Valvoline syn vs. dino in a power steering system

[Bottom_Feeder]

Valvoline makes three fluids (at least) that will work in the power steering system of my wife's '02 Corolla: MaxLife Dex/Merc which is a synthetic and obviously has all the high mileage additives, Import Multi-Vehicle which just seems like a synthetic Dexron-compatible fluid, and regular Dex/Merc which is a dino Dexron-compatible fluid.

I know using MaxLife in power steering systems has generally proven to be fine if not recommended. I assume the high mileage additives either help somewhat or do next to nothing and that the fact that it's a synthetic fluid is what makes it 'good', but it is a bit thinner than regular dino Dexron according to the product information sheets. The Import Multi-Vehicle is a synthetic but has very close to the same viscosity as regular Dex/Merc. So is the thinner MaxLife not really as good an option as Import Multi-Vehicle if I just want to use a synthetic Dexron fluid? Will the fluid viscosity change how the system works for better/worse?

http://content.valvoline.com/pdf/maxlife_atf.pdf
http://content.valvoline.com/pdf/multi_vehicle_atf.pdf
http://content.valvoline.com/pdf/dex_merc.pdf

 

[mclasser]

FWIW, I'm running MaxLife in my I35's PS system without issue. Dexron III is the spec'd fluid.

 

[Sayjac]

In my 01 Tacoma which specs Dex II/III I'd not have a problem running any of those as PSF. As I posted in another thread here just awhile ago, ML being a full syn starts at a low viscosity but won't shear as quickly and will maintain viscosity longer.

But looks like the IMV is full synthetic too, just thicker. If you feel more confident because it more closely matches mineral Dex/Merc, go for it. I'd likely just run the least expensive. In fact I've been using Mobil D/M mineral ATF for some time now and it works fine too. Tacoma doesn't seem too picky about PSF.

 

[zeng]

I would pick MV over dino dexron for oil base, and disregard Maxlife for being of thinner viscosity.