Can Transmission Oil Be Used as a Substitute for Power Steering Oil?
Is your vehicle less optimal due to frequent use? This is certainly unavoidable, as the power steering fluid in the vehicle is due for a change.
Usually, the most effective way is to perform regular maintenance. It should be noted that transmission oil can now be used as a substitute for power steering oil. Check out the details.
When driving a motor vehicle, you will be assisted by hydraulic technology known as power steering. The main component in this power steering system is power steering oil.
With this lubricant, it can help ease the driver's control of the steering wheel.
However, over time, the elements in the power steering system will wear out and rust due to frequent use.
Read also: Causes of Power Steering Damage in Cars
This certainly causes the quality of the power steering oil to decline, and it can even become damaged. If this truly happens to your vehicle, then turning or moving the steering wheel will become heavier than usual.
In addition, you should also know that if the level of power steering oil is low, there is a possibility of leaks in the pipes or other components.
The lubricant in the power steering is generally the same as ATF type transmission oil. Because of this, it is not surprising that transmission oil is suitable to be used as a substitute for power steering oil.
In fact, the most suitable time to change the power steering oil is when the vehicle has reached a mileage of 40 thousand kilometers.
Alternatively, you can also change it every 4 years or 80 thousand kilometers. Usually, this oil change can be done at several official service centers or nearby workshops.
Not only that, you also need to know some symptoms that indicate your beloved vehicle needs a power steering oil change.
These symptoms include a groaning sound from the steering area, the steering feeling heavier and harder to turn, and the oil changing color to dark brown due to contamination.
Read also: Don't Get It Wrong! Here Are 3 Fundamental Differences Between Transmission Oil and Differential Oil
Transmission Oil for Replacing Power Steering Oil
As previously explained, transmission oil can be used to replace power steering oil.
ATF type transmission oil has the same characteristics as power steering oil. However, you should know that not all types of vehicles can replace power steering oil with transmission oil.
The replacement of power steering oil with transmission oil depends on the engine of the vehicle used. For example, European cars require the use of power steering oil.
European cars will not be suitable if using transmission oil, as this will cause the vehicle to not work optimally.
However, there are also vehicles from Japanese manufacturers that do not require the use of power steering oil.
Thus, it is not a problem if these vehicles use automatic transmission oil as a substitute for power steering oil.
Although both oils are hydraulic fluids, you still need to pay attention to the needs of your vehicle's engine.
Having a vehicle with optimal performance is certainly everyone's desire. However, this will not happen if you do not perform regular maintenance on your beloved vehicle, especially the replacement of lubricants.
If the oil in the vehicle is not changed, you will feel less than optimal performance when driving it.
Read also: All About Car Oil, From Types to Some Recommendations
