ATF in PS Reservoir

I added about a 1/4 cup of Mercon V ATF to my PS reservoir.

Immediately realizing my mistake, I siphoned out all of the PS fluid and ATF
in the reservoir and refilled it with PS fluid, I then siphoned out all of
the fluid again and refilled it a second time with PS fluid, I then siphoned
it one last time and refilled it again.

Is there anything else I should do or am I good to go?

Thanks!

Joe

 

Gee, that was dumb.

If you managed to realize your goof before you turned it over, and you
were able to get a suction gun down to the bottom of the reservoir
shell, you might have done OK. The best way to do this is to simply
take the return hose off the reservoir, plugging the hose barb on same
to prevent more fluid loss, start the engine while the exhaust fluid
goes into a pan below while you add PS fluid to the pump through a
funnel.

Is your PS fluid pink now? If so, do the above.

 

Contrary to DesertBob's claim, you haven't got a disaster situation on
your hands. ATF is not all that different to the P/S fluid specified
for that system. P/S fluid is preferable, but Mercon V is a high-test
ATF, and a *quarter cup* of it will have no ill effect on the system
even if you hadn't made the effort to remove it. Quit worrying, drive
and enjoy.

 

Good, then you can pay for a new top seal for him when it starts to
leak. PS fluid, while having similar properties to ATF in many
regards, is exposed to much higher pressures than is ATF in a
transmission application. Some high pressure/high heat episodes, and
breakdown may start to happen. My understanding of Chrysler's PS spec
is a specific addition of anti-oxidation and anti-corrosion additives
not found in conventional ATFs.

What he did to rectify the error is probably as good as is necessary.

 

A quick look in the parts book will show that many of the internal seals
have gone unchanged since the sixties when ATF was the factory recommended
fluid.
ATF also has anti-oxidants and corrosion inhibitors; the only noticeable
difference in the two (besides color) is the anti-foaming properties and
this only becomes an issue when the steering is deflected against the stop
in either direction.

 

No big deal. No problem. No sweat.
Quick lubes have done a lot more harmful things than that.
But if it is leaking much you need to be looking for the leak.
MT

 

The problem isn't the ATF, the problem is to mix this two different fluids,
especially to deteriorate the foaming properties to prevent cavitation
damage.

Regards,

Ralf

 

My 04 TJ came with ATF+4 in the PS unit Where my wifes 04 WJ with the same
engine uses typical PS fluid go figure.

Coasty

 

Let's keep it real, here, folks. These predictions of catastrophic
failure and blathering about inapplicable degradation of anti-foam
properties is just way off base. We're talking about 2 fluidounces of a
fluid extremely similar to the specified fluid, added to a system
containing mostly the specified fluid, and subsequently mostly removed.

 

....is lacking, as it seems.

 

Millions of people use ATF in power steering units all the time. It's not
at all unusual.

 

ROTFL! Higher pressures in a PS system than an AT. Gotta love the lunacy.

Some high pressure/high heat episodes, and

 

Care to bet your house on that?

 

DESERTBOB (not its real name) is a troll.
It regularly frequents at least twenty news groups,
including many rabid/sex/racist/liberal idiot/wannabee mechanic groups.

Normally, it starts off with reasonable, even witty lines,
but rapidly drifts into lies, abuse and stupidity.
Check its details at Google Groups at this URL:

http://groups.google.com/groups/pro...YFW4KG3QbhQogR222h-kUg4S0n7nbF1Te82ZIng&hl=en

See it's pathetic picture and myspace page at this URL- as it searches
for companionship at age 50- looks like a quart of oil for the car in
that hair...

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=30321125

It had 2 Ebay usernames, both banned due to abuse, auction
interference, and harassment- they were VOXPOPPER and XCALIBER44- see
them here- search history of VOXPOPPER to see how it left (8) negative
feedbacks for a seller, for items that cost only a penny each !

http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=voxpopper

http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=xcaliber44


It is a sad creature, deserving of pity, not anger.
Any direct response simply feeds it,
but it will go away if you ignore it.

 

P/S test pressure routinely tops 1500 psi while the AT seldom exceeds 300
psi. Irrelevant to this discussion since both fluids can handle either
pressure range.

 

Thanks. Now, about that trust deed to your house, Steve....

Common ATFs in the past, like Types A and F, would carbonize easily
under the pressures NORMALLY associated with power steering
application. That's why, in the '60s, Ford routinely used coolers on
their PS pump return lines to try to reduce carbonization, which back
then, was a real problem. I've pulled apart and redone enough PS
pumps in my time to have seen it...the shell full of carbonized chunks
and goo, and the whining, jerking operation of the PS box and/or
control valve. With more modern fluids, I'd think there may be less
to worry about, but back then, it was a real problem, as was foaming.
Anyone who ever worked on a Saginaw rack-and-gear system (1951-55)
knows that all too well!

 

The offroad industry uses ATF in hydrostatic units which have relief
valves set at 5500 psi...quite abit higher than an automotive PS