I was driving last night in the 93 and heard a loud "crunch crunch" sound and the power steering went out. I noticed in the receipts the previous owner had the power steering flushed with some type f atf... could this have caused it and how hard is it to replace?
lost power steering
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NoLimit95
Dedicated LVC Member
So you're saying that your power steering was flushed with transmission fluid? If the previous owner took it and had that done, yeah, that could very well be the issue. It could be the pump or it could be in the steering rack under the K-member. Either way, you should dip something down in the reservoir and see if you have power steering fluid in there or transmission fluid.
Moes8
Dedicated LVC Member
power steering fluid and atf are the same thing.
atf is dyed red for leak diagnosis purposes.
atf is dyed red for leak diagnosis purposes.
NoLimit95
Dedicated LVC Member
ATF can be used as a temporary substitute for power steering fluid but not a permanent substitute for the Mark VIII. The difference is Tolerance to heat. Power Steering fluids are stable when subjected to heat caused by friction of the moving metal parts whereas the Automatic Transmission Fluid has the property to foam or expand when it is exposed to elevated temperature.
Never said they weren't the same but our cars do not call for transmission fluid for the power steering. Maybe it was only flushed with ATF for lubrication purposes and then replaced with power steering fluid. I have no idea but if our cars called for Trans fluid, I would go ahead and use Mercon V for that also.
topher5150
Dedicated LVC Member
isn't there something in the owners manual about using ATF
NoLimit95
Dedicated LVC Member
Man, I learn something new everyday. E6AZ-19582-AA power steering fluid or an equivalent Type F with an 8 digit number beginning with ZP printed on the container. Makes me wanna go flush mine now lol
kustomizingkid
Dedicated LVC Member
Trans fluid is just a hydraulic fluid... perfectly fine for your power steering system.
Moes8
Dedicated LVC Member
umm,yeah, i think my transmission might be subjected to a little more heat and stress than my power steering 
i think atf can handle being used in a power steering system.
i think atf can handle being used in a power steering system.
slickemhoundd
Dedicated LVC Member
no leaks? i blew the pressure line on mine, the burst was so loud it sounded like a crunch, kinda