Is ATF the same as P/S fluid? *newbie question*

[artificialist]

Every Nissan and Toyota I have ever worked on took ATF. That includes many rack and pinion systems.

 

[OVERKILL]

Every Ford we've ever owned spec'd ATF, and my Mustang was rack and pinion.....

 

[Cup of Joe]

Originally Posted By: artificialist

No.
If you read the really small specification numbers it will mention an exact number which must be matched by the number in the car's factory manual.

That is why some fords say ATF and mean it.


Uh yeah, I'll have to disagree with you about that.

The ford does spec Type F but I have never had a problem using dexron/mercon in a ford PS. My F-150 is at least partial mercon now, has been for the last 4 or 5 years. I only used house brand dex/mercon in my escort, again no problems with its use.

Notice his bottle of PS fluid is basicly rebottle ATF already.

 

[jigen]

Well if that's true I can go pick up some ATF that meets the spec.

 

[Cup of Joe]

The fact that Type F is an ATF is not being overlooked is it? The only difference is the type of ATF each system specs.

http://www.exxon.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/NAUSE2PVLEXAAMCO_ATF_Type_F.asp

 

[WishIhadatruck]

In my GM vehicles I've either used Valvoline PSF, part store brand PSF, or Red Line PSF. All of them listed the GM specification # on the bottle and all my GM cars have all required the same fluid. They usually list the spec. # and also a part #. The Redline PSF fixed a cold weather stiffness in my '96 Roadmaster Wagon so that is all I use in that car. My Grand Prix is still using up my stock of Valvoline PSF. I read the manual for a Pontiac G8 and it said to use Dex VI in the powersteering fluid.

If the PSF you already have meets the spec. then use it. My guess is ATF will work also but I've never tried it. I use so little PSF over the life of a car I'm not especially concerned about the cost difference.

 

[Gary Allan]

It's not the cost difference, per se~. It's the part numbers and availability of upgraded fluids. Synthetic ATF is more easily available.

My opinion on WHY Amsoil finally came out with synth PSF is because too many consumers were paranoid about using AFT and were buying competitors offerings. In case anyone needs a baseball bat up side their heads, the OEM's have gone nuts on distinction in OEM offerings. Yet we see that these distinctions have proven to be, more or less, bogus ..at least in terms of the paranoia that they generate.

I think the whole concept of dedicated PS fluid was another unnecessary evolution in automotive lubricants. It may have saved pennies on the assembly line ..but offered another revenue stream for licensing in the aftermarket.

 

[JakeR22]

Doesn't ATF have the tendency to "foam up" more the PS fluid?

Also, is there a difference in boiling point?

 

[Cup of Joe]

Perhaps you mean flash point. Boiling point is normally seen listed in brake fluid. Here is amsoils data points for each. Pour point and flash point are pretty close.

PSF
http://www.amsoil.com/lit/databulletins/g2577.pdf

ATF
http://www.amsoil.com/lit/databulletins/g173.pdf

 

[JakeR22]

I'd like to know boiling points too.

I've seen some people who road race have problems with the fluid actually boiling. So I was curious as to which fluid had the higher boiling point.