. Dextron III or Ford type F. This is what these units were designed for".
Words directly from Marty Preuss.

The big box drool is too thin. I recommend flushing the system every so often especially if its never been done.

.Marty Preuss bought Chip out a couple of years ago....

PowerSteering.com
417.374.7627
607 W Kathryn St, Nixa, MO 65714

 

I get that. I didn't say what people think is right. I said I searched net and got similar results to here. And in many cases on older cars what the manufacturer
recommended in 1970 isn't the best nowadays. Nor is it always easy to obtain. Thus why I asked the question. On top of that plenty of stuff manufacturers recommend
so say is right is not right. Lifetime trans fluid anyone? Oil changes hardly ever? Anyone actually do this stuff on cars? I don't.

 

Transmission fluid can be obtained almost anywhere, even convienent stores. Why wouldn't you use what the manufacturer recommends?

 

 

The transmission has absolutely nothing to do with the power steering system. Where did you hear there is a special formulated ps fluid for stick shift cars. That is one of the crazier things I have heard in a while. On the lid of the power steering reservoir on my 54 Olds it say fill with automatic transmission fluid. Then again, it is not a stick shift.

 

I think he was funnin' us.

 

The special fluid is down the same isle as the muffler bearings.

 

X2. When I had the pump and box rebuilt by them for my W-30, he said specifically that anything other than ATF will void the warranty and that they will instantly know if anything else was used when they take it apart.

 

LOL Glad someone got my attempt at being funny