Harald, I use Castrol Dexron III ATF fluid in our '90.  The early
Vanagons used the VW/Audi pentosin (sp?) fluid, but the later ones
used ATF.  Not sure of the cutoff year.  I'm sure glad ours uses
ATF... that VW/Audi stuff is mega $$$.  Our manuals, and the PS
container itself is marked ATF FLUID ONLY.

Harry.

> Using ATF Dexron in power steering?
> I checked this out years ago when I saw
> the VW/Audi "Oil for hydraulic system and power assisted steering"
> can sitting on my VW dealer's shelf. When I asked the dealer about
> it, he told me NOT to use it in the vanagon. He told me to only use
> ATF Dexron in the vanagon, and the VW/Audi hydraulic oil is not
> compatible with the vanagon power steering. The 2 oils are not
> compatible with each other either. I have since asked other vw
> dealers and mechanics about this, and always get the same answer. In
> my 1990 Vanagon owner's manual, it says "The power steering is
> filled with ATF Dexron." I have been using ATF Dexron and also
> flushed the system with it a couple of times, and I never had a
> leak. Does anyone know of any VW bulletin that might recommend using
> any other oil besides ATF in the power steering? Harald '90 westy
>
> Yi-Ruey Wei wrote:
> >I bought a $20 1-liter metal can (Since people were asking,
> > it's called VW/Audi "Oil for  Hydraulic System and Power Assisted
> Steering"
> > VW #G002000, made in Germany.
>
> > My thinking was that the ATF is designed for automatic
> > transmissions and if there is a PS oil designed specifically for (VW)
> power
> > steering, why not use it.
---------------------------------------------------------
Harry Yates, Langley, BC, Canada
'90 Syncro Westfalia www:   http://syncro.bcit.bc.ca/hyates
'87 Golf Diesel      email: hyates@bert.cr.bcit.bc.ca