Power steering Fluid 68 Corvette

[Kurt B.]

Sorry in advance for what might be a stupid question.
Are all power steering fluids interchangeable?
I am going to finally put fluid in my power steering system as I just replaced the cylinder and all hoses. Has been off vehicle for last 6 years.
Can I use any power steering fluid or should I go to my Chevy dealer and buy the GM brand.
In the sixties, I think we used transmission fluid in power steering systems.
Thank you,
Kurt Bunting #26406

[Joe L.]

Re: Power steering Fluid 68 Corvette

Kurt-----

All power steering fluids that I am aware of are "interchangeable". Automatic transmission fluid can be substituted, but I don't do this. I don't see any reason to. Power steering fluid is not all that expensive and I use only quality brands. Personally, I use GM cold climate power steering fluid even though I don't live in a cold climate. This fluid is expensive though. Here's the deal:

GM regular power steering fluid (1 quart)------GM #89020661--GM List=$5.84
GM cold climate power steering fluid (1 pint)--GM #12345866--GM List= 9.19
GM cold climate power steering fluid (1 quart)-GM #12345867--GM List= 14.77

Other quality brands are fine, too, and all interchangeable and "mixable".

[Kurt B.]

Re: Power steering Fluid 68 Corvette

Joe,
Thanks for the information.
Will one quart be enough for a completely empty system? (i.e. pump, hoses, & cylinder)
Kurt

[Joe L.]

Re: Power steering Fluid 68 Corvette

Kurt-----

I've forgotten the power steering system fill capacity. However, my vague recollection is that it's just over 1 quart.

[Tom B.]

Re: Power steering Fluid 68 Corvette

Although it's best to use the best p/s fluid you can get in your Corvette almost anything will do the job. Case in point is my Olds Ciera beater. The rack leaked so bad that I was filling it twice a week. I got rid of a lot of partial qts of oil I had sitting around and one night I filled it with 20W50 deisel oil at work. It quit leaking almost completely for 1 1/2 years. It was also only a little stiffer for a few minutes when it got really cold out. Last week it started leaking bad again all at once. I now have 75W90 differential oil in it and it's still leaking but steers as easy as ever. I think it's a dead horse.

Point is I don't think a p/s pump cares what kind of oil it pumps.

Tom

[Kurt B.]

Thank you *NM*