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What power steering fluid is best?

dl1027

dl1027

New member
My power steering is weak. It requires too much force to turn either direction. Also the PS pump has always whined like a mother. Even when it was brand new. I took it back to the dealer and was told it's normal. I even tried another GP on the lot. It had the same whine. I have heard that running some Marvel Mystery Oil in it will improve it. I have also read on here about better fluids to use, one specifically that quiets the pump. Can somebody recommend a fluid that quiets the pump and improves the power assist? Thanks
 
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Like, what kind of noise? mine has a whining noise too, just started like 2 weeks ago and its getting a little loud. My brother and I tho it is the belt tensioner but now he think it may be the power steering pump... the whining noise gets a little louder when I am accelerating, if I don't touch the gas pedal its not too bad. My PS has being leaking since a year ago or less. but its not bad, I add a little bit of power steering fluid like once every 3 weeks to keep it in the "safe" line, it never get really low

I was thinking (I may be wrong) the ps pump only works when turning steering, turning the wheel?? if it was the pump making a whinning noise it should only whine when I'm steering, right?? not all the time? that whinning noise is always there since I start my car until I cut it off
 
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dl1027 said:
My power steering is weak. It requires too much force to turn either direction. Also the PS pump has always whined like a mother. Even when it was brand new. I took it back to the dealer and was told it's normal. I even tried another GP on the lot. It had the same whine. I have heard that running some Marvel Mystery Oil in it will improve it. I have also read on here about better fluids to use, one specifically that quiets the pump. Can somebody recommend a fluid that quiets the pump and improves the power assist? Thanks
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A whining PS pump is not normal, no matter what the dealer says. They are just trying to get out of a repair. And no fluid is going to improve your PS pump or make it easier to steer. Just stick with regular PS fluid, and change out your pump. A whining pump is one that is going bad. Hence the weak steering.
 
Zef_66 said:
A whining PS pump is not normal, no matter what the dealer says. They are just trying to get out of a repair. And no fluid is going to improve your PS pump or make it easier to steer. Just stick with regular PS fluid, and change out your pump. A whining pump is one that is going bad. Hence the weak steering.
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Yep, you right, is not normal. Now, can you please tell me, if the PS pump is going bad, is it going to whine all the time or just when you are steering? I've been trying to find info about this because the whining noise that my car has is there all the time (not too loud lately) now, My steering is good, is not hard. just trying to figure out what is making that whining noise in my car. can't be water pump because that pump went bad not even a year ago and I know the noise that a bad water pump makes, may be the belt tensioner or PS pump
 


Haulero said:
Yep, you right, is not normal. Now, can you please tell me, if the PS pump is going bad, is it going to whine all the time or just when you are steering? I've been trying to find info about this because the whining noise that my car has is there all the time (not too loud lately) now, My steering is good, is not hard. just trying to figure out what is making that whining noise in my car. can't be water pump because that pump went bad not even a year ago and I know the noise that a bad water pump makes, may be the belt tensioner or PS pump
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A PS pump that is going bad can whine all the time. But usually the noise will increase when you turn the wheel. A lot of aftermarket pumps will whine all the time out of the box. OEM pumps don't do this, for whatever reason, and thus are recommended over aftermarket pumps.
 
Zef_66 said:
A PS pump that is going bad can whine all the time. But usually the noise will increase when you turn the wheel. A lot of aftermarket pumps will whine all the time out of the box. OEM pumps don't do this, for whatever reason, and thus are recommended over aftermarket pumps.
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Oh I see, well that whining noise that my car is making does not increase when I turn the wheel, it increase when I give it more gas, when I accelerate.
 
on my old 95 monte carlo with the 3.4 L engine , after I had one of the power steering lines replaced , I noticed a similar noise , usually on increase in engine rpm made louder when turning.

I had been using gm ps fluid and lucas ps stop leak before , but now the pump was refiled with standard atf III , so either the fluid or the new hose section was the cause. regardless It worked fine until I stopped driving that car not too long ago.

what color is your PS fluid ? if its red most likely ATF III trans fluid, the GM stuff is more of a light almost clear oil.
 
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