[orangestang42]

For those of you who have remanufactured pumps and racks from autozone or advance etc... DO NOT put automatic transmission fluid in them. Found this out the hard way. The parts that are original from Ford is okay but the seals that are in the new ones are not made for atf. The atf will destroy the seals and possibly the pump, havent got to the pump yet, just got done replacing the rack today with a new one under autozone warranty. I flushed the system out before i hooked the lines up to the pump and after. I went through 2 quarts of power steering fluid until i stopped seeing red coming out. got under the car today and the boots were full of atf fluid, and the rack isnt that old. so maybe a new rack will cure my whining problem, if it doesnt ill prolly replace the pump and this fill it with power steering fluid. Well anyways just throwing this out there for anybody who is interested.. laterzz

[50Droptop]

tough lesson to learn...

I have always just used PS Fluid in the PS

[orangestang42]

Yeah it is but At least it didn't cost me any money..the thing that is really misleading is the parts that are on the car from ford is what calls for ATF but since the re man ones are built with different seals it's a no go..prolly gonna have to change the power steering pump too , and it has a lifetime warranty too, can't really go wrong with the warranty lol

[1LOUDGT]

Why would you put transmission fluid in the power steering to begin with?

[Stevo077]

Lol I warned you! At least you had a warranty on it.

[nolife]

Originally Posted by 1LOUDGT Why would you put transmission fluid in the power steering to begin with?

Because just about every Ford calls for ATF to be used, either Type F, Mercon/Dexron, or Mercon V depending on the year. I don't have my Fox owners manuals in front of me verify which one but my guess is Type F (someone have a mnaul handy?). I'm surprised someone blamed your seals on you using ATF. ATF is functionally equivalent in compounds to conventional power steering fluid. If it was anyones fault, it is the rebuilder, they either did a really crappy rebuild or used the wrong seals and the guy behind the counter taking your return is just ass-uming. Honda is the only oddball on that requirement, they have a very specific type
of PS fluid that has to be used.

Offtopic but to add to the confusion, Ford now suggests that all PS systems that were using Mercon/Dexron should now use Mercon V with some exceptions (TSB) and the systems that required Type F should still use Type F.

[orangestang42]

x's 2 ^

[1LOUDGT]

Originally Posted by nolife Because just about every Ford calls for ATF to be used, either Type F, Mercon/Dexron, or Mercon V depending on the year. I don't have my Fox owners manuals in front of me verify which one but my guess is Type F (someone have a mnaul handy?). I'm surprised someone blamed your seals on you using ATF. ATF is functionally equivalent in compounds to conventional power steering fluid. If it was anyones fault, it is the rebuilder, they either did a really crappy rebuild or used the wrong seals and the guy behind the counter taking your return is just ass-uming. Honda is the only oddball on that requirement, they have a very specific type of PS fluid that has to be used. Offtopic but to add to the confusion, Ford now suggests that all PS systems that were using Mercon/Dexron should now use Mercon V with some exceptions (TSB) and the systems that required Type F should still use Type F.

Learn something new every day.