transmission fluid for power steering?

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08-26-2016, 03:26 PM

#31

dave1123

Old fart with a wrench

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Location: Manlius, east of Syracuse, NY

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Year: 2000 XJ Sport & WJ Laredo

Model: Grand Cherokee (WJ)

Engine: 4.0L

All I can tell you is my Monte Carlo steering box started leaking a little, so I put Dex in it and it immediately started gushing!

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08-26-2016, 05:23 PM

#32

BlueRidgeMark

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Location: Lost in the wilds of Virginia

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Year: 1998 Classic (I'll get it running soon....) and 02 Grand

Model: Cherokee (XJ)

Engine: 4.0

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slow

ever seen a change interval for power steering fluid? that is because the additive are different and the system doesn't break down fluids like an engine, trans, transfer case or gear box would.

Yep. It's a totally different beast from something like a transmission or even a differential. It's a very, very simple pump that drives a hydraulic system. That's all. It's not picky.

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08-26-2016, 05:52 PM

#33

DFlintstone

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Year: 90,84

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0,2.5

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cummins93

How did you get the propane? I assume it is r-290? Did you fill it to half the r12 capacity?

Years ago...fuzzy details. It's still working some Btw. In my 90 AC was, and had been dead a long time, maybe the 10 years I'd had it. Mostly for that old dog there in the photo I spent $50 on a kit from Napa. Two bottles, a gauge. Low and behold it worked. Likely not optimum, but good enough I wasn't committing animal cruelty. A 300 mile of sort of commute through three digit temps was my problem. Three, four years later it's about dead. I stumbled on the concept of using LP. Saw posted it's common in Europe, Idk. So mostly for fun, (dog gone), I took a regular 5 gal bottle, set it upside down to have a "wet" valve, and hooked that to the pipes and gauge that had come in the Napa kit. For some reason I'd cut one of the cans open from years back, and found 1-1/2 or so oz. of oil still in it. That I put into my line from the tank to the "fitting", ran it, opened the valve, then turned it off at some point. If there was red on the gauge, I probably turned off off a hair into that. It still works a bit after 3-4 years. It's a spare Jeep and I don't need AC here anyway, mostly just did it as an experiment, didn't cost me a dime. Btw LP is odorless, and mercaptin is added for stink. Mircaptan is the same molecule rotting meat gives off and will attract flies with very tiny amounts. Never have noticed any extra flies.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave1123

All I can tell you is my Monte Carlo steering box started leaking a little, so I put Dex in it and it immediately started gushing!

So of course you switched back to steering fluid, and it went back to a little leak? Honestly curious there.

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08-27-2016, 11:16 AM

#34

dave1123

Old fart with a wrench

Join Date: Nov 2010

Location: Manlius, east of Syracuse, NY

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Year: 2000 XJ Sport & WJ Laredo

Model: Grand Cherokee (WJ)

Engine: 4.0L

Nope, changed out the box, pedaled the car. It was one of those 265s that look like a 350 anyhow. The car was a hand-me-down so no love lost.

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11-04-2018, 08:30 PM

#35

Willis Fath

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Model: Cherokee (XJ)

I have a 11/2001 wrangler considered a 2002 model but I’ve been using for a few years now ATF+4 in my power steering and have not had any problems whatsoever! No leaks no bad power steering pump no bad gearbox etc! It’s funny that Ford seems to always recommend trans fluid in their steering systems and Chevrolet/GM has quite a few cars that call for dextron 3,5,6 trans fluids for their power steering systems. I don’t think automatic transmission fluid ATF+4 is gonna hurt pre 2003 Chrysler power steering systems. Cause in 2003 the wrangler calls for ATF+4! Go figure!

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11-05-2018, 12:43 AM

#36

DFlintstone

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Year: 90,84

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0,2.5

Hi Willis,and welcome! No harm in helping out a 2 year old thread. I gather ATF is pretty high detergent, (not absolutely positive there). Maybe Dave's old unit, ready to be replaced was a little gummed up. Fresh detergent eats the gum and wallah! Got a bleeder.

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