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What should I have in my p/s system? Power steering fluid or ATF? ATF is thinner so it would be better for colder climate, am I right?

Both will work.. Your mazda wont be to fussy about it...

I run ATF in my system..

Reason is during winter, like right now if I get in cold car and start driving my p/s makes noise for a couple of seconds. I figure p/s fluid is too thick and doesn't flow well. I could try replacing with ATF

As far as I've been told that it's the same stuff, hydraulic fluid, just colored to differentiate if there's a leak.

I hear noises from mine as well, only recently though. I thought it was me turning the wheel too far, but it was only 2/3 of the way cranked over...

Now I have something to check, thank you!

My power steering in the truck hasn't been performing well since spring and we suspected it's the pump on the way out. Since it's been cold up here in Quebec, she pump makes a significant noise at startup and it got worse over time. You get that typical groan when you turn the wheel but PS still mostly works. Eventually the PS comes back until next time. We're suspecting that my driving style and off-roading is hard on the pump, especially lock-to-lock steering (winter drifting) which is what he experienced with drift cars burning out their PS pumps. So I have a replacement pump in hand, but we'll be adding a rad/cooler to the return as he does on the cars he's worked on, should fix the issue.

I want to say that what you're experiencing is not an issue with the fluid, but the failing signs of the pump that show themselves as more prominent because it's cold out. On the old 626, I think we replaced the PS pump ($20 from the wreckers) 3 times in a year. Once, the pullley shaft came right out of the pump once, fortunately nothing critical was on that belt on that car so just drove with no PS until we replaced the pump again.

Just looking on YT for PS pump noises, I found a video that explains that the groaning noise you hear is because of air in the system. The air is there not because of a leak, but air caused by a failing pump. They also said that air in the system can cause the pump to fail after a while, but that's typical of as if you were running the pump dry.

Well, that just gives me more reason to get rid of it entirely!

mazda recomends atf fluid that power steering type is not the same as oe atf

mitmaks wrote:Reason is during winter, like right now if I get in cold car and start driving my p/s makes noise for a couple of seconds. I figure p/s fluid is too thick and doesn't flow well. I could try replacing with ATF

have a good look for leaks. usually noise on start up is caused by air getting in the system.

Only does it when its cold outside

Check the belt tension as well, sometimes it's a loose belt.

Ended up replacing p/s fluid to ATF and power steering hasn't been groaning yet, and its been in teens some nights here. I might even buy a bottle of synthetic atf later on. P/S fluid is just too thick for our cars imo.

ATF is what most cars take as power steering fluid anyways. PS fluid is almost a made up thing to make more money IMO

RX8SE3P wrote:ATF is what most cars take as power steering fluid anyways. PS fluid is almost a made up thing to make more money IMO

P/S fluid is just hydraulic fluid, doesn't have any additives, etc. ATF has different additives cause it goes inside auto trans which is so complex and needs special fluid to operate it properly.

As far as I've been told, they're just different colors to differentiate if there's a leak