Substitute for PS fluid?

It seems the wife has ran the PS fluid low and I can't get any till payday. Can't I use like ATF or Brake fluid?

you can use ATF I know that for a fact but I"M not sure about break fluid. Probably not because power stearing pumps generate alot of heat and break fluid doesn't like heat.

Thats what I was thinking. I'll use the ATF.

You can't afford a buck for a bottle of PS. I wouldnt mix fluids in the PS pump. Instead of spending a buck for the fluid you might spend $200 on another PS pump.

Lift up your sofa cushions and scrape 2 bux together and go buy some cheap brand power steering fluid at the parts store. If your really that tight right now ATF will work. Ive done it on some older cars i didnt care so much about. Its really almost the same fluid aexcept the ATF has more cleaners.

DO NOT use brake fluid, its hydroscopic (sp?) mening it absorbs water from the air and might get hot going through the pump and make it boil (doubt it unless you beat on the steering but i still wouldnt trust it) then youd have air in the system. Power steering is a PITA to bleed. Also that stuff eats right through paint and who knows what else, wouldnt want it in my steering system!


On another note a leaky radiator can be fixed by dropping a raw egg into the radiator. Prolly clogs other stuff, but if your in the dessert with a leaky radiator and an egg on a hot day all alone you may want to try it out. Works like a charm. :cool:

Actually I found a couple of bucks in the back of her suburban, thank god for kids sometimes. Went and bought a bottle.

ATF works fine. They're both hydraulic fluids.