PLEASE provide some input on this!!!!!

[KelleyHFR1982]

hello bob is the oil guy members. im brand new to this site and after searching the internet and asking people i know, i've decided to become a member and ask an oil website, haha.

here it goes. i have a 2004 mazada 6s and recently i had to change the power steering pressure hose. naturally i had to replace the fluid in it as well. my owners manual calls for a ATF M-III, M-V, or equivalent(e.g. Dexron® III) so when i was looking for atf to put in it, i grabbed a bottle of mobil d/m atf. i filled and air purged my system and then when i turned it on, it started making a noise. not a loud whine or anything but you could hear the pump at idle and when i was accerlerating. i thought what the heck is going on. within a few days, i checked the bottle of fluid i put in it and i saw that it was dex IIIH specified. i realized that the fluid that was in there was inncorrect and went to the store and bought a dex/merc ATF which is dex III specified. i turkey basted the res. and topped off and purged air(per mazda 6 workshop manual). the pump was quiter but i could still here it. i was wondering if a synthetic was better to use, a syn blend, or just the regular stuff. i've seen a lucas oil syn blend ATF and only m-III fluid equiv i could find was a valoline import full synthetic. i've also seen valvoline maxlife atf and if you look at the product info, the maxlife is a synthetic oil. could you use the maxlife in power steering systems?

my mind has been wondering about this stuff for a week or 2 now. could someone shed some light on this information for me? i would appreciate it very much.

thank you

 

[RF Overlord]

Mazda M-V is not the same as Mercon V, nor is it the same as DexIII. It's a special fluid unto itself. You may want to consider getting some at a Mazda dealer and doing a complete fluid exchange before something more serious happens.

 

[JHZR2]

Did it specifically state that Dexron III is equivalent?

Nothing better than using the correct fluid...

But if they gave you that thumbs up in the manual, then a name brand dex should be OK. IIIH was just a longer life variant.

 

[simple_gifts]

Quote:

PLEASE provide some input on this!!!!!


A bad thread title to start....lol

But yes, I'm interested since I'm now using ML in my PS resevior in my B2300. I didn't see any warnings about using it and it seems Mercon/Dexron is covered by a lot of fluids; wondering how picky can a PS system be?

 

[KD0AXS]

Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
Quote:

PLEASE provide some input on this!!!!!


A bad thread title to start....lol

But yes, I'm interested since I'm now using ML in my PS resevior in my B2300. I didn't see any warnings about using it and it seems Mercon/Dexron is covered by a lot of fluids; wondering how picky can a PS system be?


Your B2300 is a totally different application than the OP's. It's not really a Mazda, it's simply a rebadged Ford Ranger. Technically, you are probably supposed to use Type F ATF in your PS pump, although the Maxlife should work just fine too.

 

[simple_gifts]

Originally Posted By: KD0AXS
Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
Quote:

PLEASE provide some input on this!!!!!


A bad thread title to start....lol

But yes, I'm interested since I'm now using ML in my PS resevior in my B2300. I didn't see any warnings about using it and it seems Mercon/Dexron is covered by a lot of fluids; wondering how picky can a PS system be?


Your B2300 is a totally different application than the OP's. It's not really a Mazda, it's simply a rebadged Ford Ranger. You'll probably want to use Type F ATF in your PS pump.


True; I assumed the Dexron III equivalency with the Mazda fluids was correct.

 

[zrxkawboy]

I really don't think that a PS system would care very much which kind of ATF was put in it. As long as it was a quality fluid, I'm sure it would be fine.

 

[RF Overlord]

Originally Posted By: zrxkawboy
I really don't think that a PS system would care very much which kind of ATF was put in it.
Tell that to Honda.

 

[zrxkawboy]

Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
Originally Posted By: zrxkawboy
I really don't think that a PS system would care very much which kind of ATF was put in it.
Tell that to Honda.


Let me clarify: a PS system that is spec'd for ATF.

 

[bepperb]

I agree, Honda aside PS systems specd for ATF aren't really that picky.

Why did the pressure line need replacement?

 

[LeakySeals]

I'm guessing air in the system. Not easy to get out once its in there. Keep basting if you like but I think over time it will go away on its own.

 

[tom slick]

Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
Mazda M-V is not the same as Mercon V, nor is it the same as DexIII. It's a special fluid unto itself. You may want to consider getting some at a Mazda dealer and doing a complete fluid exchange before something more serious happens.


His quote from the manual is the same as the manual states: M-III, M-V, or equivalent Dexron-III.

I've used Dexron-III and Mercon V with no problems in my Mazda's PS system that has the same recommendation. A Dex-IIIH spec shouldn't make a difference either.

If you can't sleep at night without M-V in the system you could try to find Castrol Transmax Import Multi-Vehicle. It's listed as Mazda M-V, Dexron-III, Mercon, and Mercon V among many others.

 

[yonyon]

LeakySeals has a good point. I Like the Peak multi-vehicle ATF for PS fluid specifying ATF because it doesn't seem to be heavily dyed.

 

[KelleyHFR1982]

thanks for all your input. i've purged the system correctly per work shop manual instructions. meaning lifted the front wheels off the ground and moved the steering wheel left to right a few times. i've also heard several other ways i could do that but i was sticking to what the work shop manual says. my fluid stays at the correct level. i have a bottle of the vavoline multi vehicle import which is m-III rated. i was thinking of purging swapping the fluid out now for that. could you run full synthetic in a power steering system?

i never thought m-V was mercon V but i can see how that would run through someones mind. no one gave any input on putting valvoline maxlife atf(which is synthetic) in the power steering system. would running a full synthetic even matter?

one thing i think is odd is that you look at the back of the valvoline multi import and it says mazda m-III and m-V recommended use and then you go to the valvoline website and the product PDF for the product doesn't say anything about a mazda m-III or m-V recommended for use.

maybe i am just putting WAY to much thought into this. i know that sometimes i'm just very meticulous.

thanks again for everyones help

 

[yonyon]

Originally Posted By: KelleyHFR1982

maybe i am just putting WAY to much thought into this. i know that sometimes i'm just very meticulous.


You're putting way too much thought into it for the present time. The best time to put lots of thought into fluid choice would be before you begin but it's fine to wait until after you've got satisfactory performance out of it.

Now that you're in the middle of it and have a problem that's not caused by your choice of fluid is not the time to worry about it. You've got bigger herring to pickle.

 

[3311]

I have been running Maxlife Dex/merc in the wifes mazda 3 PS and AT for ~50k miles now. It's due for a change now acutally and will use the same again.

 

[KelleyHFR1982]

since my last post, i decided to give the valvoline import full synthetic a try. initial observation was great. upon letting the vehicle warm up and then driving, the pump was making the same noise but much louder. so based on my own conclusions, the fluid i use must be have a thinner viscosity. right now i am in the process to find the thinnest type for my vehicle. so far the valvoline maxlife ATF is thinnest with 28.18 at 40 C and 6.18 at 100 F. i am checking all brands i can think of.

any input? is what i'm saying even making sense to anyone other than myself, lol.

thanks everyone again

 

[bmwtechguy]

Ford power steering pumps can be noisy. It can take some time for air to work it's way out. If it is fairly quiet cold and gets noisy when hot, then something thicker may be the answer, not thinner. I used the Lucas PST additive in an older vehicle that had a noisy pump, and it immediately became and stayed quiet. That stuff worked for noise and leaks for me.

 

[oldhp]

I've used plain 10wt hydraulic fluid before and it worked fine.
I can't see where all this spec'ing for power steering is coming from. Its the most simple hydraulic system on any car/truck.

 

[KelleyHFR1982]

Originally Posted By: bmwtechguy
Ford power steering pumps can be noisy. It can take some time for air to work it's way out. If it is fairly quiet cold and gets noisy when hot, then something thicker may be the answer, not thinner. I used the Lucas PST additive in an older vehicle that had a noisy pump, and it immediately became and stayed quiet. That stuff worked for noise and leaks for me.


i don't have any leaks. are you talked about lucas power steering fluid with conditioners or the actual power steering stop leak? i did some research and saw that there was 2 different products for the steering system.

thanks