Power Steering Fluid

StreetStang302 · Jun 9, 2005

My steering wheel has been making a winding sound when I turn it, kind of like a house door when your opening or closing it. Anyway, obviously I am out of Power Steering Fluid, checked it out, thought I broke one of the hoses for the power steering, but not, have to tighten them up. I was just wondering if there is any particular kind of Power Steering Fluid that I need for it? If so, can you let me know the exact model number and brand that I can get it from?

ss93cobra · Jun 9, 2005

Get yourself some type F and you'll be fine.

90mustangGT · Jun 9, 2005

General P/S fluid will work, type F if available, you can even use ATF. Honda and a few european cars are the only one's I know of that require special fluid. Why was it low, did you check for a leak?

Curse · Jun 9, 2005

I use ATF, never had a problem.

795.0pacecar · Jun 9, 2005

I use type F, I did find type A which is what your supposed to use, at a citgo gas station once.

HISSIN50 · Jun 9, 2005

795.0pacecar said:
I use type F, I did find type A which is what your supposed to use, at a citgo gas station once.

I thought the owners manual specified Type F. What is Type A? Never heard of it.

Saleen0679 · Jun 9, 2005

HISSIN50 said:
I thought the owners manual specified Type F. What is Type A? Never heard of it.

Type F is correct acccording to the spec book. Where Type F is old stuff (commonly used mainly up to 1970), Type A is really old stuff (used up to around 1950).

795.0pacecar · Jun 9, 2005

Type A is more of a true hydrolic fluid. If you empty the hydrolic fluid resivior for the convertable top on a mustang you will find type A in it. It realy doesn't matter though, you can use type A or type F safely.

HISSIN50 · Jun 9, 2005

Gotcha. I thought the top reservoir was Type F also.

So did F supercede A? Glad to hear that we have state of the art hydraulic fluid in our systems.

(Seriously, Thanks for the run-down).

Saleen0679 · Jun 10, 2005

HISSIN50 said:
So did F supercede A?

I'm not old enough or have the historic knowledge of ATF to answer the supercede question, but I know that both types were around at the same time. Type F may even be as old as Type A. Ford used Type F in in their cars while most other manufacturers used Type A. Type F seemed to have become the dominant fluid (used to at least 1981) until Dexron came out in the 60's and eventually took over in it's various formulations.

HISSIN50 · Jun 10, 2005

Saleen0679 said:
I'm not old enough or have the historic knowledge of ATF to answer the supercede question, but I know that both types were around at the same time. Type F may even be as old as Type A. Ford used Type F in in their cars while most other manufacturers used Type A. Type F seemed to have become the dominant fluid (used to at least 1981) until Dexron came out in the 60's and eventually took over in it's various formulations.

Cool man. Thanks for the info (that is all WAY before my time. ). I really had no idea that there were such antiquated fluids out there, which are still being used (with all the advancements in fluids, it is kinda funny I think). Interesting stuff!

StreetStang302 · Jun 10, 2005

90mustangGT said:
General P/S fluid will work, type F if available, you can even use ATF. Honda and a few european cars are the only one's I know of that require special fluid. Why was it low, did you check for a leak?

Well, I backed it up the other day to wash and wax it; then I noticed there was a puddle on the ground and didn't know where it was coming from until I turned my steering wheel which made that closing house door sound. Then, I popped the hood, check it out and it was really low on fluid, but back to the leak, it was just a loose hose that I easily tightened up. So now there is no more leak, but still the sound which will remain until I get the fluid. Where can I get Type F fluid?

jerry beach · Jun 10, 2005

I always run Dextron/Mercon 3. I have been told that the Type F is gritty and can hurt you PS system. Its only for old ford transmissions the require it. I could have been given mis-information, I didnt hear it on the internet and cant remember who told me that. Anyway, I have never had a pump fail on me using the dextron.

StreetStang302 · Jun 10, 2005

Just to add, my mustang has a 5 speed manual transmission if that makes a difference to what type of power steering fluid I use. Will Type F hurt my system or is that the type of fluid recommended for my '89 Mustang GT? and if I buy Dextron, what exact model of it do I get? What is the brand of Type F to buy?

StreetStang302 · Jun 10, 2005

90mustangGT said:
General P/S fluid will work, type F if available, you can even use ATF. Honda and a few european cars are the only one's I know of that require special fluid. Why was it low, did you check for a leak?

Well, I backed it up the other day to wash and wax it; then I noticed there was a puddle on the ground and didn't know where it was coming from until I turned my steering wheel which made that closing house door sound. Then, I popped the hood, check it out and it was really low on fluid, but back to the leak, it was just a loose hose that I easily tightened up. So now there is no more leak, but still the sound which will remain until I get the fluid. Where can I get Type F fluid?
Just to add, my mustang has a 5 speed manual transmission if that makes a difference to what type of power steering fluid I use. Will Type F hurt my system or is that the type of fluid recommended for my '89 Mustang GT? and if I buy Dextron, what exact model of it do I get? What is the brand of Type F to buy?
Thanx, Jeff

HISSIN50 · Jun 10, 2005

Personally I dont see a problem with using Type F - it is what is in the owners manual, IIRC. If one has doubts, flush the system on a somewhat regular basis. FWIW, I run Redline PS fluid and have no complaints. And we have posts from many folks who have used other fluids (Dex/Mer, etc) with no reported issues. Hydraulic fluid is hydraulic fluid (to an extent - I just worry about seal longevity with different fluids).

I would also note that if one turns the steering wheel with the car off, it is not abnormal to puke PS fluid onto the ground through the reservoir cap. I am not sure if someone brought that up or had fluid puke while doing so, so I said something.

StreetStang302 · Jun 10, 2005

HISSIN50 said:
Personally I dont see a problem with using Type F - it is what is in the owners manual, IIRC. If one has doubts, flush the system on a somewhat regular basis. FWIW, I run Redline PS fluid and have no complaints. And we have posts from many folks who have used other fluids (Dex/Mer, etc) with no reported issues. Hydraulic fluid is hydraulic fluid (to an extent - I just worry about seal longevity with different fluids).

I would also note that if one turns the steering wheel with thecar off, it is not abnormal to puke PS fluid onto the ground through the reservoir cap. I am not sure if someone brought that up or had fluid puke while doing so, so I said something.

Is the F-Type the recommmended fluid in the owners' manual of an '89 mustang? and is it for the 5-speed transmissions which I have? If so, which brand of F-Type do I get?

HISSIN50 · Jun 10, 2005

StreetStang302 said:
Is the F-Type the recommmended fluid in the owners' manual of an '89 mustang? and is it for the 5-speed transmissions which I have? If so, which brand of F-Type do I get?

I am reasonably sure Type F is called for in the PS system on my 88 GT vert. Not sure on your 89 - let other with owners and/or factory manuals confirm that.
If so, parts stores should sell Type F.

WC T5 should NOT take Type F.

Saleen0679 · Jun 10, 2005

StreetStang302 said:
Is the F-Type the recommmended fluid in the owners' manual of an '89 mustang? and is it for the 5-speed transmissions which I have? If so, which brand of F-Type do I get?

1989 Owners Manual pg. 149 specifies ATF Type F for the power steering or a fluid meeting Ford Spec ESW-M2C33-F.

The T-5 still takes an ATF meeting Ford Mercon specifications.

The brand really shouldn't matter as long as it meets specs. Personally I always go with a name brand.

criticman · Jun 11, 2005

I am planning on chaning PS fluid soon, synthetic SEEMS better in theory, but would love to hear from someone who runs it (or ran it).

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