69 c10 power steering fluid

[rick0312]

My power steering pump says to use "Type A" Transmission fluid. trouble is I can't find this type of fluid....only type F. Can i use regular power steering fluid or will this damage the pump?

Thanks

[al's71gmc]

Maybe look into power steering fluid, instead of atf ?

[Woody]

Use only Power Steering Fluid, not ATF. ATF will foam and not work well at all. I have been wrenching on cars/trucks for 30 some yrs. and I thought ATF would be ok. Then I used some ATF when I swaped steering boxes. Big mistake!! Pwr steering fluid is made to handle a lot higher pressures then ATF. I had to use a suction gun (looks like a grease gun ) to remove the ATF then replace it with the PSF.........

[rick0312]

Woody, Thanks for the advice....I'll go and pick up some power steeriing fluid!

Rick

[Longhorn Man]

funny thing is though, these were designed for dextron... not the thicker (harder to push) power steering fluid.
Yes, dextron will foam, but, only if there is air in the system, which...as you know, indicates something wrong. (or just putting it together and needs bleeding still)
I have also been turning wrenches my entire adult life...last 15 years or so, and use what ever the factory recomends... or what ever is already in the system. Some big trucks use motor oil... just depends on what system you are dealing with.
Nothing but dextron in mine. I checked with bvot the caddy parts (pump) and the chevy parts (everything else) on my trucks, and it all called for dextron.

[70GMCer]

I've always used "Dextron" trans fluid in mine for years without any problems.....also, he didn't say if he needed to add fluid to the pump, which might already have trans fluid in it. I don't know if mixing trans & pwr fluid would do harm.

[richierlb]

a;son if you look on the back of a dexron mercon bottle it usually tels you that it replaces de/mer/type a just a little info to pass on