Power steering fluid

[cliff wilkins]

Hi all.
Is it possible to top up my power steering fluid with Shell Donax Tx Fluid
As I have some in my garage or do I need to buy another type.

Cliff.

[ChasR]

No, it is not suitable for the Stag, being a Dextron III compliant fluid. Here is a datasheet detailing what the fluid is and the specifications that it meets .

If there is a Partco/Unipart agent near you their Type G fluid will do the job nicely. However, if you can find a motor factor who does not try to fob you off 'Dextron is great for all cars, it's superseded everything' Comma also sell a fluid (Comma AQF) that is suitable and IME it seems to be almost half of the price Link.

E.J.Ward also sell this fluid (they used to sell Comma AQF, but they now sell the Millers varient).

As a rule of thumb (if you were not bored by the above) as long as the fluid meets the Ford ESP-M2C-33F/G rating you should be fine (that specification pre-dates Dextron based fluids ).

FWIW (maybe I am being too picky) but my usual motorfactor did not stock this fluid (GSF). Most others in my area did not stock it either. Only two (Unipart and Leamoco) stocked this fluid. Sorry if I am teaching a duck how to suck eggs but I got a bit sick of changing steering racks towards the latter part of last year .

[Radenac]

I have scoured the internet in France for the 'ATF' fluid and I cannot find it anywhere. I have been to all our local garages and to our nearest large town, but just get the gallic shrug.

It is freely available online in the UK but the delivery to France is huge. I have found it in Germany, a lot more expensive and delivery on top. I am hoping that one of my friends will bring some over in March, in the meantime the Stag can sit in the barn, probably the best place for it!

[jleyton]

I have scoured the internet in France for the 'ATF' fluid and I cannot find it anywhere. I have been to all our local garages and to our nearest large town, but just get the gallic shrug.

It is freely available online in the UK but the delivery to France is huge. I have found it in Germany, a lot more expensive and delivery on top. I am hoping that one of my friends will bring some over in March, in the meantime the Stag can sit in the barn, probably the best place for it!

ATF stands for Automatic Transmission Fluid - maybe in France they refer to it as something like Fluide Boite Automatique or whatever.

Cheers

Julian

[Radenac]

Alas, been there, done that

ATF stands for Automatic Transmission Fluid - maybe in France they refer to it as something like Fluide Boite Automatique or whatever.

Cheers

Julian

[Guest]

I asked the same question about a year ago and the response was that any ATF will do for the power steering. It is the auto box that needs the specific stuff. So I put in some ATF that I bought locally into the power steering. Maybe the advice was wrong. Now I'm confused. The ROM states Shell Donax T7S.7995 is suitable for the auto box and power steering. I bought Castrol TQF for the gearbox online from a Belgian website.

[Giles]

Always assumed the same as Don above. They would specify the same as the gearbox for covenience. The box will need the right fluid however. (unless it has been rebuilt with different spec clutches and bands!)

[Radenac]

Don, do you by any chance remember which website that was please?

I asked the same question about a year ago and the response was that any ATF will do for the power steering. It is the auto box that needs the specific stuff. So I put in some ATF that I bought locally into the power steering. Maybe the advice was wrong. Now I'm confused. The ROM states Shell Donax T7S.7995 is suitable for the auto box and power steering. I bought Castrol TQF for the gearbox online from a Belgian website.

[V Mad]

Using the correct fluid for the auto box is essential to avoid problems, but IMO the steering rack fluid is not critical. The only possible problem is compatibility with seals, but with older fluids (Dexron etc) you should be OK. But I would avoid using any modern car fluids in a classic car unless you know for sure they are OK.

[ChasR]

I stand corrected, sorry about that chaps .

I figured it would be best to be safe rather than sorry after a garage chucked in DII into my modern when the pump was changed (it sprung a leak). The incorrect fluid was blamed by a specialist for causing my notchy steering issues (in the straight ahead position it feel as if the rack had hit a detent position). The fluid also came out very black.

[Guest]

Radenac,

This is it:

http://www.jagparts.be/produits.php?langue=french&cle_menus=1186151747&cle_data=3954&max_display=50

Last time I looked, it had an English option, but I don't see it today.

I made the mistake of ordering the quantity (plus a bit) for the BW 35 instead of the 65. So I now have enough for the rest of the car's life!

It's not cheap stuff.

[Radenac]

Thanks Don,

Yes, it does appear to be quite expensive. As I far as I am aware Castrol no longer make TQF - it makes you wonder how much is stockpiled throughout the world?

Robert