Power steering fluid advice

dcouponzzzz

Hi all, need an experienced opinion (yet again )

I've got a 2004 focus 1.8 lx petrol, power steering has started whining since the heatwave hit (probably not related), and whines a little when the engine idles after a making a turn.

I've not had a chance to check, but I suspect the fluid needs topping up or replacing. It was fine when I checked 2 weeks ago.

The Internet suggests I need WSA-M2C-195-A, which is £36 a litre from a Ford dealer and £26 online.

I called a local Ford dealer and they kindly suggested I can just use red ATF fluid, which is a tenner from Halfords. A lot of people online disagree with this.

Does anyone have experience of using ATF? If I do use it, will I need to flush the current fluid out?

Thanks in advance

BeenThroughItAll

dcouponzzzz wrote: »

Hi all, need an experienced opinion (yet again )

I've got a 2004 focus 1.8 lx petrol, power steering has started whining since the heatwave hit (probably not related), and whines a little when the engine idles after a making a turn.

I've not had a chance to check, but I suspect the fluid needs topping up or replacing. It was fine when I checked 2 weeks ago.

The Internet suggests I need WSA-M2C-195-A, which is £36 a litre from a Ford dealer and £26 online.

I called a local Ford dealer and they kindly suggested I can just use red ATF fluid, which is a tenner from Halfords. A lot of people online disagree with this.

Does anyone have experience of using ATF? If I do use it, will I need to flush the current fluid out?

Thanks in advance

I've been using ATF in PS systems for years. My motorhome has it in, my Jeep had it in, my Honda has it in, and my dad's motorhome has it in at present.

All working fine, tens of thousands on the motorhomes, a good 20K on the Jeep, and 5K in the Honda so far.

dcouponzzzz

Sounds like a good enough case study for me, thanks!

EdGasketTheSecond

You can buy actual Power Steering Fluid called 'Power Steering Fluid' in a bottle just like ATF. It is a little more expensive but better for your PS seals. Halfords do some:

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/engine-oils-fluids/gearbox-oil/slick-50-power-steering-fluid-500ml

Ganga

I worked for a Ford dealership,whilst it was a construction equipment dealers rather than cars,all the tractors ran on ATF for power steering which if memory seves me right is M2C 159A.

Strider590

Do you have aircon?

Mine took impact damage to the condenser last week and started leaking vital fluids, first I knew was when it started whining.

dcouponzzzz

So it turns out it's piddling the fluid out of the power steering pump, or at least out of one of pipes connected in to it...

The car's probably only worth £700, what I'm seeing is about £60 for a second hand pump plus about £100-£150 Labour, and that's not including if any pipes or connectors have gone...

Is it time to scrap it? I've only had the car 9 months, paid £800 and everything else is spot on as far as I know.

dcouponzzzz

Bearing in mind the MOT will be due in 2 months.:(

chrisw

Is it a seal that's gone? I used a bottle of power steering stop leak type stuff in an old Peugeot 406 and it was still holding out when I got rid of it 3 years later.

Geoff1963

I called a local Ford dealer and they kindly suggested I can just use red ATF fluid, which is a tenner from Halfords. A lot of people online disagree with this.
Does anyone have experience of using ATF? If I do use it, will I need to flush the current fluid out?

There's another thread with someone using the wrong fluid, in a Ford, on advice from Halfords.
If the fluid is incompatible, at the very least you'll have to flush it all out.

dcouponzzzz

Annnnd it's scrap £4-500 quoted from 2 garages for pump and tubes. Guess I'm in the market for a new car!