Ummm... is this ok to do?

[red_dog007]

Well in my friends Supra, his power steering has a leak in it and for some reason he is too lazy to fix it. He got a 1jz swap and there are a few problems with the new swap that he just wants to ignore, though we wont go there.

Anyways, instead of fixing the problem (hose leak, easy fix), he is just topping off the power steering about 2 times a week. He has been using automatic transmission fluid. Now is this good or bad to use that fluid instead of the power steering fluid? He asked me what I used and if it was pink and I was like "dude, I have a bottle of power steering fluid at home and its brown" and sorta laughed at him. Then that was sorta the end of that talk.

I am sorta wondering if me might end up f'ing up his entire power steering system if he keeps topping off with transmission fluid.

[EScanlon]

AFAIK, ATF - IS - Power Steering Fluid.

Nowdays, they may have found a way to upcharge it for being in a smaller bottle with the Power Steering Fluid label.

But I'm sure you'll get more replies.

E

[sblake01]

I've always used ATF in the power steering of cars I've owned that had it.

[Fun_in_my_z]

It is the same thing...

[red_dog007]

Now just out of curiosity, would brake/clutch fluid also be the same as atf too?

[hls30.com]

No! Mix them and you will have issues!

Will

[EScanlon]

Depends...do you ever want to shift/brake?

In a nutshell: different compression factors and "shear" factor. The first relates to the amount of compression you can impart upon a liquid and not have a significant loss in volume, and the other describes the liquids ability to NOT cavitate.

Cavitation being the sudden introduction of low pressure voids (bubbles) into a liquid due to inequalities in the liquid pressure at that volume. (You can push water out of the way mechanically, faster - than it can flow back in behind your pushing i.e. low pressure.)

While ATF is pumped and recirculated in a recycling system, Brake and Clutch fluid are counting on the constant and stable compressionability of the liquid.

Think of it as ATF being pumped like if it were a water hose onto the vanes of a little windmill. Brake and Clutch fluid are mostly "Step on this piston and that piston over there goes up".

FWIW

E