power steering fluid <VS> automatic transmission fluid

any insight on the pros an cons of using atf in my power steering? i know some ford products recomend atf in theirs, gm recomends psf. i know the two are'nt compatable an dont mix.any one tried both atf an psf to find any reason they picked one over the other?

 

In my trail Jeeps with regular Saginaw Steering I use atf. I use it because it's cheap and I carry extra that someone else may be able to use in their auto trans if needed. In my daily driver's I use power steering fluid. Be aware if you have a conversion using late model components use what's recommended. Some systems take synthetic pwr stg fluids or require a certain kind. Using the wrong stuff can have detrimental effects....

 

i have original equipment on my '76 304, atf is usualy on hand psf not always at the top of my list of purchases,

 

FWIW, I remember my high school auto tech teacher giving this instruction... The pressure in a P/S system can exceed 1,000 PSI so that fluid has stabilizers added to handle the high pressures. The pressure in an auto transmission only reaches ~300 psi. This was ~30 years ago, too.
That said, I do the same as many since ATF is readily available; I use ATF in my CJs power Saginaw system anyway. I just don't crank hard on the wheel in tight situations.

 

my front diff is locked an i have to crank on it hard,just came back from a test run an it didnt like atf , im going to change it to psf it wined like extremely low fluid level, ive printed the previous post an stapled it to the wall in my garage as a reminder. thanks

 

Makemsure you have all the air out of the system. Sounds like there may be an air pocket still.

 

im not sure but the air should have come out after an hour use? or am i missing something ? im still going to change it . David Brown gives a really good reason to choose one over the other ptf <vs> atf. Thanks guys

 

I ran ATF in mine for a while and it ate the pump. May be unrelated, but since I switched to a new pump and PSF its been fine.

Remember, power steering fluid is designed for power steering systems. ATF has other friction modifiers and additives that are optimized for the clutch slippage that goes on in an Auto trans. Power steering systems see none of that.

How much space does a pint of PSF take up really? Its not like you can't buy power steering fluid everywhere from auto parts stores to grocery stores to convienence stores.

 

Yea I know, just seem to forget that one while at the store until after i need it ,this experience i dont think i will be forgetting for a while now.

 

Just a note, if your using an AGR box don't use ATF it will void the warranty. Using ATF will damage the high temp viton seals.

 

Some systems do call for ATF. Again, use what's called for

 

I have what ever stock original equipment is. Heres what happened, I allways used psf in the system until a few days ago when i had to refill the empty system and all i had was atf so i used that. thats what prompted my questions if this would be ok or not. well i have found out through trial and error with help from posts that i will be using psf in my ps system from now on.Cleaned out the atf an now have full power steering system with psf ,back to working properly with no noise when i turn the wheel with the front diff locked.Thanks to everyone again; O by the way the shelf in my garage now has a supply of psf(3qts)