I was curious can I use ATF+4 in the power steering reservoir if I can't find the dexron type 3?

anything that says it's backwards compatible to one of the Dexron fluids should be fine. valvoline MaxLife Synthetic is what I used I think.

 

so, Dex II, Dex III, Dex VI (?)

 

not sure I've seen the one you mentioned.

 

(trivia; Dexron I , except they didn't know it was 'I' at the time, anyway the first Dexron had a small percentage of whale oil in it!)

LSD friction modifier used to be whale oil as well. I'm assuming the original atf used it for friction modification to keep bands alive.

For power steering just buy the "mutil-vehicle" parts store brand ATF. Pretty much anything that says that is going to meet the Dex-II or Dex-III specs. 

anything that says it's backwards compatible to one of the Dexron fluids should be fine. valvoline MaxLife Synthetic is what I used I think.

 

so, Dex II, Dex III, Dex VI (?)

 

not sure I've seen the one you mentioned.

 

(trivia; Dexron I , except they didn't know it was 'I' at the time, anyway the first Dexron had a small percentage of whale oil in it!)

 

Yup, that was GM type "A" fluid after they changed the name to Dexron. The fluid dates back to 1948 IIRC

Can't find Dex III? It is THE most common, and cheapest, type of ATF available. +4 might be OK, but just use the right stuff.

The best motorcycle chain lube used to have whale oil too!

“The White Whale swam before him as the monomaniac incarnation of all those malicious agencies which some deep men feel eating them, till they are left living with half a heart and half a lung.”

― Herman Melville, M-D; or The Whale

Edited September 8, 20169 yr by 1 Lucky Texan

Long years ago (1999) my Subaru had a fail on the steering rack that developed a leak of the ATF; after several unsuccessful attemps of repairing it, I swapped in another steering rack from a Junk Yard Subaru, and it had a pretty small leak; so I drained all the ATF (indicated to be used on my Subaru's power steering), from the system, and switched to Power Steering Fluid with anti-leak, which claims to rejuvenate the seals; and my Subaru has been working great with said stuff since then; however, after some years the tiny drop it leaked became a little more noticeable, I poured some Lucas Power Steering additive, and the thing still is working Flawlessly, up to date.

 

When I changed from ATF to Power Steering Fluid (Synthetic / high mileage) I noticed that the steering wheel became a little bit Harder to turn than with the ATF, but nothing terrible; and when I lifted my Subie, years after that, the Steering wheel became even Softer than when the car was new, somehow... 

 

Kind Regards.