what fluid for power steering?

[barbiebandit]

74 satellite...what do i use for power steering? All original parts.

ATF dot 3?

 

[493 Mike]

Ii sounds like you are mixing up transmission fluid with brake fluid there. Power steering fluid off the shelf should do the trick.
Mike

 

[Yatzee]

74 satellite...what do i use for power steering? All original parts.

ATF dot 3?

Use genuine power steering fluid not ATF. Both are types of hydraulic oil but genuine power steering fluid doesn't foam and maintains viscosity regardless of the tempurature and is the proper viscosity for this purpose. ATF is just what it says, automatic transmission fluid. Oh, by the way, if you're going to use the wrong stuff, Crappy Tire has the cheapest.

 

[oldbee]

Well ATF is recommended most often, but I'd go with p/s fluid myself.

 

[BeeKool]

ATF works but p/s is probably your best bet on seals and stuff. If your system is good and doesn't leak, use a good quality brand.

I only dump ATF in my old work trucks with leaks in the ps

 

[ws23jrt]

I have used ATF for the power steering in the old days. (the days when the word on the street about what worked was as good as what the manufacturer recommended).
It did (seem to) work and I used it because I had some on hand and needed it right then.

BTW --the word on the street never mentioned using power steering fluid in the transmission as being ok. But ATF was ok for the 4sp. (I never felt inclined to put "ATF" in my super bee's 4sp cause it worked just fine with the recommended oil).

One thing I did do a few times is take the air cleaner off and pour ATF in the carb making a huge cloud of smoke.--I heard it was good for the valves somehow.

And then there was -Marvel Mystery Oil. --It was (and still is?) a fix all stuff and even could be used in the battery if the level was low.---(I never tried that).

 

[BeeKool]

What about diesel in the crankcase to clean old motors?
I've heard a few old timers tell me they did that to trucks they brought home from auctions.
Seafoam says you can do that as well, and also in the vacuum system. I've never been brave enough. Afraid it might just be the straw that breaks the old 318s back .lol

 

[oldbee]

I have used ATF for the power steering in the old days. (the days when the word on the street about what worked was as good as what the manufacturer recommended).
It did (seem to) work and I used it because I had some on hand and needed it right then.

BTW --the word on the street never mentioned using power steering fluid in the transmission as being ok. But ATF was ok for the 4sp. (I never felt inclined to put "ATF" in my super bee's 4sp cause it worked just fine with the recommended oil).

One thing I did do a few times is take the air cleaner off and pour ATF in the carb making a huge cloud of smoke.--I heard it was good for the valves somehow.

And then there was -Marvel Mystery Oil. --It was (and still is?) a fix all stuff and even could be used in the battery if the level was low.---(I never tried that).

Ahhh, the good old days, when word "on the street" was usually pretty darn good!!

 

[WileE]

Dictionary: "Word-on-the-street" = a means, pre-internet, whereby ideas and information exchanged. Also known as " word of mouth "

 

[ws23jrt]

It's kind of amazing what the old engines could take and keep on running --and to try to fix what was not yet broken could indeed cause an engine to fail.
Breaking down built up sludge could block oil passages as well as causing oil filters to bypass and pickups to clog.

About engines taking a beating. ----My sister had a 65 sport fury in the 70s and I was the go to guy to make it go when it stopped.
She called me once to complain that sometimes the engine would just stop in traffic and would not even turn over for a half hour or so. What I found was very low coolant level. the engine would seize up from overheating and just needed for the pistons to contract to run again. I showed her about the value of coolant and what it was for. She got many good miles past that and the rings seemed to keep doing their job just fine.

 

[ws23jrt]

Dictionary: "Word-on-the-street" = a means, pre-internet, whereby ideas and information exchanged. Also known as " word of mouth "

Yep---today we just live on a bit wider street. The value of the "word of mouth" information is the same. More mouths saying the same things.

 

[Photon440]

from the 1970 shop manual for fluid:

 

[barbiebandit]

from the 1970 shop manual for fluid:
View attachment 500795

And there it IS!!!! Thanks!

 

[barbiebandit]

What about diesel in the crankcase to clean old motors?
I've heard a few old timers tell me they did that to trucks they brought home from auctions.
Seafoam says you can do that as well, and also in the vacuum system. I've never been brave enough. Afraid it might just be the straw that breaks the old 318s back .lol

Yeah, I have a can of Seafoam I have been debating using. I'm always afraid of these stop leak / additive type products. However I saw a few videos on youtube feom people who applied it and they all were positive outcomes. A guy used it in an old beat up pick-up and aftwr it finished billowing white smoke out the tailpipe ("expected") he said it ran like a top and all the lifter noise was gone etc.

 

[barbiebandit]

Use genuine power steering fluid not ATF. Both are types of hydraulic oil but genuine power steering fluid doesn't foam and maintains viscosity regardless of the tempurature and is the proper viscosity for this purpose. ATF is just what it says, automatic transmission fluid. Oh, by the way, if you're going to use the wrong stuff, Crappy Tire has the cheapest.

YEah, crappy tire does have cheap ATF. I had a major gasket leak from my 727 and had a constant drip (fixed now). Went through ATF like crazy and bought it there

 

[BeeKool]

Yeah, I have a can of Seafoam I have been debating using. I'm always afraid of these stop leak / additive type products. However I saw a few videos on youtube feom people who applied it and they all were positive outcomes. A guy used it in an old beat up pick-up and aftwr it finished billowing white smoke out the tailpipe ("expected") he said it ran like a top and all the lifter noise was gone etc.

I use it in the fuel regularly, just never in the crankcase