is power steering fuild susposed to be red?

**qwik219d9** · 12-30-2011, 10:29 AM

I just used a turkey bastor to suck out about 12 oz. of power steering fuild it was red.

when I went to refill the power steering resorior the prestone power steering fuild was transparent.

did I buy the wronge PS fuild?

edit: the prestone PS fuild also has a stop leak conditioner.

Thanks

**cammed goat** · 12-30-2011, 10:48 AM

I don't think you have anything to worry about. Might be auto trans fluid since it's red. I know some folks flush their power steering system and replace it with ATF. I did that with my previous car when I replaced the rack and pinion. Others will chime in to assist you.

**qwik219d9** · 12-30-2011, 10:58 AM

yea a while back on previous cars I substituted PS fuild w/ trans. fuild have been adviced to use PS fuild.

currently my main concern is this new prestone power steering fuild is transparant.

all the Power steering fuild I've ever used in the past was red?

I bought this car in 01 and have never flushed or replenished PS fuild however I have added a tiny bit over the years and it was red.

Thanks

**cammed goat** · 12-30-2011, 11:37 AM

Look to see if it says anything about compatibility with GM, Ford or Chrysler on the bottle. If so, then you should be fine.

**qwik219d9** · 12-30-2011, 12:11 PM

yes I read it's compatibility with GM, Ford or Chrysler before I bought it.

however I've never sean transparant Power steering fuild.
Thanks

**cammed goat** · 12-30-2011, 12:14 PM

I think the newer fluids are now clear or goldish-tinted. Give a holler if ya need anything else.

**qwik219d9** · 12-30-2011, 01:03 PM

well I'm not flushing all the PS fuild at one time I'm sucking out whats in the resovior then refill resovior, cruise around letting the new fuild mix w/ the old nasty fuild then repeat.

I'm concerned about mixing 2 differnt color fuilds.

I'm planning a power steering pump swap and have been reading that it's mandatory to have new fuild before the pump swap?

I'm also thinking if the PS fuild is susposed to be transparent it will be a no brainer when I have completely replenished the fuild.

Thanks

**cammed goat** · 12-30-2011, 01:09 PM

You will be fine. I used to do the same thing, just with a motorized syphon pump when I worked for Mazda. I would suck out some fluid and them pump in the new, clear stuff until the fluid was completely clear. We did this with the older Mazdas that had pump recalls.

**Smittro** · 12-30-2011, 02:52 PM

I'm old school and never have seen PS fluid that was red only clear/yellow-ish..

Only ATF fuild was red..lol

**KMdef9** · 12-30-2011, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by Smittro

I'm old school and never have seen PS fluid that was red only clear/yellow-ish..

Only ATF fuild was red..lol

Same for me, but I have also heard of people using ATF.

***SMWS6TA*** · 12-30-2011, 07:44 PM

red is ATF.

PS is clear.

I've also used ATF for the PS fluid and had no issues.

**badta98** · 12-30-2011, 09:52 PM

well i have a ws6 and it has the p/s cooler and beleive it or not the p/s cooler messed up and would let the coolant get mixed in with the p/s fluid i found this out after flushing my radiator and notice p/s fluid was in it. do you have a p/s cooler?

**Smittro** · 12-30-2011, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by KMdef9

Same for me, but I have also heard of people using ATF.

Yup, I have done it myself before.

**qwik219d9** · 12-31-2011, 03:59 AM

Originally Posted by badta98

well i have a ws6 and it has the p/s cooler and beleive it or not the p/s cooler messed up and would let the coolant get mixed in with the p/s fluid i found this out after flushing my radiator and notice p/s fluid was in it. do you have a p/s cooler?

yes I have the WS6 w/ the PS cooler.

I've read that these coolers arn't the greatest. it really sounds kindof silly to even cool PS fuild, I believe this is a option GM used to differensheate the WS6 from the regular TA and tack on to the list price.

eventualley I will replace this GM turd of a cooler w/ a small actuale cooler. it blows my mind that GM refers to it as a cooler because when it's connected to the radiator it really a heater of fuild.

I have been acumilating parts for my PS pump, alt swap. another part to add to list small PS cooler.

thought I try replenishing the PS fuild to hoppefully postpone crawling under car. and have read the PS fuild should be changed before the new PS pump is installed (the old nasty fuild will ruin a new pump)

edit: bought this car in 01 w/ 30K miles car looked brand new it would be very hard for me to believe the PO replaced PS fuild w/ ATF on a car that was advertised zero maintianance for 100K miles.

edit 2: the stuff I sucked out may have been clear now it's brownish probabley just burn. it's kindof hard to identifiey color inside a black resovior.