What fluid do you guys use to top up your power steering?

[jedi-knight83 0]

My dad said that its just the same as automatic gear box fluid but i wanted to check first. i just want to top it up about a centimeter...

 

cheers

[chris CORRADO 0]

me to! come on guys help us out!

[PhatVR6 0]

don't use ATF! buy the proper power steering fluid from your VAG dealer.

 

Same with coolant, use the proper genuine VAG stuff, not cheap sh1te.

[jedi-knight83 0]

so its not the actualy VAG stuff............but will it actually do any damage. Dad (who has worked on cars his whole life) says that he uses it in all power steering units and it has worked fine.

[PhatVR6 0]

You hear different stories off different people. some say it rots the seals, some say it's OK, some say NEVER use ATF in VE PS systems, VW included (but they would say that wouldn't they).

 

Better safe than sorry.

[Kevin Bacon 5]

MK2 Golfs used red ATF fluid but Corrados use some green stuff (light oil I believe).

 

Is it worth draining and refilling as my PAS pump has recently started whining really loudly when cold. I know they normally whine a bit, but not like this! Stealth reckoned I could mess up the pump if I run it dry, but having never done it before, I don't know any different.

 

Kev

[Banana Man 0]

I use slick 50 power steering fluid all the time it has PTFE in it as well so seals any troublesome seals it's bloody good stuff I have been using it for the last 4 years and have never had a problem with it!!

[Chris VR6nos 0]

Well jedi-knight83, your dad may know what he is on about but the corrado aswell as some other VAG models do have a specific requirement as some cars use mineral fluid and some use synthetic stuff, mix them up and you will notice a difference, sometimes straight away, sometimes after a while, this is why people say seals rot, it's because of the wrong fluid.

 

Be sure I know what you are thinking as i thought the same,"It'll be alright, it's all the same" I did think this too, the thing you'll notice is the pump will whine and be noisy, mine is dead quiet but i drained the fluid out at one point and refilled it with the only fluid i could find at the time and did the pump complain! noisy or what!

I drained it then ran it and turned the steering from lock to lock then switched off so not to damage the pump by running it dry and refilled it with "the green stuff" which was only £6 a litre from the dealer, once the bubbles, which took a long time to go, along with the froth, the pump was reassuringly smooth and quiet again aargh! relief.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chris

[jedi-knight83 0]

ok i now have 1x bottle of VAG fluid... how do i go about draining the system and re-filling with out causing air locks??? can you give some instructions and pics if possible....

 

im planning on doing a bit of self servicing this weekend

 

thanks in advance

[vr6storm 0]

ok i now have 1x bottle of VAG fluid... how do i go about draining the system and re-filling with out causing air locks??? can you give some instructions and pics if possible....

 

im planning on doing a bit of self servicing this weekend

 

thanks in advance

 

sounds a bit kinky to me :shock: :lol:

[jedi-knight83 0]

oi....

 

oh by the way vr6storm, i have seen a set of storm alloys with new michelin pilots for £250, sounded good to me.

[PhatVR6 0]

Air will naturally find it's way to the bottle. just run the engine at high idle for a while, get the car up on axle stands and turn the wheel from left to right for a bit, to get the fluid pumping round.

 

I killed a PS pump using red ATF....and my rack died shortly afterwards.

 

As a side note, peugeot 306 TD's use a pump that looks identical! handy if you need a spare.

[jedi-knight83 0]

ok but how do i drain it in the first place? there must be something i have to undo im guessing!!

 

should i turn the power steering when it is dry to make sure the pump is empty?

 

will just 1 litre be enough to fill it back up again?

[PhatVR6 0]

well you could diconnetc the reurn pipe (the rubber one) off the pump and let run off into a container, but you risk running the system dry that way. It may harm it, but shouldn't be too bad if you stop the engine the instant no more fluid comes out.

 

I'd take the belt off, and the rubber hose, put that in a container and turn the pump by hand to see if it'll pump it out that way, then you know you won't damage the pump.

 

When you refill it, expect the pump to knock a bit until all the air is out.

[jedi-knight83 0]

can you get a haynes manual for these things??? where the hell is the pump?

[PhatVR6 0]

It right down on the bottom front of the engine.

 

no, there is no haynes manual for the VR6, well, not in Elnglish anyway.

[jedi-knight83 0]

right i may have a look this saturday then!

 

will 1 litre be enough?

[PhatVR6 0]

Not sure to be honest with you. I cna't remember how much I used when I filled mine up. I can't see it being much more than a litre, but it's always handy to have some extra for top ups.

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Just flushed mine out and it was well and truly manky. The bottom of the filler resevoir was thick with black crud. I don't think it's ever been changed. Mine's a 94 VR and it appeared to be have been using the red stuff. I put green stuff in it, I hope it doesn't bugger the pump and rack up!

 

Kev