Power Steering Fluid?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 891
Likes: 18
From: Dayton Ohio
Power Steering Fluid?
I changed the power steering fluid in my 92 this weekend. At the time I could not obtain the GM fluid (12345866) so I used the Advance Auto fluid that had purchased for the job. Does anyone know of any problems with running fluid like this? The FSM calls for 12345866 which I believe is a synthetic fluid but I have read elsewhere that the fluid I used is ok. The bottom line is that I do not want to ruin my pump or rack.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 284
Likes: 2
From: Burton Texas
My daily driver '91 was leaking P.S. fluid from the pump seal. Figureing the seal was shot and I had nothing to loose, I topped it off with a parts store's generic Dextron II AFT. Topped it off again the next week. For the next two years (60K + miles) I did not have to top it off again, and the P.S. system was working just fine when I sold it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,382
Likes: 2
From: Kathleen FL
My daily driver '91 was leaking P.S. fluid from the pump seal. Figureing the seal was shot and I had nothing to loose, I topped it off with a parts store's generic Dextron II AFT. Topped it off again the next week. For the next two years (60K + miles) I did not have to top it off again, and the P.S. system was working just fine when I sold it.
We think alike. 
I also use ATF as a substitute for the PS fluid. It is essentially the same stuff with better additives. My dad does the same thing on his cars (all GM) and none have ever had any problems.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,614
Likes: 163
From: Davis CA
What brand did you buy? The Advance Auto Parts site doesn't show an "Advance" brand but it is probably incomplete. If you bought something else, check the web. Pyroil (Valvoline) for instance is OK.
I'm not in agreement with the use AFT group but don't have an empirical reason. Both are light weight oils and the ATF probably has lots of additives that power steering doesn't have. That said, there might be higher sheer stresses in the power steering system than the transmission and the power steering fluid might be designed to handle those better.
I can't find a definitive answer from a reliable source except that no company recommends substituting one for the other -- not following manufacturers' recommendations.
I'm not in agreement with the use AFT group but don't have an empirical reason. Both are light weight oils and the ATF probably has lots of additives that power steering doesn't have. That said, there might be higher sheer stresses in the power steering system than the transmission and the power steering fluid might be designed to handle those better.
I can't find a definitive answer from a reliable source except that no company recommends substituting one for the other -- not following manufacturers' recommendations.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,196
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
120K+ miles and never any issues. I had to replace the pump once (it failed) and just kept using the cheap stuff. Still no issues.
The expensive synthetic stuff is often overrated IMO.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 282
Likes: 6
From: central michigan
atf
What brand did you buy? The Advance Auto Parts site doesn't show an "Advance" brand but it is probably incomplete. If you bought something else, check the web. Pyroil (Valvoline) for instance is OK.
I'm not in agreement with the use AFT group but don't have an empirical reason. Both are light weight oils and the ATF probably has lots of additives that power steering doesn't have. That said, there might be higher sheer stresses in the power steering system than the transmission and the power steering fluid might be designed to handle those better.
I can't find a definitive answer from a reliable source except that no company recommends substituting one for the other -- not following manufacturers' recommendations.
I'm not in agreement with the use AFT group but don't have an empirical reason. Both are light weight oils and the ATF probably has lots of additives that power steering doesn't have. That said, there might be higher sheer stresses in the power steering system than the transmission and the power steering fluid might be designed to handle those better.
I can't find a definitive answer from a reliable source except that no company recommends substituting one for the other -- not following manufacturers' recommendations.
