Wondering about transmission fluid in my power steering for a 1995 Mercury Sable!?

Question

Today I had my rear suspension fixed by one of my mother's friends who is a mechanic. I had posted a previous question about my power steering making a really bad rubbing noise. Well the mechanic looked at my power steering and told me that it wasn't filled with power steering fluid and that it was filled with transmission fluid. He flushed it out and put some power steering fluid in and now it sounds wonderful. My question is are you actually supposed to place transmission fluid in you power steering? I had been taking my car to a place called Tires Plus and they put it in. I thought that a so called chain of car repair places weren't supposed to put anything in your car that you never asked for.

It's a 1996 Mercury Sable.

Answer 1

The only power steering units that I have heard of using transmission fluids are newer Dodge/Chrysler vehicles. Your car should only use power steering fluid. I wouldn't take my car back the place that has been servicing it if they are putting ATF into your power steering pump.

Answer 2

It does require power steering fluid. Some people think that they can replace it with transmission fluid, but as you can see that may not be true. The other mechanics may have had some fluid leftover and was trying to do you a favor by filling it up for you. good luck.

Answer 3

power steering fluid is the correct fluid...years ago you could use either...you ran into a "shade tree mechanic" from the old days...they only pay those guys 7 or 8 buks an hour! ya get what ya pay for..

Answer 4

There is a difference in the viscosity of the two fluids, and a color difference which is how he could tell it was trans. fluid.
They have 2 different names for 2 different uses, but in a pinch trans. fluid can save the day.

Answer 5

some older cars do use it