[T-Bone]

I'm not sure where to post this so please move it if you feel the need... I did a search but can't find the details for power steering fluid. What type/brand/weight should I look for? I went to the parts store but of course they really didn't have any clue.



Thanks for the help,



T-bone

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[banditsc]

ATF III. It's transmission fluid, not power steering fluid.

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[Cloud9...68]

[quote name='banditsc' post='65491' date='Jan 12 2009, 01:43 PM']ATF III. It's transmission fluid, not power steering fluid.[/quote]

Interesting. That's the first time I've heard that. I've always just used power steering fluid in mine.



Coincidentally, I'm tracking down a whine coming from the steering on our 2003 Chrysler Town & Country minivan (will it become a collector's item when (not if) Chrysler goes belly up? And how often do you see a thread comparing a Porsche to a minivan?), and the minivan forum (yes, there is such a thing) also says to use ATF rather than power steering fluid. Many minivan owners report the whine being completely cured with the ATF. They suggest siphoning out the power steering fluid, and replacing it with AFT. I'm going to try it on mine, as soon as I figure out how to get the danged front rotors off my 968...

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[banditsc]

Using power steering fluid in the rack in our cars, can lead to the seals blowing out. The owners manual actually calls for ATF III

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[Cloud9...68]

[quote name='banditsc' post='65502' date='Jan 12 2009, 02:23 PM']Using power steering fluid in the rack in our cars, can lead to the seals blowing out. The owners manual actually calls for ATF III[/quote]

Hmmm... I wonder how many of us are making this mistake...

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[T-Bone]

Maybe it's just better if I take it to the shop and ask them to replace it all. I have no idea what's in it currently and don't want to mix. Thanks for the quick replies. It's just to the first mark on the dipstick so I should still have time. I just noticed a very small whine the other day. I kind of chalk it up to the wider fronts I just put on it (225 vs. 205). I'm sure the pump, etc. is working harder at low speeds.

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[DaveN]

It's definitly ATF. The same is true for the 944's as well. At least it's not the Pentosin PS fluid VW Group likes to use. I had to use that in my Jetta and it cost me C$ 40.00 a can!

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[jeffski1]

Anyone know of a DYI tutorial for this procedure--replacing the fluid that is? Would it be anything more then a drain and replace? Or is there a specific flushing procedure? I need to replace my reservoir as it's slowly leaking anyways, so this could be a good time to do the whole shabang. I replaced my power steering rack about 4 years ago, and I do not remember if I used power steering fluid or ATFIII. Just to play it safe, I think I'm going to replace the fluid.

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[Cloud9...68]

On the minivan, I siphoned as much of the fluid from the reservoir as I could, using an inexpensive hand-pump style siphon, then filled it to the lower line with the recommended fluid (Chrysler-specific ATF). I started the engine, and turned the wheel all the way to the left and right a good 10+ times, shut it off, and repeated the process two more times. After the final cycle, I filled the reservoir all the way to the top, beyond even the top line. This is something the Minivan forum recommended - I don't think I would do tha with the 968. I figured this would get the vast majority of the old stuff out. It worked like a charm - the steering is nice and smoothe now (the wheel used to vibrate noticeably, particularly when cold), and the whine it used to make is gone. Good as new.



My 968 isn't exhibiting any symptoms at the moment, but I think I will go through this same procedure as a preventative measure, unless someone posts a better way to flush/replace the fluid, considering I have a witch's brew of fluids in there now.

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[flash]

tech tip - 99 cent turkey baster works well for extraction too

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[moses]

Just did this and I second Flash and Cloud (or would that be third?)



The volume of both the resevoir and the unsiphoned parts are small so it's not like you burn a lot of fluid using the "suck, spin, and pour" method repeatedly. IIRC, you can flush it like 3 times with one bottle of ATF. It's also possible to pop the hose off the unpressured line into the pump and I don't think you introduce any air since the pump and rack are below the connection, but I don't think it's worth the effort since you only drain the additional volume of the bottom of the res. and a short piece of hose.



BTW, what's the difference between all the ATF's? At the store I saw ATF 3-6, not including the ATF unnumbered.

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[Cloud9...68]

[quote name='flash' post='65832' date='Jan 19 2009, 11:55 PM']tech tip - 99 cent turkey baster works well for extraction too[/quote]

lol - the minivan forum also recommended this, but I was worried about making a social faux pas by using the wrong vintage of ATF to go with next year's Thanksgiving meal...

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[rob76turbo]

LOL: <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> I have a manual rack installed and therefore no PS fluid. So I say.......NONE!!

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[flash]

just tell them it's cranberry sauce

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