[Tbird232ci]

I found an old owners manual for my car, and saw that the power steering systems call for Type F transmission fluid. I run Royal Purple ATF in my T5, and was thinking, would there be any benefit of running synthetic ATF in the power steering system? Would it be more consistant?

 

[95cobraguy]

i dont think it would hurt anything. i used mobil 1 atf in my p/s pump before i ditched the p/s.

 

[MFE]

NO. Run plain old Type F transmission fluid, or don't say we didn't warn you.

 

[MikeC]

Type F!!

 

[markfhp]

Two guys I trust greatly:

One has raced a Fox body for years. He swears by Amsoil ATF, says it cuts the whine, works great, etc.
The other, a Ford mechanic who also has owned and raced Mustangs for years, says Type F and only Type F.

Toss a coin?

 

[Patrick Olsen]

I've used synthetic ATF for years without issues. What's to be warned about?

 

[MFE]

The Ford spec for these pumps is Type F, and that's what the pumps are happiest with. They they don't like plain old ATF and particularly not Mercon/Dexron, which tend to make them even noisier and not as smooth.

 

[WhiteLX]

I used generic Autozone power steering fluid when I changed out the pump in my Ranger (which is the same as my Mustang). Should I pump all of that out and put in Type F? The pump is a bit noisy. I have made sure all of the air is out and I have been driving it for 3 weeks now.

I am going to do the pump in my 92 Mustang when I do the 03 Cobra rack, I want to do that right the first time. What should I use?

 

[MFE]

Frankly, yes, I would switch the power steering fluid out for Type F (been there done that too), and when I put a new pump in mine last year, I used Type F in it. It's been trouble free for about 8000 street miles, 1000 track miles, and a handful of autocrosses.

 

[Tbird232ci]

NO. Run plain old Type F transmission fluid, or don't say we didn't warn you.

Its a good thing I asked before experimenting. Thanks.

 

[WhiteLX]

Frankly, yes, I would switch the power steering fluid out for Type F (been there done that too), and when I put a new pump in mine last year, I used Type F in it. It's been trouble free for about 8000 street miles, 1000 track miles, and a handful of autocrosses.

What would be the best way to flush it?

 

[MFE]

The best way would be to undo the return line from the pump, the low-pressure one, just a rubber hose with standard clamps on each end), direct it into a bucket or pan, and cycle the pump while turning the wheel back and forth from lock to lock, and refilling the reservoir with the right stuff as you go. I pull the coil wire and use the starter to crank the engine, it doesn't take enough doing it to hurt the starter or the battery. But do it until the old fluid has been exchanged with the new.

I've also used a pump to draw it out the reservoir, then refilled the reservoir, turned the pulley by hand, and so on until it was mostly refreshed.

 

[markfhp]

or just pull off the belt and spin the pump by hand ... it turns real easy

 

[jim frank]

Mine whined like hell till I flushed it with Mobil 1 ATF and ever since then it has been quiet and trouble free and that was over 8 years ago.

Jim

 

[Patrick Olsen]

Glad to see I'm not the only one willing to say they use non-type F, Jim. I'd be willing to bet the majority of open trackers use some brand of synthetic Dextron/Mercon ATF with zero issues and better performance than Type F.

 

[MFE]

So what is, exactly, "better" about the pump's performance when running synthetic fluid of a type not specified for the pump, other than "duh, it's synthetic"?

 

[Patrick Olsen]

No more fluid overheating and puking out the top of the PS pump reservoir.

 

[Oktavius]

No more fluid overheating and puking out the top of the PS pump reservoir.

How many of you check the fluid temps? I have had puking that I could consider not from overheating but from fluid being forced against the p/s cap during hard right hand turns. I have since added an extension to the factory reservoir neck to help that though.

 

[Oktavius]

I emailed AGR Performance since they are the makers of my rack and pump. In their instructions it clearly states not to use ATF and to only use P/S fluid. If ATF were to be used, it voids their warranty. Here is what I mailed and receieved...

Subject: P/S Fluid vs. ATF

Hi, I have a rack and pump from you guys for my '92 Mustang. In your instructions it clearly states not to use ATF in the power steering system. Ford, in a TSB and in manuals, states that Type F fluid should only be used in my power steering system. Seeing that the pump and rack that I got from you are of the Ford styles, should I be running Type F or power steering fluid?

Thank you,
Tim Clark

Tim,

Despite what the Factory explains, ATF is not completely compatible with power steering systems. The viscosity and anti-foaming inhibitors in ATF are different that a quality power steering fluid. We strongly recommend using a true synthetic power steering fluid like Red Line for Royal Purple Power steering fluids and will only accept these under our warranty.

Best regards,

James McElmurry
AGR Performance, Inc

Oh, and I have been using Type F in my system without any problems (dont tell AGR so my warranty isnt voided!).

 

[WhiteLX]

I have a couple quarts of Valvoline synthetic power steering fluid (not ATF) that I had planned on using in the Mustang. Maybe I'll try that for a week and see how it goes, then flush it again and try the Type F.

I think its funny how AGR says, basically, the OEM doesn't know what they're talking about. If Type F fluid wasn't compatible with a power steering system, then why would Ford use it in the first place when there are "better" alternatives.