Power Steering Fluid vs Trans Fluid
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 112
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From: San Diego/Pontiac CA/MI
Power Steering Fluid vs Trans Fluid
I just rebuilt the power steering control valve on my 75. I had no leaks before the rebuild but now the pump is leaking where the sheet metal is folded over the entire radius. To clarify; this sheet metal fold is where the front half of the pump is connected to the rear half.
I used transmission fluid in the system this time instead of power steering fluid. Could this be the cause of the leak? Is transmission fluid thinner than power steering fluid?
I used transmission fluid in the system this time instead of power steering fluid. Could this be the cause of the leak? Is transmission fluid thinner than power steering fluid?
Just another Corvette guy
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,518
Likes: 3,865
From: Palm Springs, CA.
Gary,
The fluid is not the cause of your leak. Trans fluid and p.s. fluid are virtually the same except power steering fluid has an anti-foaming agent in it.
Good luck Bro'
Greg
The fluid is not the cause of your leak. Trans fluid and p.s. fluid are virtually the same except power steering fluid has an anti-foaming agent in it.
Good luck Bro'
Greg
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 124
From: Wichita KS
Originally Posted by HomeboyMI
I just rebuilt the power steering control valve on my 75. I had no leaks before the rebuild but now the pump is leaking where the sheet metal is folded over the entire radius. To clarify; this sheet metal fold is where the front half of the pump is connected to the rear half.
I used transmission fluid in the system this time instead of power steering fluid. Could this be the cause of the leak? Is transmission fluid thinner than power steering fluid?
I used transmission fluid in the system this time instead of power steering fluid. Could this be the cause of the leak? Is transmission fluid thinner than power steering fluid?
I would not think that the use of transmission fluid itself would be the cause of the leak as transmission fluid and power steering fluid are both for used in hydraulic systems. That said, I think you would get better service if you used a power steering fluid that met GM specifications.
Most likely in removing and replacing the control valve hoses the seal was disturbed. I think Auto Zone (etc) sells a pump rebuild kit or reasonable cost replacement pumps.
NCM Grand Opening Veteran
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,979
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From: South of giving a damn
St. Jude Donor '11, '17
Like the others said, it's not the fluid, but please get the ATF out of the PS system. GM didn't spend time & money developing PS fluid, if ATF would have worked fine.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 16,945
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the problem is the rebuild, a lot of them will leak badly after you take them apart and put them back together again. It's that metal shim/seal that goes between the 2 halves..somehow it won't seal up correctly and it's not supplied with the rebuild kit. I've got one lying around here that's doing the same thing, the shim/seal is just slightly warped because I "sold" it to someone who messed with it, a washer got caught between the halves and the spacer and mangled it causing the leak and he had the nerve to return it as being faulty ....
. The spacer and leak is where the 2 halves join..clearly visible here:
. The spacer and leak is where the 2 halves join..clearly visible here:
Last edited by Twin_Turbo; Mar 19, 2006 at 09:17 AM.
Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,634
Likes: 2
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, the World
TT,
he said he rebuilt the valve and the Pump started leaking.
BTW, I use ordinary ATF in mine and have no problems.
There is an O ring seal for the sheetmetal reservoir to the cast housing. Unless you physically disturbed the housing it should not suddenly start leaking. Methinks it is time for a check exactly where the fluid is coming from, it may be from one of the hose joints as they were moved around when the valve was rebuilt.
he said he rebuilt the valve and the Pump started leaking.
BTW, I use ordinary ATF in mine and have no problems.
There is an O ring seal for the sheetmetal reservoir to the cast housing. Unless you physically disturbed the housing it should not suddenly start leaking. Methinks it is time for a check exactly where the fluid is coming from, it may be from one of the hose joints as they were moved around when the valve was rebuilt.
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
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From: Waterloo ontario Canada
I agree with only using power steering fluid. It is heavier viscosity and maybe if you replace the fluid with the proper fluid it won;t leak.
I will not use transmission fluid in my power steering resovior.
I will not use transmission fluid in my power steering resovior.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,710
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From: Scottsdale Arizona
Originally Posted by Twin_Turbo
the shim/seal is just slightly warped
, a washer got caught between the halves and the spacer and mangled it causing the leak ....
. The spacer and leak is where the 2 halves join.
As for the fluid, I think that using ATF might have made it worse, but it probably isn't the cause of the leak, nor would changing it back be the cure.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
The Saginaw pump is quite forgiving as to being used with many different fluids. However, the genuine GM power steering fluid that is sold at GM dealerships is the only fluid that is specifically formulated to operate with the Saginaw pumps. Also, all of the seals, rubber hoses, and other rubber parts are checked for compatibility with the GM fluid.
Jim
Jim
