I just did something stupid to my (new to me) truck in signature...

before i read the MANUAL.. I topped off my steering fluid with DOT4 steer fluid..
the when looking for dif oil i saw that it uses TRANNY fluid for steering!! uhh why didnt i make the connection!

so did i just skrew up my whole steering?

can i somehow flush the system or am i still ok?

plz need advice

 

You can remove the return line, place it in a drain pan, fill reservoir to the top and start the truck for a few seconds at a time, refill reservoir and repeat a few times till you have it flushed out.
Or take a turkey baster and suck out the offending fluid and add trans and start the truck, repeat again until it looks clean.

 

I topped mine off a while back with DOT stuff... I did not know that it was ATF until I got to Japan. It's still going fine. I'd flush it like Todd said, you'll probably be fine.

 

Power steering originally used hydraulic fluid, and most use it well, even today. That is all that goes in my trucks steering. AFT had heavy detergents that hurt the steering system like it does jacks. But now they are built to take AFT. I would not mess with it, it is fine. My freightliner uses engine oil. The big deal is that power steering oil has non foaming additives. Same for hydraulic oil at 10 weight. AFT has that plus high detergent additives.

 

ooo ok
my worrie was if PS fluid would somehow soften or deteriorate the rubber pats of the system. and/ or not be compatible with ATF seperating or who knows what thanks for putin my mind at ease a bit.

 

I did the same a couple of years ago.

Left it in there, so it far hasn't hurt anything. It you're a worry wart- do the turkey baster/syringe operation and refill with ATF+4.

 

I filled the one on my VW with windshield washer fluid . Didn't notice it for about 200 miles on the highway then it began to make a little noise like it was low. When I stopped there was oil and water all over.

The turkey baster and some 15-40 I had on hand got me home. What a pain!