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Power steering fluid advice

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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
Started 07/15. Car finance £6951 , Mortgage: 261k - Savings: £0! Home improvements are expensive
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Comments

  • 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
    dcouponzzzz Posts: 450 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Sounds like a good enough case study for me, thanks! :)
    Started 07/15. Car finance £6951 , Mortgage: 261k - Savings: £0! Home improvements are expensive
  • 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
    Ganga Posts: 4,253 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    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
    Strider590 Posts: 11,874 Forumite
    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.
    “I may not agree with you, but I will defend to the death your right to make an a** of yourself.”

    <><><><><><><><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><> Don't forget to like and subscribe \/ \/ \/
  • dcouponzzzz
    dcouponzzzz Posts: 450 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    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.
    Started 07/15. Car finance £6951 , Mortgage: 261k - Savings: £0! Home improvements are expensive
  • dcouponzzzz
    dcouponzzzz Posts: 450 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Bearing in mind the MOT will be due in 2 months.:(
    Started 07/15. Car finance £6951 , Mortgage: 261k - Savings: £0! Home improvements are expensive
  • chrisw
    chrisw Posts: 3,773 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    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
    Geoff1963 Posts: 1,088 Forumite
    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
    dcouponzzzz Posts: 450 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Annnnd it's scrap :( £4-500 quoted from 2 garages for pump and tubes. Guess I'm in the market for a new car!
    Started 07/15. Car finance £6951 , Mortgage: 261k - Savings: £0! Home improvements are expensive
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