What Kind of Power Steering Fluid Do You Use?

[Ethanh100]

I need to top off my power steering reservoir due to a slow leak. What kind of fluid do you guys use, typically the answer is a Dexron type ATF, but didnt know if there was a reason to do anything special for this car.

I have this STP "multi purpose ATF" already in my cabinet. Can I use this, it says to use as a Dexron substitute, but is that as good as the real stuff?

Also I notice there is no fill marks, so how high should I fill? Ill attach a picture to show what kind of reservoir I have since ive seen it differ.

[rhanley 635csi89]

Fill it to 10 mm below the top rim. You may want to change the filter and add a magnetic.
Search TECH TIPS, for addition info. I would go with Dexron IV (from memory) as recommended by BMW. Roger

[ron]

Fill it to 10 mm below the top rim.

Ref above reply from Roger. Pump brake pedal until it goes hard THEN fill tank.

If you don't dump all brake pressure the tank will be overfilled and you will have oil EVERYWHERE!

[hornhospital]

I'll add one thing....pump the pedal with the ENGINE OFF until the pedal goes hard, then fill the reservoir. You are discharging the brake bomb by doing that. The level will drop once the engine is started, but don't worry about that. It is correctly filled.

My documentation shows anything Dexron II and above is acceptable.

[cornwallis]

Excellent feedback on the fluid!

My PS pump has been leaking forever. Always messy under my car. My trusted mechanic said he had to find a salvage, which is difficult. ..is there a way to rebuild these?? appreciate any input on how to mitigate the leak. Thank you!

[sideshowbob]

Had a leak under my power steering reservoir.

Initially I thought one of the pipes into the reservoir had a fractured weld where pipe and reservoir met.

Like you I started looking for a replacement reservoir.

Garage solved the problem by putting an extra (Jubilee) clip on the leaking pipe.

Apparently in the UK this was a common problem on Rover 800's !!

[86_6series]

I bought a re-maned from BMW last year. I'm sure they are still available.
Here are some new and re-maned.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=324111339 ... 649B5CF691

[Sbeaud]

For power steering pump issues there's always Jay Stratton.

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=28245

Scott

[86_6series]

Jay is the best. I made a mistake years ago thinking that the allen plug (soft aluminum) was to drain the ATF.
Of course the allen tool stripped in the plug I just left it alone. It's a casting hole plugged up.

20 years later I went to rebuild the pump and figured I would replace the stripped plug.
So I drilled it out wondering why was it so easy and no damage to the pump casting.
Got in touch with Jay and he enlightened me that the plug was not a drain.

He rebuilt my pump and was able to replace the plug from an old unit he had.
His heroic effort was very much appreciated but the plug leaked a few drops here and there.
Being the nut I am, I replaced the pump with a rebuild from BMW. Costly-yes, but I felt
more comfortably with that than getting a cheap knockoff.

I completely forgot how I wound up getting the re-maned unit,
so I want to thank "Sbeaud" for reminding me and I second his suggestion.

Get in touch with Jay, he's the best there is.

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipP ... FsZGROX2tn