Power Steering Fluid?

[montgom]

The distributor for northeastern Pennsylvania where I live was happy to sell it to me that way at about $43 for a case.  A case was just about right when I changed the fluid in the '03 XC70. 

Bill

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Good news.

Bob

PS I will let you know how it works in Wisconsin!

[montgom]

From the online owners manual I quote the following.

Power steering fluid reservoir

The fluid level should always be between the MIN and MAX marks.

Fluid type: ATF

Replace: No fluid change required

So, is it ATF? Or synthetic PS fluid or synthetic ATF?

Bob

[Bay13]

Actually from 1999 to present Volvo has switched over to a clear/green synthetic power steering fluid. I'd stick with that, it handles the foaming that can happen a lot better than putting in dexron III.

In case you missed it above.

[montgom]

In case you missed it above.

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No, I did not miss it And, I appreciate your feedback and help. I am just being very careful. I am in no hurry to change the fluids. So I have lot's of time to make sure that I have it right. The online S60 manual and my printed owners manual both say ATF for power steering.

S60 Online manual indicates

Transmission

Oil grade:

Automatic: Volvo transmission oil 1161540-8 <-- Is this Dexron III or synthetic? My guess is that it is Dexron III. I also have learned I can switch to Mobil 3309 from Dexron III and everything is fine.

I trust you. I want to replace my ATF with Mobil ATF 3309.

Power steering

Grade: ATF <--- So is this Dexron III?

I want to replace my power steering fluid. But if I change my PS with Synthetic, will it hurt it? If I follow the Vovlo's manual with ATF, per the Volvo manual, will I harm the power steering?

I mean no offense by asking more than once.

as always, thanks for your help.

Bob

[Bay13]

I understand what the owners manual says. But..... What comes in the car from the factory is the synthetic power steering fluid, part number 1161529. Thats also what we use for topping off on services. The advantage to not using ATF (read DEXRON III) is that the dexron III will foam up more than whats in the car. The higher pressure power steering pumps that volvo went to from 1999 on required the use of the synthetic fluid to keep down the foaming of the fluid.

[montgom]

I understand what the owners manual says.  But..... What comes in the car from the factory is the synthetic power steering fluid, part number 1161529.  Thats also what we use for topping off on services.  The advantage to not using ATF (read DEXRON III)  is that the dexron III will foam up more than whats in the car.  The higher pressure power steering pumps that volvo went to from 1999 on required the use of the synthetic fluid to keep down the foaming of the fluid.

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I now understand! Thanks for explaining it one more time. I think the flaw in thought process was I thought that the online Volvo manual would be correct (Volvo had the time to update it after 2 years).

Thanks, Bob

[Guest Guest]

I understand what the owners manual says.  But..... What comes in the car from the factory is the synthetic power steering fluid, part number 1161529.  Thats also what we use for topping off on services.  The advantage to not using ATF (read DEXRON III)  is that the dexron III will foam up more than whats in the car.  The higher pressure power steering pumps that volvo went to from 1999 on required the use of the synthetic fluid to keep down the foaming of the fluid.

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I understand what the owners manual says.  But..... What comes in the car from the factory is the synthetic power steering fluid, part number 1161529.  Thats also what we use for topping off on services.  The advantage to not using ATF (read DEXRON III)  is that the dexron III will foam up more than whats in the car.  The higher pressure power steering pumps that volvo went to from 1999 on required the use of the synthetic fluid to keep down the foaming of the fluid.

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I went over to Smart Motors, in Madison, Wi. to buy some synthetic power steering fluid. They would not sell it to me? Why? Becasue my car "does not use synthetic power steering fluid, just use regular PS fluid". Yes, that is what they told me. And when I asked for some DOT 4+ brake fluid, they said, "just use DOT 4".

I am shocked that a Volvo delaer would give me such bad advice. I am so glad that I can come to this forum and get answers I can trust.

Thanks to everyone and especially to Bay13, for the good, solid advice. I would be one lost Volvo owner without this group.

Bob

[slarti]

Ive had a dealer tell me that they just use dot 4 brake fluid and that they only sell the volvo brand brake fluid to "stupid" customers.

[Guest Tones]

I read somewhere that green PS fluid Volvos use is the Pentosin CHF 11S fluid. I do not know if there is a suitable substitute.