Amsoil ATF in the steering pump?

[AKDrifter]

I am going to swap out the power steering fluid soon. Last I was in Whitehorse I could not find any synthetic power steering fluid for sale. Two different shops told me to use the Amsoil ATF instead.



On the back of the Amsoil ATF bottle it says use in power steering applications where ATF is acceptable.



Would I be doing wrong going this route, are these guys up there misinformed? Just trying to get rid of the buzz.

 

[lschultz]

I thought the newer pumps did not use ATF. When we changed my sons in his 99 we put in Valvoline. I think quite a few on here have used this.



If you have the 01 try Valvoline SynPower. But you better find out if they put ATF or Power Steering fluid in them. I know on the 99 it was Power Steering Fluid. Did not know they have gone back to ATF on the 03

 

[yogibear]

The 03 PS pumps come with ATF-4 in them.

 

[AKDrifter]

I'm an '01

Mine is a 2001, I'm wondering too if ATF is acceptable, for now. The guys up north said is is fine, but what do they know. Just because some do it does'nt mean it's correct, I won't put it in 'till I know it's fine to use. Cant find Valvoline Syn Power. Found Valvoline Syn. brake fluid though, is this the same?

 

[lschultz]

No its not the same. Down here Advance Auto Parts has it.

 

[yogibear]

I used it in my 00 for 150+K, and no problems.

 

[illflem]

I know on older rigs the manual says ATF is not compatible with the steering system's rubber parts. '03 comes with ATF and on '02 it's a recommended fix for steering problems.

I would personally only use synthetic power steering fluid in your vintage.

Royal Purple Max EZ syn ps fluid is available on the internet if you can't find anything locally--- http://www.royalpurple.com/index.shtml

 

[Sled Puller]

I put Amsoil ATF in my 97 before I talked to Amsoil.

Amsoil said don't do it.



oops.



No problems, but I wouldn't do it... again.

 

[RichB59]

Don't use atf.

Your truck should have PS fluid only. I'm using the val syn. PS fluid so far so good. JMO



RichB

 

[rweis]

2002 3500 auto,



I changed my transmission fluid and filter with ATF+4 (12k miles). I have about 3/4 gallon of the ATF+4 left.



Bill, you inferred that I could put the ATF+4 in the PS as a replacement fluid. Did I read that right? I have it, would be easy to do, and if I understand synthetics right, probably would be benificial to the PS.



Comments please,



Bob Weis



Not having problems with the PS, just might be able to make it easier to do it's job.

 

[illflem]

Bob, you're fine with ATF in an '02. There is a TSB out that recommends changing the OEM power steering fluid out for ATF as a fix for pump chatter but only for '02s