The last owner filled the power steering system with ATF-oil, oil made for
automatic transmissions but he said it worked with the power steering to.
I've read in numberous of catalogs that it should work but in the chilton book
for 1968-82 corvettes it says that I must use special power steering fluid in
the system. What is right?
It is a original power steering system, 1972.

I've also started to hear some metal-to-metal sounds somewhere from either
the generator or the power steering pump when the engine is running.
Sounds like some bearings might be worn out or something.
Can that have something to do with it being wrong fluid in the ps?

 

I've always used PS fluid. Valvoline makes a synthetic PS fluid. That's what I used after the Steeroids went in.

Brett :thumbs:

 

I'm thinking of putting in Steeroids myself, the power cylinder is leaking
so I either have to fix that or buy Steeroids.
I've heard so much good about the them but it's sure a lot of money and I recently bought the car so I'm not sure...

 

My PS was leaking too. Plus, it didn't steer very well. After pricing a rebuild, I decided I would be better off with the Steeroids. Your pump could very well be on it's way out. But, the Steeroids kit I bought DID NOT come with a PS pump. Take the belt off the PS pump and see if the noise goes away.

Brett :thumbs:

 

:iagree:
Valvoline is what I use in my stock 71 power steering system. I hear that Toyotas require ATF in there PS systems. My boss found that out after filling his with regular fluid and it made horrible noises.

 

The power steering fluid that is sold at GM dealers is the only fluid that is specfically formulated to work with the Saginaw pump. Back in the late 60s there was a common ATF fluid that was used in GM power steering systems.
This is why some of your earlier owners and shop manuals may refer to ATF as an acceptable fluid for power steering.

However, as engines got more powerful and temperatures under hood got higher, the automatic transmission people started working with the GM Research Labs to develop a better ATF fluid that was formulated specifically for the various GM transmissions (i.e. hydramatic, dynaflow, powerglide, ect.) Their primary focus was on the transmission and the power steering pump just took the back seat.

So Saginaw developed a fluid just for power steering. The primary focus was on the lubricating qualities need for the Saginaw vane pump and the drive shaft bushing.

In all honesty, the Saginaw pump has been sold all over the world to various manufacturers. Some of them use ATF others the GM PS fluid. Volkswagen uses a synthetic fluid called Pentosin. For the most part the pump operates acceptably.

However, there are tens of thousands of laboratory tests and millions upon millions of vehicle durability test miles with the Saginaw pump and the GM power steering fluid.


[Modified by Jim Shea, 5:29 PM 11/4/2003]