Power Steering Fluid

If you change your Power Steering Filter regularly and check your fluid, you shouldn't have any problems with it except normal wear and tear.

 

I ran into a recent problem with this. Was out in Timbuktu and didn't have anything except brake fluid. Used that and got me home. I think you can use pretty much anything in them.

 

Almost anything will work in almost any component, when in Timbuktu. I have found myself broke down there more than once. (somebody's going to ask why you have brake fluid, in a big truck)

 

Big Trucks with a Hydraulic Clutch use D.O.T. 4 Brake Fluid, so it not all that uncommon.

 

He He I too ask myself why I had that in there. Not sure why.

 

iv had trucks that called for atf and some that called for 15/40

pretty much any oil should be fine, my mack calls for 15/40 i had drained the fluid and refilled with atf before i realized that they called for 15/40 so i just left it alone no problems, i dont see any issue with hydraulic oil either.

the one fluid i do not recommend is break fluid, break fluid may damage rubber seals,

 

I’m interested in using hydraulic fluid, any particular weight?

 

So I know this is an old post but since no one answered the question Mcast asked I thought I would answer as I too use Hydraulic fluid in the power steering.

I use Amsoil Commercial Grade Hydraulic oil. It comes in three wieghts (Actually Viscosity ratings @ 40c or 104f) 32, 46, and 68. The lower the number the thinner the oil. You would not want to run 68 in cold temps, or 32 in extremely hot temps. The higher the temps the lower the viscosity will be. I live in north east Texas so warm most of the time but can get cold in jan and feb and I run 46. For comparison most ATF.s are around 38, 15-40 is 112.