Date:         Thu, 5 Dec 2013 12:49:50 -0600
Reply-To:     JRodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         JRodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: ATF mixed with Power St. fluid
Comments: To: Robert Stevens <mtbiker62@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <24F557F9-F1CE-4A32-BDAD-B8B264FCF60E@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Personally, I would not wait on this.

You have seals in the pump at the rear and seals in the power steering
unit up front - plus the filter and pumps ans PS units are expensive. A
couple or three of cans of ATF for flushing and replacing plus a little
time is pretty cheap up side having to replace one of those items
because the seals went bad.

John

On 12/4/2013 10:36 PM, Robert Stevens wrote:
> On Dec 4, 2013, at 8:27 PM, thewestyman <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET> wrote:
>
> There was Power steering fluid filled into the reservoir of the power steering system, and the guy only found out later that it was supposed to be ATF.
> What to do?
> Zoltan
>
> Besides price, the main differences are these: Tranny fluid is a highly stable hydraulic oil with a heavy detergent additive, while power steering fluid is manufactured with a friction modifier, and no detergent additive. Both oils will do the job, but in the high pressure/high heat environment of the PS pump and servo, PS fluid will begin to break down sooner than the ATF. Additionally, because of the detergent package in the ATF, particulates and contaminants are held in suspension, while PS fluid will allow these to settle out and likely accumulate where you probably wouldn't want them to.
>
> It's okay if you keep the PS fluid in the system, but I would certainly not leave it in for too long, my reasoning being that if VW designed the system to use ATF, there was probably a good reason to do so, including the possibility that the operating loads of the Vanagon system exceed the lifetime design limits of PS fluid.
>
> If/when you flush your system, take the time to replace the PS filter - your seals will thank you!
>
> bob
>