Hi,

I have an AU falcon Series II 2001 model. The bottom hose came off the other day and all the power steering fluid leeked out. After speaking to my mechanic briefly he said I should be right to replace or repair the hose and top it up. The hose is in very good condition so I have reattached it so I headed off to Repco to get some power steering fluid. The guy sold me some "Castrol Manual Syntrans 75W-85" Full Synthetic manual transmission fluid and said that is what they use now. I want to verify that before putting it in.

Does anyone here know if this fluid is suitable? If so can it be mixed with what little fluid is left in the steering rack?

Many thanks for any feedback.

I'd imagine that transmission fluid would be thicker but the again I have the mechanical aptitude of a moose so yea..

I used to own an AU XR8 and my memory is saying you have to use a specific late model Ford fluid.I'd be heading to the shop for some Valvoline Formula F if I was you.

I just read the bottle again for the 5th time and it actually states "Recommended for use in: Ford Falcon power steering post 1996". Don't know how I missed that comment earlier...someone must have slipped in the house and wrote that on the bottle while I was in the can ??

Anyway I am guessing the best course of action is to flush the system and use this stuff fresh rather than just add it to whatever little lfuid is left in there? Anyone have similar experience? I would take the car to my mechanic but he is too busy this week so I will have a crack at it. I have good mechanical intuition but have never worked on the power steering before.

yeah syntrans is better than dexron, but the best is either Castrol 424 proper hydraulic oil (given it IS a hydraulic pump afterall), or the proper Ford stuff, which is 424 in another container

Transmax Z is the synthetic version of Dextron 3 and you can use Dextron 3 in ford power steering upto 1995.

IMO EF onwards should be using Valvoline Formula F Fluid only where bouts you located mate if in the malaga area come see me @ Autopro superstore, beach road.

Hi,
In the end I put in the castrol stuff. Jacked up the front of the car so I could freely move the steering lock to lock to run the fluid through and it works beautifully...even better then before. The power steering fluid capacity as per the handbook is 950ml and that is pretty close to what I put in so it was bone dry so I dont have to worry about old fluid mixing with the new fluid. Hoping this will be the end of it.

Thanks for your comments....cheers.