Power Steering Fluid

[Lazerskull]

I do not understand how anyone would build something, and not make the fluid named for it compatible. Something written down in print is not sufficient to justify such a massive illogical implication.

I do not believe that Ford, or anyone, would build a power steering system, and not make it compatible with power steering fluid. That is what power steering fluid is made for. This is really a trivial subject.

There are Ford rack and pinion steering systems which will be ruined by transmission fluid. The Fox bodied Fords and Lincolns are a perfect example. I have been around many with leaking racks, and every time there was not power steering fluid in them, but transmission fluid.

I don't know if someone was confusing one type of transmission fluid for another(Mercon versus Type F), but the result was caused by the fluid.

There is no way to confuse power steering fluid, because there are not countless versions, standards, etc. There is simply cheap, versus expensive. I use the Valvoline $5 per quart stuff in everything of mine. I have never had any power steering issues, other than one 1986 Crown Vic pump with 335,000 miles on it. It went with 265,000 miles, over half of that was mail delivery mileage. Good luck,

So in all this back and forth I still don't get it. What should I use? I want to use power steering fluid for a 1997 XLT (V6 SOHC) and I am spinning in circles. Do I go for Dextron II or Mercon V or Prestone "power steering fluid?" I Want something synthetic and something proven. I guess Dextron since it's in the manual? If I don't figure this out I might wind up putting Jamba Juice in there.

 

[BKennedy]

My first gen calls for Type F ATF. I recently replaced the pump, flushed the system and added a cooler, which up'd the capacity by 50%. No whines, no problems. I used to run Mobile 1 ATF to get rid of the Ford PS whine. It works, but I found out that Type F is about 20 wt fluid. I decided to rely on manufactures recommendations, they made it, they should know what they designed the system to work with.

 

[Mbrooks420]

So in all this back and forth I still don't get it. What should I use? I want to use power steering fluid for a 1997 XLT (V6 SOHC) and I am spinning in circles. Do I go for Dextron II or Mercon V or Prestone "power steering fluid?" I Want something synthetic and something proven. I guess Dextron since it's in the manual? If I don't figure this out I might wind up putting Jamba Juice in there.

Your manual should say Mercon V. This thread is also 13 years old. Use Mercon V, or power steering fluid. Both will work.

 

[CDW6212R]

Your manual should say Mercon V. This thread is also 13 years old. Use Mercon V, or power steering fluid. Both will work.

That's the best answer, either one.


The ATF bothers me most because it's way more complicated to explain to a novice what to use, versus saying PS in all, just good PS fluid in any PS system. My old Fords take type F, the 1st gen's are type F, 2nd gens are Mercon or Mercon V depending on model(and Mercon isn't technically available(so use Dexron III because it's the same as Mercon I)), or what ATF do the later models use, Mercon VII or whatever that new version is. Then the next generation of ATF will be the new recommendation.

Ford should have done with PS fluid back in the 70's what they did recently with transfer case fluid, relabel an old fluid and recommend it for the new thing. The word is they are charging $15-$20 for the special TC fluid, but it's really just Mercon/Dexron III. I forgot where I read that 2-3 times, I was tracing when and what models were supposed to use that "special" fluid.

Ford should have put type F ATF in a bottle and labeled it power steering fluid, back in the 70's. Then when PS fluid became common, they could have made one and there would never have been any confusion.