just got repair kit for vacuum pump seal from gould gear and electric, in the paperwork it says not to use tranny fluid for power steering pump or damage can occur- what are they talking about? i have had to use tranny fluid for ps pump in a pinch a couple of times as my steering gear box was leaking. what damage can happen? any thoughts on this
thanks bill

 

the seals will swell.

 

Power steering fluid is essentially, hydraulic oil.

Tranny fluid is mostly light oil, with a bunch of additives thrown in, usually for the various components in a automatic tranny (clutch packs, etc.)

 

Chicken little says the sky will fall if you use ATF in PS.
Dodge silently changed to ATF+4 to keep # of fluids at assy plant to minimum. ATF+4 will work fine in PS. PS fluid orginally was slightly less flamable in severe failure on hot engine. Yes, some early hoses would swell when ATF used. Not seals in pump or gear. ATF+4 is far more heat tolerant than old PS fluid. The rest of additive package is harmless to The PS and hydroboost systems for many years back.