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Hadn’t ever changed my PSF. I normally change brake fluid about once a year, everything else with full synthetic on a regular basis but I never did PSF. 238,000. So I bought some Maxlife Power Steering Fluid. My Subaru calls for ATF. I went ahead and sucked out 8.5 ounces with the mighty vac pump and put in 8.5 ounces of Maxlife power steering fluid. Wonder if I should have used ATF? Or does it make little difference, the power steering fluid says it’s for imports other than Honda.
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I would get that stuff out of there and replace it with the factory recommended fluid. If you use a fluid that is not recommended by the factory you run a big risk of seals or hoses leaking or system failure. The reason for this is that the factory recommended fluids have specific chemical compositions, as do the rubber seals and hoses, even some metals.
Yep, get it out of there and go back to ATF. PS fluid is different and should not be used in a system that calls for ATF. In addition you can’t mix synthetic brake fluid with regular brake fluid. Aside from that it seems like a bit of overkill to do that but if it makes you happy, go for it. You just need to make sure you flush the entire system out before you install synthetic fluid in the brake system.
I may be wrong but I believe synthetic brake fluid compresses slightly more than regular dot. I have also heard that synthetic is more hygroscopic
Eric, it’s Max life Power Steering fluid not brake fluid and it says it’s good for imports other than Honda. I ended up asking a Sub tech and they said go for it, I could use it and even mix it with ATF. So I said I plan to change the fluid every few weeks until it’s all power steering fluid and he said it would be fine and get any crud out.
Brake fluid is a whole different thing, I change that at least every couple years using the mighty vac pump and running new synthetic fluid through the system.
And I think you mean you can’t mix Silicone brake fluid with regular brake fluid. Synthetic brake fluid is still DOT 3 or 4. Silicone is DOT 5 and doesn’t play nice with 3 or 4.
What’s a “sub tech?” I would always use the factory recommended fluids. Unless “sub tech” means Honda engineer.
What do you think Eric? I’m getting ready to change it for the second time.
Totally unrelated, my 95 accord shifts a lot better after a couple changes with Honda DW1 vs. the old Z1. Change interval is the same, new fluid is clearly better.
[quote=”EricTheCarGuy” post=44532]PS fluid is different and should not be used in a system that calls for ATF. [/quote]
What kind of issue do you anticipate if you substitute PS fluid in one that calls for ATF? In the PS system both fluids are acting as a hydraulic fluid, and certainly less stressed than in transmission for example.
As a data point, I’ve come to realize my current vehicle specs ATF but the fluid that came with it (used car) looks like something else. It’s not your standard red/pink ATF colour. It is performing really well though, super smooth and quiet for about two years I’ve owned the car now.
I would like to continue having a working system but don’t know where I should go from here when it’s time to change the fluid. It’s currently a very clean and clear brown/gold/yellow colour?
[quote=”PhotonPanda” post=45617][quote=”EricTheCarGuy” post=44532]PS fluid is different and should not be used in a system that calls for ATF. [/quote]
What kind of issue do you anticipate if you substitute PS fluid in one that calls for ATF? In the PS system both fluids are acting as a hydraulic fluid, and certainly less stressed than in transmission for example.
As a data point, I’ve come to realize my current vehicle specs ATF but the fluid that came with it (used car) looks like something else. It’s not your standard red/pink ATF colour. It is performing really well though, super smooth and quiet for about two years I’ve owned the car now.
I would like to continue having a working system but don’t know where I should go from here when it’s time to change the fluid. It’s currently a very clean and clear brown/gold/yellow colour?[/quote]
The problems are as basic as the engineering. The truth is ANY fluid is hydraulic but when it comes to lubricating and operating a system engineers have a specific idea in mind. They often engineer the system around a particular fluid or engineer a fluid for their system. In short, go outside of what it was designed for and you are asking for trouble. ATF and power steering fluid are VERY different fluids. Just put them side by side and you’ll SEE the difference. Both are designed with a specific purpose in mind and I was just trying to convey that idea.
I understand but you said brake fluid. Changed the fluid again, mixture was mostly red. Still works fine, still not leaks. I guess we’ll see. In a couple weeks, I’m going to change it one last time. I guess I could use maxlife ATF but I don’t see the point at this time. I probably should have just bought maxlife ATF in the first place though.
Maybe next time I’ll use Maxlife ATF.
You guys got me nervous and I put some mobil 1 ATF in it and I’ll change it could more times after I drive it a few days in between. Now don’t tell me synthetic ATF isn’t good enough. I almost used max life ATF but it’s Dexron VI and I thought the viscosity might be too low. Mobil 1 is still dexron III and it’s one of the very best Dexron III fluids but is too thick to meet Dexron VI.
[quote=”EricTheCarGuy” post=46089]ATF and power steering fluid are VERY different fluids. Just put them side by side and you’ll SEE the difference. Both are designed with a specific purpose in mind and I was just trying to convey that idea.[/quote]
Idea conveyed. I was mainly just curious about this stuff, not to experiment for no good reason. Pretty much all the bottles on the shelves here are opaque and none of the cars around me call for PS fluid that I know of, so I don’t have a convenient hands-on reference.
My car takes ATF for power steering (Dex II/III according to the manual). If I had the auto, it specs Type T-IV, so I would still need different fluids unless I use a suitable universal ATF.
I’ll get a better look at my current fluid when it warms up around here, and decide if I should change/flush it. I hate it when cars are dripping on me.
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