re
I suppose we are dealing with a system that does not become as hot as does a
transmission, so less critical in some ways.  But I hate to induce leaks in
places they don't already exist.

I don't think 'inducing leaks' is the problem with vanagon PS systems ..
it's that fluid gets old...
and that metal wears ..
if you never ever change the fluid in a vanagon PS system ..
eventually something has to fail ..usually the PS rack.

there should be more of a filter system on it too. .
and you can buy an inline filter for ATF fluid ...they are sometimes added
into auto trans oil cooler lines .
As things wear ...
tiny bits of metal get into the fluid ..
there is that screen in the res ..........that should be inspected and
cleaned now and then ..
and change out as much of the old fluid as you can.
If I even suck out a qt of the PS fluid in some of my cars and add back in a
qt of Royal Purple synthetic ATF ..I can feel the difference ..in smoothness
mainly.

I have had a perfectly good not-too-old rebuilt power steering rack get
ruined by a PS pump that was the original on the van , with about 170 thou
on it.  So even a nicely working high miles power steering pump can be a
source of damage to the system.
my point being..about all we can do is keep the fluid pretty fresh ..and
keep it filtered. That minimizes wear on the system somewhat.

btw ...anybody got a very good used PS rack for sale  ? .
Not just 'some used one that works' ..but a pretty fresh one. BTDT on the
'used and works' and that didn't last too well.
thanks,
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Mcneely" <mcneely4@COX.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2011 12:14 PM
Subject: Re: ATF Dexron

> ---- Eric Ley <eric_ley@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> Any ATF= automatic transmission fluid will work in the power steering
>> system
>> all the new models are backward compatible (so they say).
>
> Even Type F, or ones that specifically say not to use in transmissions
> requiring XXX?  Of course, I am not using it in a transmission atall, but
> there must be differences in formulation, or there would not be differing
> labels and specifications.  I was cautioned away from the product labeled
> Dexron VI, labeled as a synthetic, by a clerk at an Autozone, but I don't
> know that that means anything.
>
> Really, the only product I found that claimed back compatibility to
> include a plain Dexron was the Valvoline stuff I mentioned before.
>
> I suppose we are dealing with a system that does not become as hot as does
> a transmission, so less critical in some ways.  But I hate to induce leaks
> in places they don't already exist.
>
> mcneely