OldsmoBeast Posted January 24, 2005 Report Share Posted January 24, 2005 Hey everyone, I was at Shitty Lube yesterday and while they were changing my oil they 'noticed that my PS fluid was a tad low'. They topped it up for me (FOR TWO FREAKIN DOLLARS) and i left... today I noticed my PS getting a little bit heavier and I opened up my PS and it smelled like burnt tranny fluid in there. I'm thinking maybe those goons messed up. What do you think? Could tranny fluid destroy my PS pump? Thanks everyone! YK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GutlessSupreme Posted January 24, 2005 Report Share Posted January 24, 2005 supposedly some kinds of tranny fluid are alright to use.. NOT Dexron III though. I wouldn't do it, whatever the case though. And I hate when they do that.. notice somethings low and charge you out the ass for it (relatively speaking). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terryk2003 Posted January 24, 2005 Report Share Posted January 24, 2005 yeah...some tranny fluids WILL work...but, i'd just use power steering fluid myself...and, thats BS that they charge extra to top off fluids...sounds like a scam...we top everything off for free where i work!!... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiscoStudd Posted January 24, 2005 Report Share Posted January 24, 2005 I've heard that you could, in a pinch, use straight 30w motor oil in the power steering system. PS fluid is petroleum based, btw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian P Posted January 25, 2005 Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 I've used dex3 in a power steering system a while back, never had any adverse effects. At the same time your PS fluid may need to be flushed. My '95's fluid smelled bad and was BLACK. Did a flush and no issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regal_GS_1989 Posted January 25, 2005 Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 IIRC, I've seen a few imports that use Dex III. I found it to be kinda wierd. Correct Me if I'm Wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldsmoBeast Posted January 25, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 Well after my exams are over (Wednesday - Friday), I'm going on a skiing trip with my brother....4 hours each way....and I'm driving... I might borrow my mom's car but chances are I'm driving the CS...so hopefully whatever it is won't be a huge problem, but maybe on Friday afternoon I should flush my PS system? Whats involved? how's it done? Thanks again, YK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pitzel Posted January 25, 2005 Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 Buy a couple quarts of PS fluid. Use a turkey baster or other suctioning device to remove PS fluid from reservoir. Fill with new PS fluid out of bottle. Drive around for a day, repeat. Drive for another day, repeat. That should take care of most of the fluid. PS fluid is cheap, we can get it here for less than $2/quart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bossman429 Posted January 25, 2005 Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 Nissans use dex 3 for p/s fluid. Maybe toyotas too. Hondas use a special honda p/s fluid which is undoubtably more expensive, but they whine if you don't use it. as for using a different trans fluid for the P/S. All fords since about 87 have used Type FA trans fluid in the P/S. I'm sure many things would work without adverse affects, but on a GM I'd use good ol' regular ass power steering fluid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldsmoBeast Posted January 25, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2005 Buy a couple quarts of PS fluid. Use a turkey baster or other suctioning device to remove PS fluid from reservoir. Fill with new PS fluid out of bottle. Drive around for a day, repeat. Drive for another day, repeat. That should take care of most of the fluid. PS fluid is cheap, we can get it here for less than $2/quart. Cool, thanks. As for the turkey baster... I don't know how great the turkey will come out after doing that... but I do luckily have a huge farm-type suctioning thingy...can't remember what its called but its very useful for that type of thing... Hopefully after i'm done stressing over exams I'll get this all done and let everyone know how it goes. Thanks! YK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimraelee Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 I've heard that you could, in a pinch, use straight 30w motor oil in the power steering system. PS fluid is petroleum based, btw. definatly not... 30w is much too thick of oil to use... It would be better to use a hydrolic oil.... PS fluid and Tranny fluid are pretty much the same oil... tranny fluid has a seal sweal agent in there, also has the odvious red color... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOHCRagtopguy Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 DiscoStudd wrote: I've heard that you could, in a pinch, use straight 30w motor oil in the power steering system. PS fluid is petroleum based, btw. definatly not... 30w is much too thick of oil to use... It would be better to use a hydrolic oil.... PS fluid and Tranny fluid are pretty much the same oil... tranny fluid has a seal sweal agent in there, also has the odvious red color... I work in the lab and can assure everyone this is pretty much true. PS Fluid and Tranny Fluid are both hydraulic fluids. There is a small amount of seal sweller and viscosity improver in the Tranny Fluid as well as some red dye. The PS Fluid is generally brown with no dye or additives. I've always used Dexron in my PS systems without any problems. Never ever put Motor Oil in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiscoStudd Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 Actually I remember hearing about using the 30 weight oil as a pseudo "cure" for the "morning stiffness" that mid 80's FWD GM's had. As far as flushing goes, definitely suck out all the old fluid from the reservoir (I use a squirt bottle, works great) and refill. Instead of repeating this several times, just disconnect the low pressure return hose from the reservoir (it's the one held on with a hose clamp) and stick it in a container large enough to catch a couple of quarts of fluid. Start the motor and continue to add new fluid into the reservoir as the old stuff is pumped out and into your container. After going through a few bottles of PS fluid, put the hose back on, top off the reservoir, and away you go... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulo57509 Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 ..........Hondas use a special honda p/s fluid which is undoubtably more expensive, but they whine if you don't use it..... FYI: They also start to leak if non-Honda fluid is used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GutlessSupreme Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 ..........Hondas use a special honda p/s fluid which is undoubtably more expensive, but they whine if you don't use it..... FYI: They also start to leak if non-Honda fluid is used. Sounds like Chryler's newest A604 model and their lovely ATF-4 fluid.. (or is it ATF-5?) Stuff's damn expensive, I know that much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimraelee Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 As far as flushing goes, definitely suck out all the old fluid from the reservoir (I use a squirt bottle, works great) and refill. Instead of repeating this several times, just disconnect the low pressure return hose from the reservoir (it's the one held on with a hose clamp) and stick it in a container large enough to catch a couple of quarts of fluid. Start the motor and continue to add new fluid into the reservoir as the old stuff is pumped out and into your container. After going through a few bottles of PS fluid, put the hose back on, top off the reservoir, and away you go... actually I would recomend to disable the ignition system... pull the ign module plug... and just crank the eng over a little bit... a dry run pump can burn its seals up... then the howling comes around... Im not saying it cant be done that way its just easier on the pump ... it wouldnt take much cranking to get all the fluid out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THe_DeTAiL3R Posted January 29, 2005 Report Share Posted January 29, 2005 I ran DexIII in my old car when I replaced the pump (with a half-assed used junkyard pump) and I guess it worked okay. I only use regular PS fluid on my current car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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