I just realized today that I used power steering fluid instead of the ATF fluid. Is this okay? If not what should I do?

IMHO, PSF > ATF

But I also use Redline synthetic PSF that's BMW approved.
Valvoline Synpower should also work but it doesn't say BMW on the bottle....

I dono their jobs are simaler and they are bolth a hydrolic fluid but I use atf becasue thats what the manual says to use and I did not engineer the system the only thing I can think of is the seals on the pump may not like the ps fluid or somthing to that effect. I wouldnt expect a catostrophic failure but its not what you are "supposed" to use.

yep, ATF was PSF with additive for the tranny and red dye. That's what it used to be, I'm not to sure about all the new stuff.

That's why I use Redline. It's ester based so it causes seals to swell and leak less. It cleans very well too. And it doesn't dry out rubber like a PAO synthetic, but they just mix some esters into those...

If I buy the redline psf can i just put it in with the other fluid already in their or do i have to drain it? How do i go about doing that?

Should mix fine.
That's what the oil change monkeys do when they add ATF to a system that takes a synthetic PSF.
What I do is every few 1000 miles I drain the reservoir and refill with Redline PSF. A qt should be enough to do that 3-4 times.

I wouldn't get the Redline PSF thinking it'll make your steering heavier again.
If anything if might get lighter.
Or maybe it won't thin out as much with heat? And give a heavier feel?

How do you drain the reservoir?

If there's a feed hose on the bottom you can disconnect that but that's real messy.

You can use a turkey baster, cheap and easy.

Or if you've got something like a mityvac or siphon pump you can suck out the old fluid.
I used a vaccum pump, some fish tank hose, a Gatorade bottle, and some RTV silicon to seal everything.

Alright thanks alot. I think im going to use the turkey baster way seems eaiser then the rest. I am off to see if they have the rediline psf at pepboys.

Hope it works out well for you.
My local Pepboys don't carry Redline but they do have Valvoline Synpower PSF and Royal Purple ATF.

www.myoilshop.com (http://www.myoilshop.com) sells Redline for $7/qt

www.redlineoil.com/dealers.asp (http://www.redlineoil.com/dealers.asp) and here's the dealer locator

I can't say for certain that the use of PS fluid instead of ATF will be a problem on a BMW. I once had a Mercedes that was accidentally filled with PS fluid and the power steering system didn't work quite right until I flushed the system with ATF. I don't know what PS might do to the seals, and that would be reason enough to flush the system with ATF.

There are two ways to flush a power steering system. The fast messy way and the slower cleaner way. In the first case you disconnect the return hose from the reservoir and point it into a bucket. Then with the engine running you pour fluid as fast as it is being pumped out. A second person has to turn the wheels from lock to lock several times to flush the rack. The second method is to suck all of the fluid from the reservoir, refill with fresh, and the start the engine and cycle the steering. Repeat until you've used 2 quarts of ATF.

If you suck the fluid out and refill each time you change oil you'll never have dirty power steering fluid.

Yea just got back from pepboys and all they had was the valvoline one. Whats a good brand or the Recommended brand of ATF to use.

Royal Purple and Mobil 1 are both good ATF's. Same with Redline D4 and Racing ATF.
M1 is everywhere. Napa and Pepboys should have RP.


Don't let your PS pump run dry, that's not good and the bubbles are tough to get rid of.


I cannot see why a syn PSF couldn't replace Dexron/Mercon III but some people have had problems. Personally think they're probably using a cheap PSF. I've had no such problems in my Jeep or GTX, both spec ATF and are running Synpower or Redline PSF.


Here's some Redline PSF info:
www.redlineoil.com/pdf/8.pdf (http://www.redlineoil.com/pdf/8.pdf)
www.redlineoil.com/products_coolant.asp?productID=67 (http://www.redlineoil.com/products_coolant.asp?productID=67)

Just got back from the dealer and got the mobil 1 Atf one. I would have went for the redline but i dont feel like ordering over the net. So now its time to drain the reservior.

Thanks for all the help.