What is the general consensus for use in a PAS Pump; power steering fluid or ATF? I am looking at a pump swap and I would like some feedback before I choose my fluid. Bear in mind it will be a complete refill with the new fluid.

 

There is no general consensus, you can only run p/s fluid. When was the last time you read your owners manual?

 

Mike, you mean this week? There are obviously a couple of things we do that are not as specified in the manual (i.e. gear oil weight, engine oil weight, torque specs on rocker covers, etc.). The PAS pump, in reality, is just a hydraulic pump. The use of ATF versus hydraulic fluid is not that uncommon (in fact it is very common).

BTW, the problem I am have appears to have been directly related to the use of Lucas Power Steering conditioner. The pump used to work fine, until I changed the fluid and added the Lucas. First cold night she started screaming like a banshee and a leak appeared. I tried to get that crap out ASAP... easier said than done. After multiple power steering fluid transfusions I got most of it out, but the leak has remained. Now I am looking at a new pump.

 

Lucas is terrible stuff, thick syrupy garbage. I don't understand when people buy expensive synthetic PAS fluid and then add lucas for no reason. The thick fluid probably raised the pressure in the pump and that was enough to blow the cellophane gasket. As far as using ATF, it is probably fine if you don't have ACE but with all the decent PAS fluids why bother? I could see if it was an emergency or if you were not able to buy it but otherwise just use a decent PAS fluid.

 

It has done just that. In cold weather areas, you can only get away with 1/2 bottle of Lucas to insure you don't get a cold start growler. Other then that, Lucas does what is it supposed to do, free up internal valving and increase flow.