ok i got a 78 ford f150, just wondering what the manual calls for in the power steering system, powersteering fluid or ATF? and what kind of ATF?

ok i got a 78 ford f150, just wondering what the manual calls for in the power steering system, powersteering fluid or ATF? and what kind of ATF?

Use 'Power Steering' fluid, not ATF. Go to Advance or AZ and it simply says 'power teering fluid' on the bottle. ATF has insufficient lubricity and will shorten the liftespan of your power steering. Some of the high-end rebuilders like West Texas and AGR, IIRC, will not honor their warranty if you return one of their untis and it is dicsovered to have ATF in it.

Yes, use powersteering fluid. Specifically, I'd use synthetic. It handles the heat better.

Yes, use powersteering fluid. Specifically, I'd use synthetic. It handles the heat better.

Interesting. Who makes a good synthetic PS fluid? I need to track some down..it's not on the shelf around here.

Valvoline has their SynPower power steering fluid that folks have had good results with.

Thanks. I'll know what to ask for then.

No prob :smokin: Yea, the dumping in atf is an oldschool solution and we've got plenty of good choices these days with all the synthetics. I'm usually not one for dropping coin on synthetics but with all past problems I've had with ps pumps its one good area to go synthetic with.

I don't know what pump you have, but the late 80's bronco's I know used a C pump, and those took Type F tranny fluid.
If you put normal power steering fluid in them, they screamed.

My 05 dodge ram, also takes ATF.

i recently started a few threads on thre diff. sites including this one....the valvoline synpower was reccomended on all three. i switched my system to it from type f atf and the difference is huge. i run a saginaw pump with a hydro assist raM as well as a cooler, its worth the extra $$ in my opinion

the late 80's bronco's I know used a C pump, and those took Type F tranny fluid..

Thats a good point. From his first post it sounded like he's got a '78 Ford F150 with a stock pump though. At least, I assumed it was the stock pump because he was asking for what the manual called for it...:confused:

edit: More importantly, what is a squidmoto? :cow:

yeah its a stock pump, im putting a cooler in so i need to know what to fill it up with, and wasnt sure because all my yotas/yota stuff in my zuks calls for d/m atf and it works way better than power steering fluid in them

what auto parts stores have synpower???...ive never seen it, or maybe i just havent looked enough, lol

I don't know what pump you have, but the late 80's bronco's I know used a C pump, and those took Type F tranny fluid.
If you put normal power steering fluid in them, they screamed.

My 05 dodge ram, also takes ATF.

Interesting again. All my Ford rigs are Sag pumps and I know from recent experience that they work much better and quieter with the 'PS' fluid because I had one get nosiy on me after I ran it with ATF for a while and it quieted right down again after I flushed it (sor of..its polly annice mix of the two now) and refilled it with the clear PS fluid.

Being a hydraulics guy by trade..I would guess there has to be differences in viscosity as well as lubricity and detergent levels (ATF has a LOT), etc.that explain why what works in what and what don't.

I'd like to know why I have friends that run 30wt oil in there PS and it works great!, no noise, no heating nothing.
I am not putting it mine as my hydo was $$$.

in the threads i did some people said they ran 30 wt and some even ran hydro fluid as well, i thought about trying the strqight 30 weight nd oil myself

I'd like to know why I have friends

Sorry, Mark, I have no idea on that one :D

I've heard of guys running the 30wt as well. Never been convinced enough to try it myself.

I know howe suggests GM PS fluid over regular, not sure why on that one either. Just got my howe pump in the mail, contemplating regular fluid (pyroil) or go GM??

Howe knows what they're doing. If they recomend you use GM ps fluid with their pumps, use it.

ford calls for DEXRON® III/MERCON® in there mid 80's on p/s pumps(which is better than the old type F fluids). it will not shorten the life of any ford pump! after all p/s & transmissions are all hyd systems. atf is a hyd fluid. you do the math.:cool2:

does merconIII and type f fluid have comparable amounts of detergent?

I have a 76 Canister style Ford pump and it would squil with PS fluid, i put ATF in it and the squil went away. It seems to like ATF better then PS. this is with 46"x19.5" tires.

does merconIII and type f fluid have comparable amounts of detergent?
hyd fluid is not motor oil. i believe the only additives in trans fluid are for extra lubrication & to make it more stable @ high temps, not detergents.:barf: